over.”
She glances at the large sliver of cake with all its delicious, white, fatty frosting. A part of Allison wants to grab a chunk of the wedding cake with both hands and just start chowing down. Then with a mouthful of cake she could give Jack the bad news.
You could have had me when I was thin but that time is done and I’m just not gonna care anymore.
Allison slides the plate over and takes a bite. “Wow. This is good.”
The music begins again, this time slowing down as couples unite on the dance floor. Allison sees Skylar’s parents dancing together and sharing a moment. Mr. Chapman looks down at his wife with a glance Allison can only dream of getting one day. She doesn’t know how long the two of them have been married, but that’s what she wants. Being there with her best friend years down the roadand still being able to receive that look. A look of pride and happiness and, most of all, a look full of belonging. “They’re so cute.”
“Come on,” Tommy says as he leans his head over to get her attention. “I’ve seen you in action at weddings before, and currently you’re not dancing on a table or breaking glasses, so . . . hey, Allie. It’s me. What’s up?”
She sighs. “It’s my best friend’s wedding and I’m upset because my boyfriend just gave a speech about how important it is to ‘act on it’ when you cross paths with the right person.”
For a moment, Tommy doesn’t say anything.
’Cause he knows I’m right.
“I thought it was a pretty good speech,” he says.
“I crossed paths with Jack nearly seven years ago. Seven. ”
“I get it.” Tommy’s trademark mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Always a bridesmaid, never —”
“A bride. Yeah, yeah. I’m lame, huh?”
“No. You’re a catch, Allie, and the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
For a moment, she only shakes her head and looks at him to see whether he’s joking. But the sarcastic tone is gone. The wry smile is gone too. He’s being sincere.
“What? Why the skeptical look?” he asks. “At least top one hundred for sure.”
“Funny.”
“I’m still thinking probably number one.”
Allison wants to say something but she’s not sure what.He’s encouraging her like always, and she knows she sometimes takes it for granted. But still, it feels good and sometimes it’s necessary in moments like this. Just to have someone who gets it. Who gets her.
A funky dance track begins to play, and Tommy surprises her by taking her hand. “Come on —this is a celebration.” He pulls her to her feet.
Soon all six of them are dancing side by side, singing the song they all know so well. Allison forgets about her doubts and that nagging voice. Right now her friends are surrounding her and the noise is drowning out anything else. Jack is smiling by her side, and she takes his hand. Soon Skylar has her other hand.
She glances around for Tommy but can’t see him. He was just here; he must be somewhere nearby. Probably filming the rest of them or something like that.
Then the music takes over and she follows Tommy’s advice and keeps celebrating.
Over twenty-five women stand on the dance floor facing Skylar. It’s the bouquet toss, and Lauren almost had to drag her out here to get her to participate. It’s so obvious, so clichéd. Everybody wants the maid of honor to catch it, right? She’s the chosen one. It’s her turn. She’s the one who’s going to get married next. Allison and Jack. Jack and Allison. When’s the date? How’s he going to propose?
“I’m not catching that,” Allison says to Lauren.
“Oh, stop.”
A couple of girls stand in front of Allison, and that’s fine. She wanders off to the side of the group.
“One,” Skylar shouts out.
Some of these ladies actually seem to want to catch it.
“Two.”
Allison looks over at Lauren, who is laughing. She only shakes her head.
“Three!”
Skylar doesn’t toss it over her head but rather turns and
She glances at the large sliver of cake with all its delicious, white, fatty frosting. A part of Allison wants to grab a chunk of the wedding cake with both hands and just start chowing down. Then with a mouthful of cake she could give Jack the bad news.
You could have had me when I was thin but that time is done and I’m just not gonna care anymore.
Allison slides the plate over and takes a bite. “Wow. This is good.”
The music begins again, this time slowing down as couples unite on the dance floor. Allison sees Skylar’s parents dancing together and sharing a moment. Mr. Chapman looks down at his wife with a glance Allison can only dream of getting one day. She doesn’t know how long the two of them have been married, but that’s what she wants. Being there with her best friend years down the roadand still being able to receive that look. A look of pride and happiness and, most of all, a look full of belonging. “They’re so cute.”
“Come on,” Tommy says as he leans his head over to get her attention. “I’ve seen you in action at weddings before, and currently you’re not dancing on a table or breaking glasses, so . . . hey, Allie. It’s me. What’s up?”
She sighs. “It’s my best friend’s wedding and I’m upset because my boyfriend just gave a speech about how important it is to ‘act on it’ when you cross paths with the right person.”
For a moment, Tommy doesn’t say anything.
’Cause he knows I’m right.
“I thought it was a pretty good speech,” he says.
“I crossed paths with Jack nearly seven years ago. Seven. ”
“I get it.” Tommy’s trademark mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Always a bridesmaid, never —”
“A bride. Yeah, yeah. I’m lame, huh?”
“No. You’re a catch, Allie, and the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
For a moment, she only shakes her head and looks at him to see whether he’s joking. But the sarcastic tone is gone. The wry smile is gone too. He’s being sincere.
“What? Why the skeptical look?” he asks. “At least top one hundred for sure.”
“Funny.”
“I’m still thinking probably number one.”
Allison wants to say something but she’s not sure what.He’s encouraging her like always, and she knows she sometimes takes it for granted. But still, it feels good and sometimes it’s necessary in moments like this. Just to have someone who gets it. Who gets her.
A funky dance track begins to play, and Tommy surprises her by taking her hand. “Come on —this is a celebration.” He pulls her to her feet.
Soon all six of them are dancing side by side, singing the song they all know so well. Allison forgets about her doubts and that nagging voice. Right now her friends are surrounding her and the noise is drowning out anything else. Jack is smiling by her side, and she takes his hand. Soon Skylar has her other hand.
She glances around for Tommy but can’t see him. He was just here; he must be somewhere nearby. Probably filming the rest of them or something like that.
Then the music takes over and she follows Tommy’s advice and keeps celebrating.
Over twenty-five women stand on the dance floor facing Skylar. It’s the bouquet toss, and Lauren almost had to drag her out here to get her to participate. It’s so obvious, so clichéd. Everybody wants the maid of honor to catch it, right? She’s the chosen one. It’s her turn. She’s the one who’s going to get married next. Allison and Jack. Jack and Allison. When’s the date? How’s he going to propose?
“I’m not catching that,” Allison says to Lauren.
“Oh, stop.”
A couple of girls stand in front of Allison, and that’s fine. She wanders off to the side of the group.
“One,” Skylar shouts out.
Some of these ladies actually seem to want to catch it.
“Two.”
Allison looks over at Lauren, who is laughing. She only shakes her head.
“Three!”
Skylar doesn’t toss it over her head but rather turns and
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