Jane's Wedding Reception from Liam's POV
"Are you here with Ryanne?" Mr. Jameson asks me while wrapping his arm around his wife's chair. When I nod, he continues. "The poor girl. We were friends of her mother's. How's she doing?"
"She's doing well, all things considered," I answer. That's really a loaded question. These people have no idea what she's been through in the last month. They have no idea that she's fighting for her life and theirs. They deserve to know...but they can't. People really aren't accepting to those of us who are different. I know from experience.
"How'd you two meet?" his wife asks me. I go onto to rehash the lie that Tom and Colton helped me create. Ryanne and I met when we were both hired for an internship this summer.
I'm not really a small talk person. I keep to myself. I don't care for these types of conversation that are going to be forgotten in ten minutes time. I glance away from them and look at the table at the front of the room featuring the bride and groom and their parties. Ryanne's looking at me and nodding. I shoot her a small smile hoping to ease some of her embarrassment. Removing her eyes from me, she turns and gives the woman beside her a small glare. It's not the full force glare she's been known to give, but it's a glare nonetheless.
Finally figuring out that I really don't want to talk, the Jameson's turn away and talk to the amiable couple on the other side of them. Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms and turn towards Ryanne again. I can see Larkin scanning the room in the far corner, but I don't pay him any attention. Ryanne's eyes are focused on Jane and her father as they move across the dance floor. I could tell that something was up during the ceremony and that look is back in her eyes. A lot of people get emotional during weddings, but this was different. Something is bothering her.
Ryanne bites her lip and even from this distance I can see the tears swimming behind her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she leans forward on the table and rests her chin against her palm as her eyes continue to follow the dancers. When the song ends and another one begins, Jane moves away from her father and heads toward the table, toward Ryanne. She straightens up and instantly starts shaking her head, telling Jane that she doesn't want to dance. Jane doesn't listen and drags her onto the dance floor.
Pushing myself away from my seat, I stand up and make my way toward the edge of the dance floor. Something stops me in my tracks as I watch Ross move forward and wrap an arm around Jane's waist and pull her to the center. Ryanne stands taller and looks in the direction that I was just sitting and frowns. Her eyes continue moving around the room, searching for me. Colton really should be the one here. He probably would have been here had Tom not told her to take me.
Side-stepping moving bodies already dancing, I make my way over to her. Ryanne turns around and starts moving away when I tap on her shoulder and ask her to have this dance. I can't help but smile when I see the relieved look in her eyes and she looks up at me.
"You may," she says with a smile and steps closer to me.
I have to be careful here. Though she doesn't know yet, she's Colton's girl. I'm not getting in the way of that, but as her protector there's a need inside of me to make sure she's happy. Right now, she's not happy. She's thinking inside of her mind and I've come to realize that that can be a very dangerous place with her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her close to me. Despite the heels she's wearing, she's still so much shorter than me.
"Is something wrong? You seemed a little upset during the ceremony," I ask her. Ryanne purses her lips and looks around the room. What is she thinking about?
"I'm fine. I was just thinking." Uh Oh. Knowing not to saying anything yet, I keep my mouth shut and wait. Her eyes linger on Jane who's still dancing with her now husband. "I was just thinking about how I might not ever get to experience this myself. Despite this appearance I put out, I want all of this. I want to find love, and I want to get married. I want to walk down the aisle in some ridiculous dress and be blissfully happy, but I don't think that's going to be possible."
