The taxi rolled to a stop in front of a grand building, it is glowing under strings of fairy lights that twinkled against the evening sky. I glanced at my phone, pulling up the picture Aeri had sent of the wedding venue—a sprawling hall with tall columns and arched windows. I looked up, and there it was, exactly as pictured, all lit up like something out of a movie.
"Yup, this is it," I muttered, double-checking the address before tapping through the payment on my phone. The driver gave a quick nod as I opened the door with a soft *clack* and stepped out onto the curb.
The place was alive. People were walking toward the entrance—guys in sharp suits, women in glittery dresses that caught the light with every step. The women especially stood out, their heels clicking on the pavement, jewelry sparkling
"Damn, this place is all shiny," I thought, adjusting my grey shirt and smoothing a hand over my jeans. The white shoes Sara had insisted, they fit the vibe of the crowd.
A waiter in a crisp black vest greeted me just inside the entrance, balancing a tray of sparkling wine flutes. "Drink, sir?" he offered, holding one out with a polite smile.
"Nah, I’m good," I said, waving him off. After last night, I was done with anything that could blur my head. The nap and shower had left me feeling fresh for the first time in what felt like forever, and I wanted to keep it that way.
The lobby was packed with people mingling, their voices blending into a low hum of laughter and chatter. Men and women stood in small clusters, holding wine glasses and little plates of fancy snacks—mini quiches, shrimp skewers, stuff that looked too pretty to eat.
I overheard conversation as I walked through the crowd: "Oh, I’ve known Sara since college," one woman said, her earrings glinting as she tossed her head. "She was always the life of the party," a guy chimed in, raising his glass. I smirked to myself, knowing a side of Sara they probably didn’t.
"Where’s Aeri?" I muttered, scanning the sea of faces as I climbed the staircase leading to the main hall.
I tried calling her, it went straight to voicemail. "Figures," I grumbled. "Probably on silent." Knowing Aeri, she was either deep in conversation or fussing over some wedding detail.
I reached the top of the stairs and pushed open the grand double doors, and—damn. The main hall hit me like a scene from a fairy tale. The marble floor gleamed under massive chandeliers, reflecting every light and movement like a mirror. It was disorienting, like I wasn’t sure if I was walking on solid ground or floating. Bouquets of white roses and lilies lined the walls, their sweet scent mixing with the soft, soothing music of a string—a pianist and a couple of violinists playing something light and dreamy. The whole place screamed money, and I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath.
"Jeez, Sara, how much did you drop on this?" I muttered, my eyes darting around as I tried to spot Aeri.
The hall was packed, but I caught a glimpse of her across the room—her back to me, her long dark hair cascading over her bare shoulders, the soft curve of her figure unmistakable even in the crowd. She was talking to a group of girls, her hands gesturing, probably telling some story that had them all laughing.
My chest warmed at the sight, and a small smile tugged at my lips. "There she is," I said to myself, picking up my pace as I made my way through the crowd, careful not to bump into anyone’s wine glass.
I reached her and gently touched her shoulder, her skin cool under my fingers.
"Hey," I said, keeping my voice low.
She turned, her eyes curious, maybe expecting someone else. "Yes?"
Then her gaze landed on me, and her expression softened, one eyebrow arching as a playful smirk curved her lips.
"Well, well, finally someone shows up," she said, her voice teasing but warm. She stepped back, giving me a quick once-over. "Looking good Ezra."
I grinned, shrugging. "Hehe Thanks."
I leaned against a marble pillar, crossing my arms with a smug grin. "Right on time, just like you asked," I said, eyes closed, letting the confidence roll off me like I’d nailed the assignment.
Aeri’s laugh was sharp, cutting through the soft hum of the wedding hall.
"Right on time?" she said, her voice dripping with mock disbelief. I cracked one eye open to see her standing there, hands on her hips, a smile twitching on her lips despite the annoyed furrow in her brow. "It’s 7:40, mister. You’re pushing it."
I deflated, my grin fading as I held up my hands in surrender. "Yeah, okay, I’m sorry," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Got held up getting ready."
"You better be sorry," Aeri shot back, stepping closer. Before I could dodge, she reached up and tugged my ear, her fingers pinching just hard enough to make me wince.
"Ouch! Ouch! I got it, I got it!" I yelped, half-laughing as I squirmed out of her grip.
From behind Aeri, one of her friends—a tall woman in a glittery green dress—piped up with a smirk. "Mother and son, lively as ever," she said, her tone teasing but with a bite that didn’t feel entirely friendly. The other two girls beside her giggled, exchanging glances.
Aeri rolled her eyes, waving them off with a quick flick of her hand.
"Oh, come on, give me a minute," she said, her voice light but firm. She grabbed my wrist, her touch warm and familiar, and tugged me toward a corner of the hall, away from the crowd and her friends’ prying eyes.
"Yes, yes, take your time," the green-dress woman called after us, her voice sugary but her side-eye sharp. It was clear they weren’t Aeri’s biggest fans, and I caught the way their smiles didn’t quite reach their eyes as they turned back to their wine glasses.
Aeri stopped near a tall vase overflowing with white roses, the sweet scent mixing with the faint lavender of her perfume.
"So, the hall wasn’t too hard to find, right?" she asked, her tone softening now that we were alone.
I opened my mouth to answer, but the words caught in my throat.
"Damn..." I said instead, my eyes locking onto her. I couldn’t help it—she looked incredible.
The light blue dress hugged her like it was made for her, the fabric clinging to every curve. It was sleeveless, with a deep neckline that displayed her cleavage and roundness of her big soft mounts to make my pulse kick up a notch. A big cutout ran across her stomach, revealing a smooth skin, and the dress slit high on one side, leaving her leg bare from thigh to ankle. A delicate silver necklace gleamed at her throat, catching the chandelier light, and her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. She was stunning—sexy in a way that hit me like a freight train, and I couldn’t stop staring.
"What?" she asked, tilting her head, a curious smile playing on her lips.
I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "You look... so freaking stunning right now," I said, my eyes tracing her from head to toe.