Might As Well

Chapter 13

Everyone found their way under the tent in the yard around six for cocktails. The bridal party and those in the wedding were down by the lake preparing for tomorrow's ceremony. Family and friends from out of town that came a day early were all invited to join in the festivities.

Clarke stayed with Anya on the porch until it was time to show up. They sat in silence and drank their respective bottles of wine. Clarke contemplated what she was going to do about the fact that her heart was running in a completely different direction from her brain. She needed to get it under control before she hurt someone that had instantly became extremely important to her.

Anya contemplated her best options to get her new friend to set her up with another joint and where on the property she could get the best snacks.

"Looks like it's time, Clarke," Anya heaved herself out of her chair with a satisfied exhale. "You good?"

"Not even kind of," Clarke sighed and let Anya help her up. "But I'll do what I do best and fake it." Anya offered a sympathetic look alongside her arm to escort Clarke over to the party.

"For what it's worth," Anya said quietly as they approached the crowd. "I think you're good enough for her, and I approve of whatever does or does not happen."

"What?" Clarke whipped her head to Anya who was drifting towards a table covered in charcuterie boards and crudités.

"Oh, hell yes," Anya's hungry eyes dragged her away.

"Wait!" Clarke hurried after her.

"You heard me, Clarke," Anya wiggled her fingers over the selections of local cheeses and vegetables laid out before her. "Lexa's brilliant, but she's also a dummy. Trust your gut and figure it out."

"Now?! While we're here in the middle of all of this?" Clarke snapped.

"Or wait until you get home and sort it out in front of all of our friends and shut the fuck up about it until then," Anya popped a cube of cheddar into her mouth. "Your choice."

"Hey," Lexa approached from the inn. She looked fresher and calmer. Her full curls were styled in a low ponytail and hung over one shoulder. The evening sun caught them just right and Clarke tucked her hands into the pockets of her dress to keep from reaching out and touching them.

"Hi," Clarke said softly. Their eyes spoke more than they could. Anya took it in and rolled hers.

"I'm gonna find my new friend and get a drink," Anya chuckled and left with a heaping plate of food.

"How are you doing?" Clarke asked carefully.

"I'm okay," Lexa nodded. "I shot gunned a beer with Aden and his best man, and it helped more than I thought it would," she added with an optimistic grin. "Took some time to run over my notes and collect myself before I have to do this toast."

"I had a glass of wine with Anya who's been scoring weed off one of the bridesmaid's little sisters," Clarke nodded after Anya who had her arm around one of the girls and both of them were laughing.

"Sounds about right," Lexa said flatly.

"You look nice," Clarke blurted out. She braced herself for incidentally setting Lexa off, but Lexa just smiled softly in return.

"So do you," Lexa replied gently.

"Thank you," Clarke felt her cheeks pinking under her rosé glow.

Cheering and clapping began at the edge of the tent as the bride, groom and wedding party made their way up from the lake. The moment between the two of them evaporated into the bustling party all around as hugs and handshakes and excitement became a comfortable blur on all sides.