Whatever It Takes

Jealousy

Dovey smiled at me, a smile that I had only had access to over the last couple of weeks, and I thought I would die from joy right there. I kissed the back of her hand that was laced in mine, pulling her closer to me. She tossed her hair back, and I caught a whiff of her vanilla scent.

"Do we get to walk in like this?" I asked hopefully, squeezing her hand.

She pursed her lips and looked down at out hands. Her face broke into a smile, and she dropped my hand, immediately making me frown. She then looped her arm in mine, taking it and leaning close to me, making me smile like an idiot. She scrunched her nose as she smiled at me.

"This is a little more wedding-y, and I get to feel your big, strong, muscles," she explained, her tone light and sweet.

We stopped in front of the reception hall doors, and she beamed up at me. I moved closer to her face and kissed her gently, my heart flipping when she leaned in and squeezed my bicep. Her cheeks were pink when I pulled back, and when she smiled at me, I could barely remember the girl who had hated me for the last ten years.

"After you, sweetheart," I said, opening the door for her. Her smile got goofy, and she stepped in, waiting for me to also walk in so we could link arms again. I glanced around, my eyes widening at how nice the venue was.

"Look at all of the centerpieces," Dovey said quietly, wrapping her arm around mine and leaning close. I smiled like an idiot – it was the first project we did together to kick off my master plan to win her over. I looked down at her and winked.

"They are still absolutely insane looking," I joked, making her laugh. She threw her head back, and it took everything in me not to press my lips to the pulse in her neck.

"Come on, you flirt," she ordered, pulling me along and between the tables.

Guests were milling around, getting drinks and joking with one another. I noticed some watching us, and I felt my chest fill with pride. I pulled her closer to me, grinning at her when she looked up at me.

"Do we get to sit together?" I asked as we continued to wind around the different tables with the strange centerpieces. She smiled knowingly.

"Knowing Nancy, she probably put us at a table by ourselves," Dovey teased.

My stomach flipped at that thought – I know that she was joking, but that sounded amazing.

We got to the table with the most decorations, and I noticed two chairs were more intricate and ornate. Dovey dropped my arm, and I missed her warmth. I got as close as possible to her, following her basically underfoot. She stopped at a spot next to one of the ornate chairs, snapping the name tag up. She smiled at me, and reached to the spot next to where she was standing, picking up another nametag. She held them up next to one another, letting me read them. I set a hand on her waist and leaned in, squinting to read the scrawling writing.

"Looks like you're next to me, Mr. Edward Munson," she flirted as she leaned back into me, setting the back of her head against my shoulder. I beamed at her and squeezed her side. I leaned close to her ear.

"If I wasn't such a coward, I'd kiss you, Ms. Dovey Henderson," I quipped. She blushed and winked at me.

"Maybe after we dance together," she replied. I smiled and brushed my nose against her temple, still too cowardly to do anything. I felt my heart skip when she leaned further into me and grinned up at me. "Want to get a drink?"

"You sit down, I'll get you one," I replied as I squeezed her side once more. She nodded and sat in her spot, sighing when she finally got off the tall heels she was wearing.

I made my way to one of the bars that were set up in the venue, smiling at the young bartender behind it. I drummed on the counter, glancing around.

"Could I get a gin and tonic, and a beer?" I asked. He nodded his head and started on our drinks, and I turned to look out at the venue.

Guests were still milling around, dressed up in suits and dresses as they laughed together. I smiled and waved at several that I knew, and I looked over to where I was going to be sitting with Dovey. My stomach dropped when I noticed Steve talking to her, a beer in his hand as he gestured while telling a story. I felt a lump form in my throat as I pictured him winning her back over, convincing her of how great he was with his perfect hair and teeth.

The lump went away, though, when Dovey looked over, noticing me watching her, and winked at me. She smiled the smile that I had been seeing more and more of the last couple of weeks, especially over the last couple of days.

"Here you go, sir – enjoy the wedding," the bartender said, setting the drinks down. I snatched them up and made a beeline back to the girl I was crazy about.

My smile grew as I noticed Dovey watching me, barely paying attention to what Steve was saying to her. I got to her and handed her a drink. I set a hand on the back of her neck.

"Your drink, Bird," I said, smiling wider when I noticed her blushing. I smiled at Steve, no longer feeling the one-sided competition I used to impose on us. "Hey, Harrington."

"Hey, Munson – you looked great up there, buddy," Steve crowed, genuine as he always was. I shrugged, and sat in the seat next to Dovey, setting my arm across the back of her chair.

"Thanks, man – Dovey talked me out of that powder blue suit, unfortunately, but this was a good second choice," I joked, smiling down at Dovey. Dovey laughed and leaned into me, setting her hand on my thigh. I felt a surge of joy – holy shit, this was kind of happening.

I looked up at Steve, and my stomach dropped when I noticed him watching Dovey's hand, bewildered. His good attitude had flickered momentarily as he took a swig of his beer. He glanced back up, forcing a smile.

"You two have been spending a lot of time together, huh?" he asked, his voice strained. I felt my mouth dry, unsure of what to say. Dovey squeezed my thigh, making me look at her. Her smile was warm and kind and made my chest tighten.

"Yeah, I guess we have," she answered, cool and nonchalant as always.

I nodded, too overwhelmed by how she looked at me now to speak. I looked back at Steve. I was surprised by how he was watching us – his face red with an expression that looked familiar but that I couldn't name. He cleared his throat and nodded quickly, gesturing at us.

"Well, t-that's awesome, that's a-awesome! I'm going to go find m-my seat," he explained, stepping backwards. I watched him as he went to a different table, trying to figure out what was going on with Steve. I was pulled out of my thoughts when Dovey squeezed my thigh again. I looked down at her, my face breaking out into a smile when I saw how she was watching me.

"Are you going to cheers me?" she asked, holding her drink up. I moved my arm from the back of her chair to her shoulders, clinking my beer bottle to her drink.

"To the Byers," I said quietly before taking a sip of my beer.

She beamed at me and leaned further into me. I watched her lips as she took a sip of her drink, my thoughts consumed by her again. I brushed my fingers long her shoulder, absolutely blown away that I was even in this situation. I squeezed her shoulder before looking back out to the reception. My brows furrowed when I noticed Steve watching us again with that same expression. He snapped his head away, and I was confused. Dovey sighed.

"You know, you tell me that you've been obsessed with me for ten years, but when you've got me basically in your lap, you keep staring at Steve," Dovey teased. I smiled and looked down at her.

"Why do you think I made sure to back over here when I saw him talking to you?" I joked back, pulling her tighter to me. I felt a lightning bolt of realization, and looked back over to Steve, suddenly putting the pieces together.

"And you're staring at him again – do you want me to get you two a room?" Dovey whined, her tone attempting to be light, but I could tell she was annoyed. I looked down at her, still surprised.

"I think...I think Steve's jealous," I explained, trying to compute what I had finally put together.