After All(6)

I groan.

"Which was actually a good thing because people were able to see what an asshole the guy was being. Like I said, he deserved it. People are on your side this time. Still think he's going to raise a fuss and get you to pay for his phone though. Luckily if you can afford this house," he notes, looking around him again, "you can afford a new phone."

That doesn't change the principle of the whole situation. Why should I have to buy him a phone when he was in the wrong? Why do the boundaries of being a decent human being fail to exist when you're a celebrity? The moment you become a public figure you cease to have feelings, cease being able to express yourself without getting shit on. You cease to exist as a person, you're just a pixelated image on a screen.

I exhale loudly and get myself my own glass before turning to face them. "Well, that's enough about me, then. Today is Will's day. Let's focus on that."

"Also, it's my day since I'm the father of the bride," Ted adds, raising his glass.

"Every day is your day," Will says under his breath before breaking into a grin.

I guess this wedding is a little different from the usual. Not only are Will and Ted business partners and friends but Ted is Jackie's father. Will and I have been friends for a long time, even when I was living in London and doing theatre and he was at the LA office with his ex-wife. We both helped ourselves through some messy breakups and now he's finally met the real love of his life. Of course there were complications, since she was his employee and the daughter of his best friend. But true love prevails and all that fucking bullshit.


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Stop the cynicism, I have to remind myself. Some people are built for love and long-lasting relationships. Some people aren't. I know which category I fall into, it's time to start owning it.

With that slightly bitter thought lingering in my head, the three of us cheers and finish our drinks outside on the patio, the waves of English Bay lapping against the rocks beneath the house. When we're sufficiently buzzed–at least Ted and I–I get on my tuxedo and the three of us leave. The wedding venue is at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club down the street, about a fifteen-minute walk from my place.

We must make a peculiar trio, all dressed to the nines under the late July sunshine, enduring some honks from passing cars and I swear a few snaps from the paparazzi, though I'm probably just paranoid. After last night it's hard not to be. We stroll around the corner to the yacht club and head down the driveway to the ornate building.

A small crowd of wedding guests have gathered outside beside the large, white columns that surround the front steps. Jackie, thankfully, is nowhere in sight. Will is old-fashioned enough to believe in that "not seeing the bride before the wedding" superstition.

And then I see a sight for sore eyes.

It's hard not to.

For one, she's in a hot pink dress that's nearly blinding in the sunlight, beaming against the white building like radioactive bougainvillea.

For two, she's got the nicest set of tits I've ever seen.

For three, her face is fresh, glowing and sweet, and yet her eyes are full of snark and sass.

She's got that "bitch-hot" vibe down pat.

Poor girl doesn't know I'm a sucker for that.

"Who is she?" I ask Will, nodding at her as we make our way towards the group.

"Which one, the tiny Asian one, the blonde, or Jackie's grandmother?"

"The blonde," I tell him.

"She's off-limits," Will says, giving me a stern look. "I mean it."

I jerk my chin back. "Says who?"

"Says me and it's my wedding."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Is she your long-lost sister?"

"Are you talking about Alyssa?" Ted speaks up.

Alyssa. She has a name.

"If she's the blonde," I tell him.

"She works for us," Will says quickly.

"And she's a handful," Ted says. "And not in the way you think I mean. Because believe me, those seem more than a handful. Maybe two handfuls. Depends on the size of your hands. I wouldn't know of course."

I give Will a curious look.

He rolls his eyes. "Neither would I. But she's my employee and Jackie's best friend and the maid of honor and I really want to get this marriage off on the right foot. You … doing your thing that you do now, it would make it that much harder. Plus, I'd have to murder you and honestly I just want to get on our honeymoon." 

I scoff, shoving my hands in my pockets. "I'm just asking who she is. She's pretty." Pretty fucking hot.