My gaze swerves to Reese right when he looks at me. He smiles and mouths, "You are beautiful." He's so full of it, because my eyes must be red and puffy, but I know he honestly thinks I'm beautiful, no matter what.
We keep looking at each other throughout the ceremony. I hear the wedding spiel, but I don't really pay attention to it. I keep thinking about the past couple weeks and how my life has changed so much. I'm in love with a British guy. He lives in England. I live in America. Will he ask me to move over there to be with him? What will I say if he does? Do I want to leave my home country? It wouldn't be fair to demand he leave his country to be with me. I have no idea how we'll work this out, and honestly, it's too soon to be worrying about that. But I can't stop the thoughts, the worries, that ricochet through my mind.
I glance at Chance and Elena right as he puts the ring on her finger. He's already wearing his wedding band, so they kiss. It's the sweetest, most romantic thing I've ever seen. And I cry. Again.
Then it's over.
Reese and I ride in the limo with Chance, Elena, and Dane. My parents and Grams are in another car, so I don't see them until an hour later, what with all the guests at the reception and the food and the dancing and---Jeez, weddings are such a production. I dance with both Chance and Dane, as well as my dad and their dad and a few guys I've never seen before. Apparently, they're friends of the Dixon brothers. I don't get to dance with Reese until another half hour later, when he tracks me down at the buffet table, claims my hand, and leads me out onto the floor.
It's magical, dancing with Reese. He keeps one hand on the small of my back, his other hand holding mine in the usual dancing posture. We spin around and around, floating across the floor inside our own little bubble, in time with the romantic music provided by a string quartet. He looks so dashing in his tux, like a prince or a duke or whatever they call those royal people over there in England.
But the song ends, and Elena waves at me. It's more like flapping her hand wildly. She wants me to go over there.
"The bride is summoning you," Reese says.
"Yeah, I haven't gotten to talk to her since we left the limo."
"Well, go on." He gives me a gentle push. "Don't leave the bride waiting."
I kiss him and hustle over to Elena. "What's up?"
"We haven't had time to talk about anything except the wedding since you got here. I wanted to catch up with you before Chance and I leave on our honeymoon."
"You know I haven't been up to much. Decompressing after Ecuador, mostly."
She gives me a funny look, like she's not sure if I'm full of shit. "What about you and Reese? How serious is it?"
I'd guessed she would ask this question sometime, but I didn't think she'd do it tonight. I have to answer honestly, even if she thinks I've gone insane. "I love him, Elena."
"Chance said Reese told him the same thing. He's completely in love with you and will do whatever it takes to make your relationship work."
Whatever it takes? Reese said those words? My heart does a strange pitter-patter thing when I hear that.
Then I remember something I've been meaning to ask her but haven't had a chance until now. I sidle up to her, hooking my arm under hers, and ask away. "Can I get your advice on a sex issue?"
Elena laughs, though it's almost a whisper-laugh. "You know, I've been waiting for the day you'd ask me that, but now that you have, I feel a little weird about it."
"If you'd rather not---"
"Ask me, Arden."
"Have you ever given a guy a blow job?"
She's just taken a sip of her champagne and splutters, like a cartoon character. "What? Well, yeah, I have."
My best friend is flustered by my question, but I charge ahead anyway. Desperate times or whatever. If Reese won't share the deets with me, I have to get them from Elena.
"Does Chance like it when you do that for him?" I ask.
Her smile is knowing, and she glances at her hubby who's across the room from us. "Oh yes, he likes it."
"Good. Can you give me some pointers?"
Her attention veers back to me, and her brows crinkle. "Pointers? We can talk about that another time, okay?"
"Can't wait. I need to know how to give Reese a blow job tonight."
"What's the rush? From what I hear, you two have plenty of fun already."