Lass Ride: Changing Gears

Chapter 3

No two weddings were alike, not even the traditional religious ceremonies. The officiant Dean found looked like he was vaguely stoned, but his paperwork checked out, and that was the most important thing. The sound system had the annoying habit of speeding up every fourth song, but they just adjusted the playlist in kind. It was too late to get proper catering, so they placed a rush order at Dean and Renee's favourite restaurant and arranged everything in the dining hall. It looked rushed, which it definitely was, but love and care were evident in every element, and Renee hadn't stopped smiling since she put her pineapple dress on. "Good thing none of these photos are being leaked online," she said in a mock threatening voice, looking around at all her friends with their cell phones at the ready.

The vows were just as hasty as the decorations and set-up, but Becky couldn't remember hearing anything sweeter. Just watching Dean, normally so gruff and distant, melt as he held Renee's gaze and told her how she changed his life made her tear up. "I'm surprised he let me be here for this," Seth whispered in her ear. He was standing behind her, arms wrapped loosely around her waist, and Becky was sure they looked like some tacky prom photo, but she didn't care. All the women were wearing simple sundresses, while the guys were all in t-shirts and jeans, apparently in some sort of denim solidarity with the groom.

Becky leaned back against him. "I'm not." She thought back over the course of the day to all her friends in some way speaking Seth's praises. Why couldn't he see it? Maybe they don't tell him often enough, Becky thought. Maybe he takes their jabs too literally. Before she left, she would have to ask the others to compliment Seth to his face, not just to her.

In lieu of proper rings, Dean and Renee exchanged matching halves of a Together Forever necklace they had found at a gift shop not far from the mini-golf course. The officiant rambled through the rest of his piece and pronounced them husband and wife to a chorus of hoots, cheers, and applause that echoed throughout the courtyard. Becky said a silent prayer of thanks that there was no bouquet to be tossed; both Sasha and Naomi were married and since Bayley was engaged, that left only Becky and Charlotte to fight for the flowers, and they both had reasons for not wanting to be the focus of marriage speculation.

"Eating time," Dean declared, raising Renee's left hand to his mouth and kissing it. "Feelings are fucking exhausting."

"You can have a nap later," she told him with a laugh as Naomi's phone dinged. "Please say that's the food, or else I'll never get a dance out of this man."

"Yep. Everyone hang tight." Then Naomi looked to her husband, his brother, and Becky. "We're the only ones officially here," she added, "so we have to do all the plating."

Becky turned to give Seth a quick kiss. "Duty calls." She squeezed Renee's free hand as she walked past her and winked at Dean before following the twins into the kitchen. The officiant trailed after them, murmuring his goodbyes.

For ten minutes, the kitchen was pure chaos, with every counter covered in take-out boxes and Naomi, Becky, and the Usos trying to piece together each individual's meal like a jigsaw puzzle from the massive order. Jey had brought in a large trash can and it was already overflowing with boxes before they set the cake to the side. "Yeah, people are definitely going to realize it wasn't just us four here," Jimmy said, looking around at the mess.

"What are you talking about, man? We could eat all this in a day, easy." Jey took one last look at the spread before opening the courtyard doors. "Dinner is served," he called out in a mockingly posh voice.

Dean and Renee had the seats of honour, of course, and everyone else found their spots based on the meals on the plates. Becky was sitting between Charlotte and Seth and even she had to laugh when Charlotte whacked Seth's hand with her fork when she thought it strayed too far up Becky's leg. "Supper first, then dessert," Charlotte chided him.