False Enemies

Chapter 5

The ceremony was beautiful. Dad smiled and Mom cried the happy tears as they both said I do for the second time. I sat in the first row, wondering if the prospect of getting married one day was more likely to fill me with yearning or terrify the living shit out of me. It was kind of the second one though, at least for now. The idea of tying myself to one person for whole my life was pretty overwhelming. If it was to be the type of loved Mom and Dad shared than sure, why not, but who was I kidding? Their relationship was one in a million. And if they were the one, then it wasn't going to be me.

Based on personal experience, I myself was prone to make poor choices in the area of relationships. They said if you didn't have luck in cards, you had it in love. In the past, I'd always figured that since I always lost in card games, it would be the latter.

Ha. 

As the pastor went on about the hymn of love and kept recalling every single quote about love and marriage the Bible contained, my gaze involuntarily wandered about the yard. Sitting in the first row, I had a limited view of the guests but I could see the row next to mine, separated by the aisle in the middle. Andy was sitting there, with her legs stretched forward and eyes locked on my parents. When she felt me watching, she turned her head and our gazes met. She sent me a quick grin and I responded with the same before she turned back to the front. My gaze lingered on the profile of the person sitting to Andy's left, partially obstructed by her. He was taller, though, so the top of his blond head could be seen over hers. There used to be a time when I thought they could pass off siblings – they get on as well as though they were, too. They both had blond hair, though Andy's was a shade or two lighter. And their eye colors were different. Warm hazel that was more green than brown whenever she was laughing or excited versus stormy grayish-blue, the color of the sky just before the storm. There was a time when I used to gaze into those eyes so often that I've memorized the color so well it's burned itself into the back of my mind. There wasn't really anything I've encountered that would be that color other than his eyes.

I blinked. And I should really stop thinking about that now.

I swear I was just about to look away when Keith chose the exact same moment to glance over at me. Maybe he felt me staring at him. Maybe he just happened to be scanning the scenery just like me. Whatever it was, it caused our gazes to lock for a second too long. I was the first one to look away, pretending to be taking in a basket of flowers standing off to the side. They were a mix of white lilies and pale pink roses. My chest swelled when I realized what they were. Lily Rose. My full name. Mom and Dad had thought everything through.

I looked back at them, feeling all giddy inside. I loved them so much in that moment.

The pastor ended his speech and announced Mom and Dad wife and husband. Again. Everyone stood from their seats and clapped as they made their way down the aisle. They looked so happy, clinging to each other and walking side by side. Mom giggled – actually giggled like a schoolgirl – when Dad dipped his head and planted a ripe kiss on her cheek. I'd be embarrassed to watch it if I wasn't so happy for them.

Eventually, everyone followed Mom and Dad to the tables where the cake was waiting to be cut. I searched out Andy in the crowd and made my way over to her. She turned her head when I grabbed her arm, hooking mine through hers.

"Can I sleep over at your place tonight?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "I haven't really thought it through before but this is going to be sort of my parents' wedding night," I frowned a bit. 

"Sure," Andy grinned. "I'm currently staying at my parents' but if you can stand the monsters, then you'll free to crush on my bedroom floor."

I smirked. The monsters was what Andy called her younger twin brothers.