I can smell the scent of Hope’s perfume as I wait beside her in the line. “You look beautiful,” I whisper in her ear. Might as well take advantage of the slow line. Plus, it gives me a chance to get closer to her.
Hope blushes. “Thanks. You don’t look too shabby yourself.” Given the chance, I’d tell her how beautiful she is every day. I know it’s not conceivable. Our lives are in different places and there are thousands of miles between us. One of us would have to give up our jobs, our lives, to go be with the other. One night together and now a fake romance isn’t going to change either of us. It’ll be one weekend, hopefully memorable for us, and if possible, something to build on in the future.
When it’s our turn in line, Hope steps forward. “Would you like chicken or steak?” she asks me. I smile, loving the fact that she’s playing along.
“Steak,” I tell her. She places a piece of meat onto my plate and does the same to hers. Through the entire line, she asks me what I want. In a way, she’s making me a plate of food even though I’m standing next to her.
“What do you want to drink?” she asks when we reach the drink station, which is really a full-fledged bar.
“Water,” I tell her. “Give me your plate and I’ll go get us a spot at the table.” She does and I make my way outside where others are sitting. There’s a slight chill in the air but it is still really nice outside. There are two seats open across from Hallie and Stewart. I set the plates down and continue standing so Hope knows where to find me.
“You and Hope, huh?” Stewart says.
I nod and watch Hallie giggle. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if Hope caught the bouquet tomorrow. We’d be doing this all over again next year!” It’s really cute to see Hallie so excited, but her exuberance is sometimes a little much to take. When Hope steps out onto the deck, my hand goes up and I wave her over. She hands me a plastic cup filled with ice and a bottle of water and sits down.
Hallie reaches across the table and squeezes her cousin’s hand. “I wish you would’ve told me about you and Kellan.”
“We didn’t want to overshadow your weekend, sweetie,” Hope says. Hallie does this little pout smile thing and then holds her hand to heart.
“Tell me,” Stewart starts before deciding he needs take a drink of his beer. “How did this come about?”
I inhale deeply and open my mouth to start telling the tallest tale possible, but Hope starts speaking first. “Remember the email you guys sent out to the wedding party so we could discuss everything?” Both Hallie and Stewart nod. Hope smiles and continues, “Well, somehow, I replied only to Kellan one time and we started talking.”
Fucking brilliant. I love how quick on her feet Hope is with this little charade. It also reminds me to go through my emails to make sure I save hers because regardless of this being for show, I fully intend to email, call, and text the crap out of her when she goes back to Arizona.
Hallie claps her hands excitedly. “Stewie, we’re matchmakers.” The two of them kiss, making me and hopefully the rest of the table feel awkward because it’s not a peck on the lips. It’s a full on, I want you to give me a baby tonight kiss. The kind I want to give Hope later.
Hope and I look at each other and then start eating. She leans into me and whispers, “I don’t know about you, but I expected fine china, foods I can’t pronounce and a violin quartet in the corner.”
I choke on my food and she pats me on the back. “Sorry,” she mumbles.
“Don’t be.” I laugh and cough again. “Honestly, I expected the same. His parents are showy so the fact that it’s self-serve food and we’re sitting on folding chairs is a little out of the norm.”
“All the parents are inside. I think the moms and aunts are organizing something.”
“They scare me,” I tell her.
“Try living with one,” she replies.
We continue to talk quietly, answering questions when asked, but mostly keep to ourselves. By the time this dinner is over, the wedding party is packing up what they need and heading to the hotel where the wedding is. Without asking her, I take Hope’s computer bag and put it into my car. I know it’s a risk, but one I’m willing to take.
“How long have you been in love with her?” I turn to find Hannah standing behind me.
I glance around to make sure no one heard her. “What are you talking about?”
She purses her lips at me. “Funny. I see right through you, Kellan.” Hannah steps closer. “Don’t forget, she lives in Phoenix and she really likes it. Don’t ask her to move back here because she’d never be happy.”