Victoria’s eyes widened slightly. This was clearly news to her.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone, Elizabeth. How wonderful.”
The way she said it, with that slight emphasis on the word wonderful, suggested she found it more surprising than wonderful, as if she couldn’t quite believe someone like Julian would be interested in someone like me.
“We’ve been dating for a few months,”
Julian continued, his arm sliding around my waist in a gesture that looked natural and possessive.
“Elizabeth is remarkable. I count myself lucky she tolerates my workaholic tendencies.”
“How nice,”
Victoria said, though her smile had frozen slightly.
“Well, we should continue making our rounds. So many people to thank. But let’s catch up properly soon, Elizabeth. I feel like we haven’t really talked in ages.”
They moved on, and I released a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
“That was surreal.”
“She seemed surprised to see you looking happy.”
“Victoria isn’t used to me having anything she might consider valuable, including a handsome date who impresses her new in-laws.”
“So you think I’m handsome?”
Julian’s eyes danced with amusement.
“Don’t let it go to your head. You’re objectively attractive. It’s not a personal observation.”
“Of course not. Purely objective.”
Around ten in the evening, the wedding coordinator made an announcement that the bride and groom would be leaving shortly. Guests were invited to line up outside with sparklers for the send-off. I debated skipping this part, but Julian convinced me to participate.
“You came this far. Might as well see it through to the end.”
We stood in line as sparklers were distributed, and when Victoria and Gregory emerged from the venue, we held our sparkling lights high along with everyone else. They ran through the corridor of light, laughing and waving before climbing into a luxury car that would take them to their honeymoon suite at the resort. As the car pulled away, taillights disappearing into the night, I felt a strange sense of finality. The wedding was over. Victoria had gotten her perfect day, her perfect marriage, her perfect life, and I had stood witness to it all from my position on the margins, exactly where she wanted me. Guests began dispersing, some heading to their rooms at the resort, others moving toward the parking lot. Julian and I lingered on the steps, neither of us quite ready to acknowledge that the evening was ending.
“Can I walk you to your car?”
he asked.
“I’m actually staying at the resort tonight, room 314. I figured it would be easier than driving back to Denver this late.”
I hesitated, then added,
“What about you?”
“Same, room 209. My colleague had already booked the room before he got sick, so it seemed wasteful not to use it.”
We walked slowly through the gardens, following the lit path back toward the main resort building. The night air had cooled further, and I shivered slightly in my thin dress. Julian immediately shrugged out of his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, a gesture so classic and unexpected that I almost laughed.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.”
“Humor me. I was raised with old-fashioned manners, and my mother would haunt me if I let you freeze.”
His jacket was warm and smelled like expensive cologne mixed with something uniquely him. I pulled it closer, grateful for both the warmth and the excuse to keep something of his with me a little longer.
“Thank you,”
I said.
“For everything tonight. You turned what could have been a miserable evening into something almost bearable.”
“Just almost bearable? I’ll have to work on my fake-dating skills.”
“Okay, better than bearable. Surprisingly pleasant in parts.”
“That’s more like it.”
He stopped walking, turning to face me.
“Elizabeth, I know tonight started as a strategic alliance between two wedding outcasts, but I want you to know it became more than that for me. You’re genuinely interesting, funny, talented, and far too good for people who can’t see your worth.”
His words wrapped around something fragile inside me, something I’d been protecting for too long.
“Julian, I know we just met. I know this is strange timing, but I’d like to see you again after tonight, after this wedding, in the real world where we’re just two people without assigned seating charts and family drama.”
I wanted to say yes immediately. Every instinct told me this man was different, that this connection was real despite the unusual circumstances. But doubt crept in, the voice that sounded suspiciously like my mother reminding me that men like Julian didn’t date women like me, that this was probably just kindness extended through one evening and nothing more.
“You don’t have to say that just because you felt sorry for me tonight.”
“I’m not saying it because I felt sorry for you. I’m saying it because I spent the evening with someone I genuinely enjoyed, and I want more evenings like that. Because you make me laugh and think and feel less alone in crowded rooms. Because when I look at you, I see someone worth knowing better.”
He paused, vulnerability crossing his features.
“But if you’re not interested, I understand. I don’t want to push.”
“I am interested,”
I admitted, the words rushing out before I could second-guess them.
“I just don’t want to get my hopes up about something that might disappear in the morning light.”
“Then let’s make sure it doesn’t disappear. Have breakfast with me tomorrow. The resort has a decent restaurant, and we can talk without tuxedos and wedding stress. What do you say?”
“Breakfast sounds good.”
His smile was genuine and relieved.
“Nine o’clock. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
We’d reached the entrance to the resort. The lobby beyond was quiet, most guests having already retired to their rooms. This was the moment where the evening would officially end, where we’d go our separate ways and I’d be alone with the weight of everything I’d witnessed and endured. Julian seemed reluctant to leave too. He stood close, his hand still holding mine, his eyes searching my face as if trying to memorize it.
“Good night, Elizabeth. I’m glad I crashed your sister’s wedding.”
“I’m glad you did too. Good night, Julian.”
He leaned in slowly, giving me time to pull away if I wanted. I didn’t want to. His lips met mine in a kiss that was gentle and questioning and somehow exactly right. It lasted only a moment before he pulled back, his thumb brushing my cheek. Then he was walking away toward the elevators, and I was standing alone in the lobby wearing his jacket and touching my lips and wondering what exactly had just happened. I made my way to my room in a daze. The space was nice, decorated in neutral tones with a view of the gardens. I hung Julian’s jacket carefully in the closet, changed into my pajamas, and collapsed onto the bed. My phone buzzed with a text from Victoria.
“Thanks for coming tonight. It meant a lot to have you there.”
I stared at the message for a long moment. It meant a lot, really? Was that why she’d relegated me to the worst seat in the house? Why she’d never mentioned having a sister? Why she’d looked surprised to find me at a decent table during the reception? I typed and deleted several responses before settling on something noncommittal.
“Congratulations again. The wedding was beautiful.”
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