“Ring,” Marcus hisses at me, suddenly reminding me where I am. “Alex.”

  Of course… I almost forgot that I actually have a role in all of this. I give him an apologetic look and pass him the gorgeous, platinum ring that he lovingly picked out for Liza. I remember hearing all about it because Mom spent the whole trip trying to convince him to get a pre nup before the ceremony. As far as I’m aware, that’s the one area in which he resisted our parents wishes.

  “Do you, Marcus Grint, take Liza Smithers to be your lawfully wedded wife,” asks the priest, getting down to the nitty gritty. “In sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, until death do you part?”

  “I do,” he says proudly while looking at his wife with shining love in his eyes.

  “And do you, Liza Smithers, take Marcus Grint to be your lawfully wedded husband. In sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, until death do you part?”

  I can’t help myself, I suck in a nervous breath while I wait to hear her answer. Of course she should want to marry my brother, but there’s always the horrible fear that she might say no at the last minute. I know Marcus well, I don’t think he’ll be able to hack a runaway bride.

  “I do.” I let out the breath as she puts Marcus out of his misery. “Of course I do.”

  “I now declare you lawfully husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

  Marcus dips Liza down into a kiss and a raucous cheer breaks out in the church. I’m sure my parents aren’t pleased with the noise but I join in regardless. I don’t care, this isn’t about them. They might’ve paid for most of it, but that’ll be because they want to control it, but that doesn’t make it is their day.

  Finally, Liza and Marcus walk back down the aisle, looking flushed with love as they go. I can’t help but smile brightly as I watch them, they look incredible. Seeing them just married and extremely in love makes me yearn for something I’ve never craved before. I never thought I’d want romance but a little bit of me does. I’m sure I’ll shake it off later on, but for the moment it’s there.

  “I think erm…” The bridesmaid gives me a coy smile. “I think we have to go too, for the photographs. As far as I’ve been told, we’re being photographed in the field out back.”

  I put my hand on my hip and offer for her to link an arm through it. “Sounds good to me.” There’s a strange fizzing as she brushes her skin about me. “I’m Alex, by the way.”

  “Oh yeah, I know. Liza told me. I’m Persephone, but everyone calls me Sephy.”

  “Sephy, that’s a really nice name.” We walk towards the exit together, leaning on one another as if we’re together. “Well I’m glad I have you, Sephy, I’m not great at photos so I’m glad I don’t have to go through it alone.” She giggles at my joke which makes me continue. “I know you might not be able to tell by my extremely handsome face but I’m not very photogenic.”

  She turns and cocks her head towards me with a playful smirk. “I can’t imagine that.”

  As she flirts with me, I realize that we’re both in a lot of danger here. It can be fun to have a laugh with one another, and I truly am glad that I get to spend some time with someone so awesome, but that’s all it can be. I know myself, I know what I can get like, and I don’t want to overstep the boundaries and make things complicated in the future. Now that I’m back permanently, there might be family meals and stuff. If there’s any bitterness between me and Sephy, then it’ll be hell.

  Even if there’s chemistry between us, we can only ever be friends.

  We get out into the field, and I have to admit that it’s a nice image. It’ll look really great in the pictures, especially with Liza in that lovely dress of hers. It’s a great background, especially with the flowers dotted about the place. I stand near Sephy for a moment while we watch the couple have their romantic shots. The love that shines between them as they do is off the scale. In the end I have to create some distance between me and Sephy, just to stop me from doing something stupid.

  “Right, bridesmaid, best man, we need you in some pictures,” the photographer calls out in a joyful tone of voice. “Then I’ll get the family out to have some images with everyone.”

  There’s a sense of doom as I walk towards Marcus and Liza. I might’ve joked about it to Sephy only moments before, but I really don’t like having pictures taken of me. Especially not professional ones like this. That’s too much pressure on my face. I don’t want to wreck it for Marcus. I would just rather get this bit over and done with so I can get to the fun drinking and dancing part.

