Page 10 of The Weight Of Falling
“I was about to send out a search party.”
“Everything’s fine,” I answer, avoiding her gaze. “I think I had a little too much champagne.”
She gives me a sympathetic pat on the arm. “You’ll feel better once you’ve eaten something. Kate’s opted for a buffet dinner, so there are plenty of options.”
“Of course, because it’s Gideon,” Aaron adds dryly, “the buffet options are all Michelin-rated.”
“Sounds delicious,” I manage.
Sofia eyes me suspiciously. “You look different.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, I can’t pinpoint it.”
My shoulders tense. I will them to relax. “I guess the champagne is still hitting me.”
Aaron regards me thoughtfully. I try not to squirm under his perceptive gaze.
Raising his glass, he says softly, “To Kate and Gideon, who found their forever in each other.”
His toast captures the attention of Tess and Sofia. Predictably, Tess is immediately tearful. After we clink glasses, she and Sofia launch into an emotional conversation about how perfect Kate and Gideon are for one another. This is the second time tonight Aaron has come to my rescue. Honestly, the man deserves a medal.
I glance over at the head table where Gideon and Kate are seated, along with Lisset, Kate’s parents, and her grandmother. Tess, as Kate’s sister and bridesmaid, should be there too, but Kate knew Tess would feel more at home at our table. A lump forms in my throat when I take in the beautiful floral arch framing the bridal couple, like it’s a gateway to the rest of their lives.
My gaze drifts to the table next to ours and my eyes land on Joel talking to one of Kate’s aunts on his left. Why is he sitting there? Why isn’t he relegated to a table at the back of the room? And he’s taken off his jacket. My breath catches at the way his powder blue shirt outlines his muscular chest and broad shoulders. It’s positively indecent. Kate’s aunt must be nearing sixty. All that masculine appeal on display can’t be good for her heart.
Joel turns his head and his eyes meet mine. My entire nervous system short-circuits, but I don’t look away. Instead, I give myself four seconds to hold his stare, to let him know I’m not in any way bothered by his presence. Or by what happened between us.
“Are you cold, Kenzie?”
I jump a little in my seat and redirect my attention to Tess. “Uh, no, I’m fine.”
She’s staring at my arms. “You’re covered in goosebumps.”
“Oh.” I rub my arms vigorously, wishing my back was to Joel’s table. “Maybe I am a little cold.”
“If you want, I could—” Abruptly, she sucks in a sharp breath, her face taking on a faraway look. She hauls out her ever-present notebook and starts writing furiously.
Aaron’s lips twitch as he gazes fondly at his wife scribbling away. We all know not to interrupt Tess when she’s overcome by one of her creative brainwaves.
Sofia, Tess, and I run a small greeting card company. Tess spins the words, I bring them to life with brush strokes and pencil sketches, and Sofia works her marketing magic getting them into the right hands.
When Tess finally finishes, she blinks as she emerges from the world inside her head and leans back with a satisfied sigh.
Sofia’s craning her neck in an attempt to decipher whatever is scrawled on the page. “Come on, share with us. It’s killing me to wait.”
“Okay, so think a romantic wedding card,” Tess explains. “Something along the lines oflet’s grow old together and argue about playlist choices.”
“That’s really good,” Sofia says slowly. “Any ideas for the inside of the card?”
Tess twirls her pen between her fingers. “If we stick with a music theme, how aboutI’ll always love you, even when you skip my favorite song?”
“I like it!” Sofia’s face is alight with excitement. She turns to me. “Design ideas, Kenz?”
I feel a matching excitement shoot through my veins. Oh, I have so many ideas, but one in particular stands out. “Maybe two birds on a telephone wire, both wearing oversizedheadphones,” I say, gesturing with my hands, as though I’m sketching the idea mid-air. “Robins are perfect, with their red chests and bright eyes. They can share a heart-shaped note between them.”
Tess straightens. “We can place the text in the note, and move—”
