Weddings Bring Everyone Together

Chapter 2

When I first started college I was a young, naive eighteen year old girl. I went to a university downtown that specialized in the culinary field while the other girls went to local colleges back home. This is where I met Tom. We had most of our classes together and wanting the same major caused us to have a lot in common. I liked him as a friend immediately. Tom was easy to get along with, plus he was really funny.

Tom was a great guy and we both loved each other's company. The nice thing was that there was like an unspoken boundary between us to prevent any feelings.

One day he invited me to a family gathering he was having. I liked the idea so I agreed. He introduced me to a lot of great people; his loving mother, caring father, his sister Carrie, his brothers, lots and lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, and some grandparents. Although I didn't meet everyone, I met enough. You could say his sister and I are pretty close, and a few cousins of his I wouldn't mind calling my friends. But the one person that stood out from them all was his cousin, Garrett.

Garrett was sweet yet cheeky. I was comfortable with him, unlike some of his family members. Since Tom and Garrett are very close, I spent most of the night with them two. I could tell that Tom was excited for me to get along with Garrett, means that Tom and Garrett were like brothers.

Let's just say that by the end of the night, I got a new number saved into my phone and planned to meet Garrett at a bar a few days later. We clicked really well and went on more dates after that.

Before I knew it, I had the best boyfriend ever. This was around the time that Sophie and the other girls demanded to meet him and Tom. So I told Tom to invite some of his guy friends and we all went out. Yes, Tom and Sophie met through me and I still rub in their faces how I am the cause of their unstoppable love. But Tom got back at me for that by saying the same about Garrett and me.

The love of Garrett and I was unbreakable. This is why it hurt so much when the break up happened. I was broken, depressed, and full of sadness.

The fact that Garrett was standing ten feet away from me shouldn't have shocked me. This was a party for Sophie and Tom, one full of family and friends. And Garrett wasn't just a family member stuck by Tom's side because of blood. He was a friend. So it only makes sense that he was here. I guess it was just the fact that I hadn't seen him in almost three years. I've busied myself with work and my home that I've barely had time to think about the guy, barely had time to realize that he would be here.

I had finally shook myself from my startled stare and focused on the world again. Tom was calling my name so I snapped my train of sight away from Garrett and back to Tom. Tom looked back and forth between us a few times then walked over so that he was standing in front of where Garrett was. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, of course I'm fine." I laughed nervously. "I'm just so-so uh happy for you and Sophie!"

"You sure? You sound a little star struck."

"Star struck? Pssht. I'm not star struck. I am fine."

"Really? Even though Garrett is right over there with his girlfriend and-"

"Girlfriend? What girlfriend?"

I looked behind Tom back to Garrett and sure enough there was a tall, beautiful girl standing next to him. How I didn't see the slut before, I have no clue. I guess I was so focused on the fact that Garrett was here that I didn't even notice the female, with her fake everything hanging all over my ex. I turned away in disgust. I see old habits never die hard.

I helped Tom finish the burgers and hotdogs. We chit chatted about simple things for a while before the food was ready. I offered the bring it in for Tom. It was a little too chilly for me outside and my dress didn't provide a very warm cover from the breeze.

As I turned around to carry the plates back inside I made eye contact with Garrett. I stopped and stared for a second, only to get a good look at him. He looked really good. He had grown his hair out a little longer and he had new scruff hugging his jaw. His eyes looked brighter than usual and the dress shirt he was wearing highlighted his muscles. Even though it killed me inside, I still managed a polite smile and went on my way before Tom could catch me staring at him again.

I set the plate of grilled goods down on the table with all of the other food and floated back over to my friends. Heather was blushing a wild red when I joined them again. I was just about to ask why but Kathy had read my thoughts and already started to fill me in.

"Shania was just telling us all about Heather's boy toy. Apparently there's this guy she works with that is totally into her."

"He is not!" Heather cried out.

"Oh girl he so is!" Shania squealed. "You should see the way he looks at her, Alexis. It just screams 'go out with me'. Everyone knows John likes her, too. Heather is just too innocent to acknowledge it."

"I am not. John is very sweet but he so does not like me. We have nothing in common."

"Oh really? He is always looking at you and whenever you two make eye contact, you both blush and look away. He never flirts with the females like the other guys do, his hair is always perfect and his suit is always crisp, plus he reads when he's on break! If he isn't perfect for you then I don't know who is."

"Yeah Heather," I agreed. "I mean it sounds like he is your perfect match. If he doesn't like you then I would just assume he's gay." 

We all laughed and I earned a weak slap on the arm from Heather. We continued to talk about our love lives for a while longer. Well, they did. I didn't care to mention my non-existent love life until Kathy brought it up.

"There has to be someone, Alexis. you're way to gorgeous to not have a man in your life."

"Girls, there really is no one."

"Oh  please," Sophie said. "What about that guy you were talking about before? The one that you kept running into at that coffee shop in town?"

"Sophie I talked about him over two months ago. And besides, things with him just didn't work out."

"Well what happened?"

"Well," I started. "He had finally asked me out so I went on the classic movie date with him. Let's just say I left the theater before the movie's plot could even begin."

"Oh no, what happened?"

"He was a total freak! He kept sliding his hand farther and farther up my thigh, he insisted on holding the popcorn so whenever I went to grab a piece he made these weird sexual noises, and he did the whole yawn then put his arm around me thing."

"Well what was wrong with the last one?" Heather asked.

"Instead of just resting his hand on my shoulder or arm he grabbed my boob."

"Oh," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry hun. You'll find the right guy soon though, I promise."

"Yeah, says the one who already has the perfect guy."

"Tom is not perfect."

"Hey!" Tom said. We all turned to see Tom walking toward us.

"Oh hey baby. I was just telling the girls all about how perfect you are," Sophie said sweetly.

"Uh-huh. Sure," He exaggerated. Tom wrapped his arms around Sophie's waist from behind and kissed her behind the ear. "You ready to tell everyone? I think now is a good time. The party is almost over, yet not too late that it won't be a surprise! now leave, kinda thing."

Sophie looked at the time and agreed. The other girls were confused about this whole announcement thing. That made me feel special because I was the only one that knew what was going on.