  The photographer keeps some distance between me and Sephy. She’s mostly over by Liza’s side and I’m by Marcus, but I can still feel her all the time. I’m acutely aware of all of her movements which is strange. I’m usually too worried about what I’m doing to be concerned about anyone else. But there’s a heat flying off Sephy, a sizzling. I wonder if she can feel it too. I continually dart glances her way but I don’t get anything back. Maybe it’s just me and I’m a horn dog that’ll obsess over anyone, especially someone who’s definitely, one hundred percent, out of bounds.

  Stop it, I warn myself. Stop luring Sephy in. Marcus will kill me if he even knows what the hell is going on in my mind. My brother hasn’t ever been impressed by my… I suppose, womanizing, in the past, so this would be the final straw. Someone in Liza’s family, where the relationship is already a little fraught, will be the thing that pushes him over the edge. I don’t want to risk losing the bond I have with my brother. He’s the one person I really connect with in my family.

  “Right… it’s time to get the family out here. Who wants to go and get them?”

  I volunteer, mostly because I need a moment alone, and I race back to the crowds of people to grab my parents. I don’t know who Liza’s parents are so I have to rely on my family to sort them out. It’s all a bit weird the fact that I don’t know anything about my brother’s bride. It’s the only time I regret spending so much time travelling the world. The last year has been awesome, but I’ve missed out on a whole big chunk of change. It’s odd, but at least now I can make it better.

  3

  Persephone

  “A vodka martini, please,” I say wearily to the bar tender who also looks like he’s had one of the longest days of his life. “And don’t be afraid to make it as strong as you like.”

  “Hard day?” he asks with a knowing smirk. “Not enjoying being a bridesmaid.”

  I pause while I consider this. I don’t mind being a bridesmaid actually, it hasn’t been a bad thing, but I’m all churned up. I know what it is, but it isn’t something I’ll admit aloud. It’s Alex. There’s something about him that’s ignited a fire inside of me that I thought had been put out a while ago. A year ago actually, that dreaded day when I caught Bobby and Erica at it. I haven’t felt any sort of need to be with anyone since then, and now the worst person ever has brought the desire back out of me.

  Why Alex? I ask myself desperately with a sharp shake of my head. Why not anyone else?

  I can’t help wondering if it’s the fact that he’s taboo, someone I can’t ever hook up with. Maybe he’s safe so I can lust after him from afar, a bit like a teenage girl who adores the pop star on the posters on her wall. You can’t ever be hurt by the boy you’ve never kissed… but if that’s the case then why do my feelings for him feel so damn dangerous? I feel like I’m already in too deep.

  “I’ll buy that,” I hear a chocolaty smooth voice from behind me, one that can only come from one person. It’s the person I want to cling to and avoid all at once. I shouldn’t spend time with him when I’m all confused, but there’s an intense need to do so. “Or maybe my dad will, since it’s an open bar.”

  “Urgh.” I can’t help calling him out on his comment. I’m sure it’s a joke but I need to find out, mostly because of his parent’s attitude. If he’s like them then that’ll put me off. “I hate rich guys who think they own the world. If that’s you then you can jog on, mate.”

  I brace myself, expecting him to make some sort of sarky comment back, but he doesn’t. Alex laughs and tosses his head back in sheer mirth. I feel sucked in by that, he’s stunning when he laughs. That dangerous sensation fills my chest again. I know I should pull away but I can’t.

  “Yeah, I hate rich guys like that as well. I might be in that category, but I don’t think I’m really like that.” He pauses for a moment and taps his fingers on the bar. “Or maybe I am, I don’t know.”

  The bar tender comes over with two drinks, exactly the same, and he slides them over to us. I know that if I’m about to make my escape then this is the moment to do so. I could make an excuse, head to the bathroom and then mingle in with the crowd, but I know I’m not going to. The want to be here with Alex is much more powerful than the need to get the hell away from what might happen.

