CARDIGAN- J. HUGHES

Twelve

You put me on and said I was your favorite

"You may now kiss the bride!"

Cheers and screams on joy carried in the wind that whipped around us all as we gathered on the beach for the wedding. It was picture perfect. Minus the gray clouds over head, signs of a torrential downpour everywhere. Luckily the reception and cocktail hours were both inside.

My family and the Hughes family walked over to the cocktail hour/ reception venue together. Cocktail hour was gonna be an hour long and then the reception was however long we wanted. We were the only ones at the resort.

My eyes squinted as I looked up to the sky, thunder rumbling in the distance as we waited for the weather to hit. Thunderstorms were a small fear of mine so maybe that's why I had this pit in my stomach. Or maybe it was because of Jack and Sienna as it has been. Or maybe it was something else. Either way, something was brewing and it wasn't just the storm up above.

"You have yet to get hammered with me this trip" Luke commented, pointing over at me.

"I'm trying not to make a fool out of myself Luke" I responded but in reality, I spent too much time crying and hating myself to go out and have a good time. "I'm planning to tonight that's for sure" I scoffed as we walked into a beautiful wedding venue. Everything at this resort was just so perfect.

"Same. Trevor and Alex are already drunk. They were giggling the whole wedding" Luke laughed as we saw those two idiots already at the bar with beers in their hands. "Let's go say hi" Luke grabbed my hand and we walked over to the two boys.

"My eyes have been blessed" Trevor joked, bowing his head to me. I rolled my eyes and wrapped an arm around his neck as I stood beside him. "Im feeling very grateful at the moment. I'd like to thank-"

"You have problems" I laughed. He smiled up at me and wrapped his arm around my hips lazily. "What do i drink tonight boys?" I asked, glancing between the three.

"Shots" Alex's eyes lit up in excitement, as did Trevor's.

"Not yet" I brushed off. "I may just do a vodka soda for right now" i thought before deciding that's exactly what I want.

"I got you Lil" Trevor ordered my drink for me and the bartender handed it over with a smile. I took a sip, feeling refreshed by the crisp flavor of the cold liquid. "So Lily, you gonna see your boy toy groomsmen or am I actually getting another chance?"

"Another?" Alex asked with furrowed brows. I sent Trevor a glare as he sucked in a breath with wide eyes. Fucking idiot. "Holy shit" Alex laughed loudly, pointing between us. "This is unreal"

"Alex shut up." Trevor ordered. "It's no big deal." He was now doing damage control. "But please do not tell Jackson I do like my life"

"I won't. Luke you knew about this?" Alex asked, noticing how unfazed Luke was by this.

"Duh. She's my best friend" Luke stated like it was obvious. "But sorry Trevor, I think she likes the football player now"

"I do not" i argued. "I'm feeling independent" I told them as they all looked at each other with knowing looks. I hate them.

"That's great Lily" Luke deadpanned in boredom. "We will see. But I do have to say if it's between Rory and Trev, please pick Trevor"

"Yes!" Trevor cheered loudly, causing some people to look our way. "Sorry" he apologized quietly. "I can't help my excitement to know I have supporters for my cause"

"Im telling Jack" Alex laughed.

"And? What is he supposed to say?" I rolled my eyes, feeling my mood immediately turn sour at the mention of him.

"I don't think he's gonna be ecstatic about his best friend trying to get with his ex-girlfriend. Again" Alex continued to laugh as my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He had a point.

"It's Trevor. If it breathes he wants it" I shook Trevor's hair as a messed with him and he scoffed, fixing it back.

"Not true" he whined but both Alex and Luke were on my side. "You guys suck" he complained. We ended up spending all of cocktail hour with those two at the bar. So far so good, I barely even looked in Jack's direction. However when I did sneak a glance, it appeared he was already looking. No, more like seething.

-

The reception had barely started and Luke had joined in with Trevor and Alex in the drunk people club. Not even the food helped sober him up. I had a minor buzz that dissipated once I ate dinner but I would get that buzz back and more in no time.

Once all the important stuff that had to happened happened, that's when the party started. People were all over the dance floor acting like idiots and letting loose, drinks were being thrown back like water, and everyone was having fun.

I found myself sat at the bar, sipping on some Malbec as I watched my friends and family finally let loose and have fun. Even Jackson was drunk, waving his tie around that he had ripped off his neck. My mom, dad, Ellen, and Jim were all dancing together and definitely feeling the alcohol. And of course, Sienna and Jack were drunk too, getting all giggly and touchy and I wanted to throw myself out a window. The sight of them was single handedly preventing my high from the alcohol.

I think a part of me worried what I would do. What would I do if I blacked out and saw them acting like that? Would I tell her what happened? Would I tell her the ring he gave her was actually mine? Or would I actually have a night of fun for the first time in months. Only one of those options was reasonable and I think I was scared to let myself loose.

"I've been looking for you all night" I looked to my right to see Rory plop down on a stool holding a high noon can and a red solo cup. He passed me the cup with a smile. "It's a special concoction I whipped up in the groom's suite upstairs. Just try it."

"If there is tequila-"

"No tequila I promise. It's vodka and rum though" he informed me, sipping his high noon. "I finally saw you sitting here drinking wine and thought you would need some of the real shit" he laughed.

"You may be right" I muttered, sipping the drink while he watched curiously. It was sweet, sweeter than I thought but strong for sure. I took another sip trying to pin point the sweetness but I couldn't figure it out. "It's good. I don't know what in it but I like it" I shrugged.

"Good" he smirked. "Were you stuck with King Douche and his girlfriend all night?" He asked, narrowing his eyes into a glare towards Jack and Sienna.

"I escaped" I told him. "I hung out with Trevor, Alex and Luke at cocktail hour than the rest of the night has been me off by myself for the most part. Luke last I saw was still with Trevor and Alex but I swear I saw him talking to a blonde girl"

"Alright Luke, cheers to that" he hit my cup with his can and we both took another sip of our drinks.

This drink was strong as hell. I had barely half and I was starting to feel it. "You have a heavy hand Rory, this is going straight to my head" I laughed. I probably needed something like this to let loose.

"I've been told" he answered casually. "Want to go see the suites upstairs? They're dope as hell. And we can steal more high noons"

I looked around thinking about it for a second before I shrugged.

Why not, there wasn't any harm in that.