Hopelessly Devoted {ManxMan} [Book II]

Chapter 9

Z A C H A R Y

Today was the wedding dinner and I was scrabbling through my closet to try and find something nice to wear.

I finally decided on a nice dress shirt with a colorful bowtie and black skinny jeans.

I looked at myself in the mirror and hoped I was dressed up enough.

I jumped when there was a knock on the door.

I walked over and opened the door to reveal Basile he was wearing a nice suit and I immediately sighed, "I feel like I'm too underdressed."

"You look fine." He smiled as he fixed my crooked bow tie.

I smiled, "Are you ready?" He asked.

I nodded but before I could walk out the door Basile questioned, "Is that me?"

I turned to look at the charcoal drawing I did of him. This is embarrassing, "Yeah." I said shyly.

He walked into my apartment to get a better look at it.

He laughed and looked at me then back at the picture, "You are such an amazing artist Zachary. Where you looking at a picture?"

I shook my head no and he pulled out his phone and took a picture. I opened my mouth to protest but he shook his head, "I'm going to show people just how amazing you are."

"Basile." I said in a pleading tone.

"You should be proud, these belong in a gallery. I could make it happen if you really wanted."

I smiled, it had always been my dream to have my work in an art gallery but I had always been so insecure I never talked to anyone.

He snapped a few more pictures before turning to me and asking, "Now are you ready to go?"

I stopped bitingy nails and smiled, "Yeah."

"You shouldn't be nervous, people are going to love these."

"You can't show people!"

"Zachary, don't be embarrassed, come on, lets go." He smiled and wrapped his arm around me, walking me outside and to the car.

***

When we arrived at the dinner I was shocked. Basile's mother's house was beautiful. The extravagant home had an amazing backyard where the dinner was being held.

The yard was decorated with tables chair and light pastel yellow, oranges and reds.

There were two people that were the center of attention and I knew immediately that they were the two that were getting married. But before Basile and I could get to the light crowd a woman, who I assumed was his mother, stopped us.

"Aww, you brought him, I knew you wouldn't be alone forever?"

"Mother." Basile said warningly.

"Sorry," She said calmly but then she smiled at me, "It's Zachary, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh well I'm glad Basile brought you here, you're too cute. And I'm Charlotte by the way." She smiled brightly before turning around and barking out orders for the last minute decorations.

I turned and smiled at Basile, "She's amazing."

"She is something."

"Oh come on, your just saying that because she embarrasses you, that's what mom's are supposed to do."

He smiled down at me, "Come on, lets go congratulate my brother real fast."

I nodded and smiled as he intertwined our fingers.

We walked up and Celian and Alexandria were standing in formal clothes, his arm wrapped around her and her head resting on his shoulder as they had a light conversation.

Célian looked over at his brother in surprise as he saw us walk up, hand in hand. But the look of surprise dropped and he put on a bright smile he walked over and hugged Basile, he looked a little uncomfortable at first but then he loosened up and hugged Célian back.

"I'm happy for you man." Célian said.

Basile nodded as they pulled apart, "Congratulations, for the both of you."

"Thank you." Alexandria spoke up.

"Let's go find a table." He whispered to me and we walked off.

We soon found a table beside Jean, Grayson and their children.

Quinn was in a cute white dress with matching white shoes. She walked over to Basile and Basile hoisted her up into his lap were she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. I smiled at the adorable sight.

"How old is she now?" Basile asked.

"A little over a year." Grayson answered with a wiggling Kaleb in his arms. He passed him off the Jean and he asked, "What do you want Kaleb, you can't go run around, you have to wait."

He stopped wiggling and settled down in his dad's arms.

We all looked over when we hear Charlotte begin speaking. She congratulated he son and when off on a small speech then told us to get some food and have a good time. People clapped and we stood up with everyone else.

Basile passed Quinn back to Grayson and we all walked to the line.

Once we got our food we sat back down. Just as I sat down Grayson looked at me with a pleading smile as he held Quinn out to me, "Can you hold her while I run to the bathroom."

I smiled and took Quinn and set her on my lap I made silly faces and poked her belly and got her to giggle and smile at me.

I turned to see Basile already looking at me, "Do you like kids?"

"Love 'em." I smiled and I tuckled her.

The corner of his lip turned up in a smile and he got back to eating.

When Grayson came back from the bathroom he took Quinn from me, "Thank you, I take it she likes you." He laughed as she was still giggling from a silly face a made at her.

He turned around to go back to his seat and he yelled at Kaleb, "Get back here boy and eat your dinner!"

The people sitting around all laughed including me.

***

When the dinner was over and, Basile and I had said good bye to most everyone, we headed for the car.

"I know I kind of do this last minute but I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to Célian and Alexandria's wedding in a month."

"I'd love to. Thank you for inviting me to all these events, it means so much to me."

"Of course, I wouldn't want to take anyone else."

I smiled and leaned forward pecking him on the cheek.

He turned to me and smiled, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

We walked to the car and he drove me home. Once there I started on more Basile inspired works.

Sorry for the wait Lovlies, I will have the second chapter published in a few minutes.

~Beatrice