The Best Man's Speech

21: Spring Colours

✵ LYRA ✵

As the car came to a stop, I turned face James and waited for his words of encouragement, "Let's do this!" He declared as he looked at me with a smirk. I nodded before climbing out of the car with my man by my side, and walking towards the guesthouse. My sister pulled me into an embrace when she saw me walk in with James behind me, "Were you two together last night?" She shamelessly interrogated us.

"Meia!" I scolded her lightly as I observed the empty reception areas. We were not at the wedding venue but at the guest house close to it. Mostly because the venue was only to be seen by her on the day. Also to ensure that everyone needed at the wedding rehearsal was here. I looked up to find James looking at her with a shocked and cold expression. "She pretty much found out. Just like the rest of my siblings." I calmly explained, with a sarcastically harsh undertone in my words.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret." She promised as she smiled. "I like your dress." She complimented my outfit. It was a white summer dress with laced patterns embedded onto it.

"James chose it." I simply replied as I followed her to the giant sitting room where everyone had been waiting and talking in.

"Of course he did." She slyly said with a smirk before opening the doors of the room to let us in.

"Lyra dear?" My mother sarcastically called out to me, grabbing everyone's attention. Everyone being: Nate and his family and friends, and Meia's family and friends. I awkwardly looked at her, completely confused as to why she was being so bitter already. "Why is James right behind you?"

I froze for a split second before turning around to look at James with a panicked expression. Gaining no response from him, I turned around quickly to look at my mom, trying to beat him to a white lie that can't be questioned, "I had work to do. And since he's my boss, he decided to be generous and give me a ride here." The perfectly formed lie was unquestionably good, since my mom refused to ask more and my siblings let out a sigh of relief and became less tense.

"Help yourselves to champagne." Nathan suggested before allowing Michael direct us to the table of refreshments. I nodded before allowing James to escort us both. When we were away from the crowd Mike spoke, "Seriously, can't you guys be more discreet about your infidel relationship? Other than the fact that this is not meant to be the highlight of a wedding, it's practically unprofessional and makes our mother more annoyingly tense." Without waiting for us to say something, he walked away after leaving us with a clear warning.

"Well that was fun." James sarcastically commented, making me giggle a bit. I nodded hysterically before picking up my own flute of champagne, after handing one to him. I knew he was watching me chug down the contents of the drink. "Woah." He enthusiastically sounded, eyes still on me.

"This is going to be a long day." I admitted before grabbing hold of another glass and watching him do the same and gulp one down. The both of us silently walked back to the room where everyone awaited us.

"I hear that the bridesmaids and maid of honour are all wearing clothing that is fit for spring." Nate's mother announced, trying to make herself sound more posh than she really is.

"They're just light colours. Suitable for any season really, as long as the weather isn't dull."  James coldly said before sitting himself down on an empty chair that was a few steps away from me, and watching me lean against the wall behind me, while I stood awkwardly on my own.

"That's called spring colours, darling." A respectable lady walked in, she was a brunette and let her purse dangle from her shoulder as it cascaded down the side of her body. I watched Nathan hawk at her in shock as everyone watched her walk over to him. I stood still as I watched James stand on his feet, as fast as possible, and give his seat up for her. A part of me was screaming and fuming to know who this was. "Sorry for my intrusion. But I had missed my flight and got on the next one to get here as fast as I could. I am James' godmother. Please call me Eliza, it's short for Elizabeth. I'm British." I nodded as it all made sense including why she was named Elizabeth, due to her nationality. "O" was what my lips looked like as I watched my boyfriend kiss his godmother's cheek.

Nathan spoke, "Thank you for coming to my wedding, Aunt Eliza." Nathan said as he bowed his head slightly to her.

"It's more of an honour for me to be here at your wedding." She smiled happily as she looked back and forth from the bride and groom who sat side by side.

"Thank you so much. I've heard a lot about you." Meia smiled through her eyes as she looked at James' godmother.

"I'm sorry but I haven't heard anything about you." I coldly said in a low voice, while glaring at James.

"What was that honey?" My mother said as she glared at me, annoyed that I sounded rude in the silent words that I muttered.

"And you must be the beautiful Lyra. I've heard a lot about you from both Nathan and James." Eliza explained as she warmly smiled at me.

"You heard about her... from Nathan and James?" My father questioned.

"Of course. On several occasions." Here goes my soul and life. "I called Nathan when I received the invitation for the wedding and asked him about the bride. Naturally we ended up talking about your family and I was told in detail about the youngest, Lyra." She warmly smiled at me, as if reassuring me that my secret was hers, "After that I called James up to confirm with him about whether he was the best man at the wedding. Eventually we started to talk about Crowned Enterprises and he mentioned his new PA and told me about how useful you were at work." Her head had now turned to face me, "I've only ever heard the good about you. But James did warn me about your fiesty nature, and I must admit that I do admire it." I was starting to like this woman.

"Finally." I whispered to myself under my breath.

"I can't say I'm a fan of it." My mother coldly commented, killing the life of the party, alongside my temporary happiness.

"It does brighten up the mood." James smiled as he looked at me through his glistening eyes.