Page 3 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
Still, I’m happy to be here for Tessa, I truly am, even if marriage isn’t something I want for myself.As the newlyweds approach the patio, Malcolm’s mother intercepts them, reminding me, once again, of why the thought of marriage makes me want to break out in hives.
When you marry someone, you also marry their family.
I already have one family to deal with; I don’t need another.I can’t imagine liking someone enough that I’d willingly put up with that for years.My perfect man has no parents or siblings or other relatives.
Okay, that doesn’t sound right.I wouldn’t wish that someone lost their parents at a young age.But I suppose I can wish that he appeared on the planet as a fully formed adult.
See?My perfect man doesn’t exist.
Long-term relationships involve a lot of giving, without receiving much in return.For example, giving your time and energy to another family and dealing with a mother-in-law.I broke up with Troy five years ago, and I’m still recovering from my dealings with his mom, who clearly didn’t think I was good enough for her precious son.
Yep, I don’t need that nonsense.
Some people look for love at a wedding, but not me, though Iaminterested in some fun between the sheets if an opportunity presents itself.I’d very much like to end my dry spell.
Once again, my eyes findhim.
He’s easy to spot, in part because there aren’t a ton of other Asian people here.(Tessa’s mother is Asian and her father is white; she grew up in this mostly white small town.) But even if it weren’t for that, he’d stand out.He’s tall, and he has harsh, beautiful features.
I thinkstrikingis the right word.
He also has glasses, which look particularly sexy on him.
Unfortunately, the first time we encountered each other, it was right after I’d fallen on the ground, and he heard me swearing up a storm.Still, I noticed he was attractive, and now that he’s wearing a well-fitting gray suit, he’s even hotter, which I hadn’t thought was possible.
Tessa told me that he’s Malcolm’s friend from university.His name is Max, he’s single, and he’s also a structural engineer.She waggled her eyebrows after she said that, as though us having the same profession was a good sign.
But I don’t want to talk about concrete tonight.I just want to get laid.
My body tingles with excitement.
I try to catch his eye, but he’s not looking in my direction, and for some reason, I have the sense that he’s purposely not looking, yet is aware of exactly where I am.From the way his eyes bored into mine earlier, I think he likes what he sees.
Thankfully, this purple dress isn’t godawful.I doubt I’ll be able to wear it again—it definitely looks like a bridesmaid’s dress—but it could be worse.It could be that pink monstrosity I had to wear for my cousin’s wedding more than three years ago, the last wedding I went to before the pandemic.
Trust me, it was impossible to flirt while wearing that.At least with this, I have something to work with.
Hungry, I grab a slider off a tray just as Iris Chin approaches me.She works with me and Tessa.Tessa and I have been there since we finished university, but Iris joined the company two years ago.
“You talk to him yet?”she asks.
“Who?”I say innocently.
She rolls her eyes.“The guy you keep looking at.”
“Nah, but I will, don’t worry.The night’s still young.”
I have three more weddings in the near future, but this wedding is a better opportunity for hooking up than the others, for one simple reason: my parents aren’t here.The other three weddings involve family friends.My parents have known Gladys and Gilbert for decades, and their oldest daughter is the same age as me.
“You’re not going to chicken out, are you?”Iris asks.
“I promise you, I’m no chicken.”
There’s a cold gust of wind, and I huddle closer to the heater.
“This is the only reason I’m talking to you right now,” Iris jokes.“Because you’re standing in the warmest place on the patio.”
“It really is cold, isn’t it?”I say.“How was your drive up today?”