  “Hey, Alex.” An older woman grabs onto his arm and gets his attention. “You’re back, I see?”

  He shoots me a ‘help me’ look with wide shocked eyes which makes me chuckle. I don’t know who this is or what she wants with him, but I’m willing to step back and see the situation unfold.

  “Yes, Auntie Sally, I’m back now. I came back for the wedding, I couldn’t miss it…”

  “Hmmm.” She doesn’t look impressed. “I see, so did you come back with a girlfriend? It must be about time for you to settle down. You won’t be young forever.”

  I have to say I’m shocked. It’s nice for someone else to be getting this lecture for a change.

  “I’m only just turned twenty five,” Alex insists with a bemused smile. “I don’t have to wife up yet.”

  He gives me another look which begs me for assistance. I can’t keep stepping back and enjoying it because any minute now I might end up in the same position and I don’t want to be left alone.

  “Yeah, I’m twenty five too and I haven’t settled down. Liza waited until she’s twenty eight, and Marcus is, what? Thirty now?” Alex nods. “Yeah, so we’ve still got time.”

  Auntie Sally turns up her nose at both of us as if she’s mightily unimpressed. “It wasn’t like that when I was younger. You two would be vilified for being unmarried at such an old age. It was unheard of. Your families would make you marry each other just to save embarrassment.”

  I don’t tell her that would never happen since our brother and sister are just wed because it’s much more fun to live in the fantasy where something could happen between us. It makes me feel better about myself, like I might actually be attractive and worthwhile. I know it’s dumb to get that validation from a man’s attention, but just for tonight I’m relishing it.

  “Yeah well, maybe we will,” I say with a laugh while linking Alex in a way that’s starting to feel natural. “You never know, watch this space. Don’t put your wedding hat away just yet.”

  With that, I tug Alex away and we escape his auntie. As we move towards the dance floor, giggling like school kids, there’s a lightness in my heart. This is more fun that I thought it would be.

  “Let’s dance,” Alex says while taking my drink from me. He puts it down on the table and holds out his hand to me expectantly. I don’t take it at first because I’m anxious. This feels like it might be one step too far, dancing can lead to untoward bodily contact. “Come on, Sephy, it’ll be fun.”

  “But no one else is dancing yet…” I glance around nervously. “We can’t.”

  “Oh my goodness, Sephy, I cannot believe that you’re the sort of girl who cares what anyone else thinks.” Alex rolls his eyes dramatically at me. “I see you more as a dancing on the tables kind of girl.”

  Those words bring something up in me and remind me that actually I did used to be that girl. The person Bobby met was exactly like that. I used to be the life and soul of the party, always up dancing and getting everyone else involved in the fun. I was like that throughout our relationship too… at least towards the end. Then I became duller and more introverted. That night I went out with Liza when she met Marcus was rare. I guess I’ve lost myself a little bit somewhere along the way.

  “You know, apparently we’ve met once,” I remind him, wanting to know if he can recall that event any better than me. “The night that Marcus and Liza first met.”

  “Really?” He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. “I didn’t even know I was there that night, Marcus never said. Maybe I was being a drunk idiot. If so, I do apologize.” He grips onto my hand and stares deeply into my eyes. “Although I did think I recognized you, so that must be where from.”

  I allow him then to drag me onto the dance floor because I want to let loose a bit. I forget that there are people around us and I toss my hands above my head in glee. I can’t help laughing happily as Alex does the same. If he doesn’t care what people think of us, then nor do I. At least we’re enjoying the wedding and actually having a laugh. They should join in as well rather than just look.

  “And now it’s time for us to all greet the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Grint.”

  Alex grabs my hand and he pulls me to the side of the dance floor and I notice that he doesn’t let go while we wait for our siblings to come out to have their very first romantic dance. I could easily snatch my hand away and pull back myself but I don’t want to. I like the feeling of someone clinging onto me. It’s nice to feel so wanted, especially by a guy who’s so very handsome. Alex is possibly the best looking guy that I’ve ever seen in my life. I used to think Bobby was gorgeous, but Alex is off the scale. He’s the sort of man that should be in a magazine, not holding my hand.

