Severing Ties (Book 2. Ties)

34. Anomalies

"I do," he said with a thick voice full of emotion.

She smiled from ear to ear. Their joy was not enigmatic. We all knew why they gazed at each other with so much feeling. Their eyes, their aura, their words spoke nothing but love. Love flowed through the rooftop and around everyone because of them.

The two people that I considered to be my closest friends had finally committed to each other. Stephanie and Lucas were lawfully married and in love. Watching them was sickening to the core because it was so beautiful, but that was me being jealous. I was jealous because they were fortunate, but I only wished them the best.

Guests filled the museum space that had been rented out for the reception. It was filled with round tables that held flowers and crystals as centerpieces which reflected the artificial lights that changed every few minutes. Some time before, they had been blue and then turned into a shade of lilac. There were museum pieces in glass encasements as well as sculptures standing around the room. Everything was beautiful. People were smiling; even my mom and Lucius were smiling.

The past few months had been hard for them, for me, for our friends, and for our families. Every passing day was torture, but it was also therapeutic in a sense. Things were better and worse. Lucas and Stephanie's wedding was a distraction from reality, but it was too hard to completely put away our thoughts.

Though I would admit that Stephanie and Lucas were very good at helping me forget for a while. Since Frank remained single, he was my partner for all intents and purposes. Besides, I was the maid of honor and he was the best man. We were basically Stephanie and Lucas' assistants, though I would have used a much stronger word which started with the letter 'B.' Both lovers had been stressed before the ceremony and had Frank and I running around like farm animals under the stockwhip. The worst part being over, Frank and I danced and drank to relax after the afternoon's trials.

My feet were killing me, since I was actually wearing heels. Of course Stephanie had forced me, and I could not argue against her, not that time. "Break," I told Frank as I tried to control my breathing.

He gave me a cheeky smile and agreed. "Fine. Only because I'm thirsty."
I couldn't help myself from saying something highly inappropriate. "I'm sure you are very thirsty with all of these Italian, attractive, single girls," I said.

He burst out laughing. "I should have dated you when I had the chance."

"What the hell," I exclaimed. "When did you have a chance?"

"When we first met. Now it would be too-"

"Weird, awkward, gross," I interrupted with a few examples.

Frank chuckled. "Yes. We're too good of friends now." He put his arm around my shoulder as we walked off the dance floor. "On the other hand," there was a big grin on his face, "it would not be gross; look at me-I'm hot." I rolled my eyes at him and shrugged out of his hold. I had anticipated him to comment something like that. "Do you want a drink," he asked after we had stopped walking.

"Okay."

"What do you want?"

I thought about it for a second and came up empty. "Surprise me," I answered. He nodded and went off to the bar while I made my course to where my mom was sitting with Lucius, Elena, Noah-our old professor and Elena's boyfriend, Julianne and a friend of hers. "-he company said it should arrive on Monday at noon. I will make sure it's there by the time you arrive, Beth," Elena was saying when I got to the table.

"Everything else is ready, I think," my mom responded nervously. Her nerves had been on edge the past few months, and the fact that she had not been working had allowed her mind to think over the bad things more than necessary. It had been three rough months for all of us, and we knew things were only going to get harder. On the other hand, I felt relieved and blessed.