Page 73 of The Wedding Favor

“I can’t sit and eat with these people now,” I said, my pulse pounding so loud I could hear it.

Abe squeezed my hand. “Yes, you can.”

“So optimistic. Your most annoying trait.”

A piece of chocolate appeared before me. I snatched it with my free hand and stuffed it in my mouth. He laughed and pulled me toward the tables. They’d been arranged in a giant U-shape with Missy and Aidan and their families at the front. Thankfully, we were allowed to sit wherever we wanted. Also thankfully, there was wine on the table. I was chugging from a glass within two point five seconds. I didn’t drink often, maybe once or twice a year, and tonight would be one of those times.

“Hey, are these seats taken?” a voice asked a few minutes later.

“Nope, go ahead,” I said. The couple sat. They looked a little older than me. She had sharp blue eyes. He had Ken-doll-like hair, heavy on the gel to keep it in place. I recognized the hair. “Ryan, right? You’re one of the groomsmen.”

“That’s me.” He was one of Aidan’s work bros. “This is my girlfriend, Sarah.”

“I’m Iris.” I patted Abe’s shoulder. “This is Abe.”

We made small talk, something I loathed, but the two of them didn’t seem too bad and conversation flowed. The wine helped. Having Abe here helped, too. He was a pretty friendly guy. He was nice and had kind eyes. I think I liked kind eyes a lot. I liked how his eyes smiled. The way the light hit the brown, sometimes making them look impossibly dark and dreamy or pale and piercing. I could have sat there all night and waxed on about his eyes.

Aidan waved from across the room. I lifted my glass in return.

Abe leaned in and whispered, “Take it easy there, champ.”

“If anyone has earned this wine, it is me.”

He laughed softly. His breath skated across my cheek, and I shivered. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, and his tattoos were on display. Some guys knew the power of the forearm, and I had decided Abe was one of them.

Also, he smelled yummy.

“Thanks,” he said.

I guess I said that out loud. Whoops.

Ryan motioned to Abe. “You look so familiar to me.”

“Maybe you’ve seen him at houseplant conventions?” I giggled and took a sip of wine. Sometimes I cracked myself up.

“How do you know the couple?” Sarah asked.

“Aidan and I dated for a few years. He even gave me a promise ring one Christmas, so I thought we’d get married one day, but…” I leaned in and whisper-yelled, “I don’t think that’s going to happen now.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

“Don’t worry. We’re friends.” I frowned. “I’m the best woman. In the wedding. Not in life. I mean, obviously, Missy is his best woman.” I leaned toward Abe. “Am I talking a lot?”

Gently, he took the glass from my hand and set it on the table. “Maybe you should lay off the wine.”

“No, I like the wine.”

Ryan snapped his fingers. “You said your name was Abe? Short for Abraham. As in, Abraham Ramos?”

“Yeah.” Abe shifted in his chair.

“I thought I knew you. Bro, you do amazing work. I saw one of your paint jobs at a car show last year.” Ryan’s voice held a note of reverence. “Remember, Sarah? That 1970 Plymouth Superbird with the phoenix painted on the hood. It was pristine. I looked you up after that and, damn, you are talented.”

He didn’t give Sarah or Abe a chance to answer.

“Aidan, man, you didn’t tell me you had a legend coming to the wedding,” he said, his voice carrying over the din of thirty people.

“Are you a legend?” I whispered. “I’m going to start calling you Legend.”