Page 18 of Forever Fascinating

“Maybe you are,” he replied evasively.

* * *

Jana walked back inside,taking a moment to take several breaths to calm her nerves before entering the reception area. It was breathtakingly beautiful… and very crowded.

The tables had people sitting at them randomly, touching the centerpieces, smiling, and laughing at each other. There were several couples hanging out together along the walls, mingling at the table where punch was being served, and around the cash bar.

Karen refused to have an open bar because of the cost, and she didn’t want anyone getting falling-down-drunk at her wedding. If someone wanted booze, they could pay for their own.

The bride and groom were at the front, dancing together, on a small dancefloor, and only had eyes for each other. Her parents and Karen’s parents were dancing nearby, and the photographer was taking photos from various angles. A few other couples were dancing around them… including Emily and a very unhappy looking X-Ray.

She’d ditched him – and perhaps would explain via email.

Right now, she needed time to process things, what was going on in her mind, and couldn’t fight any battles at this moment… supremely glad her parents and Jace were occupied at the time.

She was supposed to have a seat waiting at the table towards the front, because of her position in the wedding party… and perhaps she should have thought this through a little more, because she would be sitting at the same table as Matthew, but opposite of him… and X-Ray.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way over towards the punch and saw Matthew walk in the large reception area out of the corner of her eye.

Holding her head high, pretending like nothing happened, she casually walked over and greeted the person pouring the punch into the little plastic decorative cups. She picked up a cup, waiting, and took a sip nervously… only to see him walk up.

“Hello…” Matthew said politely, meeting her eyes for the first time. He’d removed his sunglasses and Jana nearly swallowed her tongue seeing him up close.

She was going to be a drooling, mindless zombie before this was all over with apparently, because her brain was melting fast.

His eyes were hazel – and that shouldn’t have been anything remarkable or extraordinary, but she couldn’t help but stare. Those beautiful eyes were shades of green and blue, with flecks of brown and gold scattered throughout. It was as if God couldn’t decide, so he gave him a little bit of everything… and those lashes?

Why in the world did men have such gorgeous eyelashes?

It wasn’t fair.

She had three tubes of eyelash stuff at home… a primer, some goopy stuff to make her lashes thicker, and then her favorite shade to wear - Maybelline Blackest-Black.

“Hello,” she strangled out nervously, tossing him a casual smile.

“Nice to meet you,” he began, holding out his hand politely towards her. “I’m Vapor. I’m one of the airmen who flies with your brother overseas.”

Jana couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her as she glanced down at his hand nervously, realizing he really was trying to cover their tracks. Obligingly, she shook his hand and smiled at him, seeing his grin.

“Very nice to meet another one of my brother’s fellow airmen, Vapor. I’m Jana, Jace’s sister.”

“Vapor! Buddy! Hey…”

The handsome man’s face literally paled before her as his smile faltered momentarily, only to see a guy walk up and slap a hand on Matthew’s shoulder in a friendly, yet possessive manner.

“Hey Jana,” the man tossed her way but had eyes firmly set on Matthew. “Alpo and Glory are feeding the twins and he asked me to come grab you, Vapor. They’ve got you a seat over here, good buddy, and something to talk to you about.”

This time it was Jana who started in surprise.

“We are all at the front reception table with the bride and groom,” she began, and looked at the man. “You’re Firefly, right?”

“Yep. Nice to meet Hot Cakes’ little baby sister finally. My wife, Melody and our daughter are at the table next to yours… and no. There was a last-minute change on the table seating,” he explained, looking at her, almost as if to dare her to say otherwise.

“Vapor is at Alpo’s table. X-Ray is at Thumper’s table, and Caboose is at my table. It makes it so much easier to make sure our buddies have a ride back to their prospective places where they are staying, and gives everyone a little more elbow room,” Firefly smiled. “That’s no, problem – right, Vapor?”

“Nope,” Matthew replied easily – but she saw he didn’t look too thrilled right now at the realization hecouldhave been sitting at a table with Jana.

“C’mon,” Firefly urged, smiling. “We’ll be seeing you around, Jana.”

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