  “Oh, they look good, don’t they?” he whispers directly to me. His breath tickles my ear and neck which makes me shiver lightly. A tantalizing sensation races up and down my spine. “Happy, I mean.”

  I nod, my eyes welling up with tears as I see the sheer joy on my sister’s face. Much as I’ve had my doubts, they’ve made it work and I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people look so in love. They slide onto the dance floor together and wrap their arms around each other while they dance to the soppy crooning ballad that blasts through the speakers. I barely hear the song, all I can focus on is the love, the whispering between Liza and Marcus, the gorgeous happiness.

  Damn it, I want that. I wipe a stray tear away. I am too young to want that, but I do.

  Alex seems to sense my emotion and he squeezes my fingers tightly. That action makes me feel like I’m not alone. It’s almost like I am at this wedding with a boyfriend, like I thought I would be when Marcus first proposed. Mind you, it’s probably better that Bobby isn’t here, he wouldn’t have enjoyed this at all. He would be sat in the corner sulking and I’d have to be cheering him up.

  No, this with Alex is so much better. It’s fun, it’s joyful, it’s exciting, and filled with promise.

  “Come on, this is the moment that we’re supposed to get back out there.” Alex drags me back onto the dance floor, helping me to forget all the weird emotions inside. “Let’s dance.”

  His hands circle my waist tightly and my body moulds into his. It feels inappropriate that we’re this close in front of lots of people, there’s such an intense chemistry between us that I’m sure the rest of the room can feel the heat between us, but no one screams out or even bats an eye.

  “You’re going to have to give me your number,” Alex murmurs quietly, only for me to hear. “So we can hang out again. This night has already been a whole lot of fun and it’s barely started.”

  I nod instantly, without hesitation. I don’t mind Alex having my number, especially since we’re bound to see one another again. “Yeah we could do something… unless you’re going to be running away again, travelling the world. Or are you done with that now?”

  “Oh, I’ll never be done with travelling the world, there’s far too much to see, but for now I’m staying here. My dad wants me to join the company which I guess I’ll have to do at some point.”

  “Ah I see, so no wild dreams for a big career?” I ask him teasingly, but he simply shrugs back as if this is a touchy subject. I keep on talking just to cover up my error. “I’m an assistant to an interior designer, so I suppose I’m not living the dream either. But maybe one day, who knows…”

  Me and Alex look at one another and there’s an intense moment there. It makes me feel like we’re slowly stepping closer and closer to a place where we can’t come back, but still that’s not enough to stop us. Eventually something will happen, one way or another, it all just depends on what…

  4

  Alex

  “Wow, I’m not quite as drunk as I planned to be when I started out,” I chuckle as the elevator zips up to the hotel rooms. The whole place has been booked out and I know there’s a room for me somewhere too. “But I’m glad I don’t have to make my way back home tonight.”

  I haven’t been home since I got back actually, I went to Marcus’s apartment straight from the airport and haven’t ventured there since. I left before getting an apartment of my own, so unfortunately for the time being I’ll be living with my parents. An idea that makes my heart sink with disappointment. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to that controlling environment after being so free, but hopefully it won’t be for too long. I want to get on my own feet as soon as possible.

  “Yeah, me too,” Sephy nods agreeably. “I like my apartment, but I bet the beds here are way more comfortable. If the hotel is anything to go by then it’s going to be super luxurious.”

  She glances at the key fob in her hand and hits the open door button as soon as we get to her floor. I suppose this is my cue to say goodnight and let her go, but I don’t. I step out with her on the premise that I’m going to walk her back to her room to keep her safe. I’m sure she’ll be fine, this isn’t a bad place and she isn’t wasted, we’ve only had a couple to drink, but still I’m a gentleman…