Deep (Stage Dive 4)

“No, you’re not doing it right.” The pronouncement split my focus, my gaze darting to the front of the room. Something was wrong in wedding town.

“I’ll do it,” Mal told Santa Elvis.

The King just shrugged. Guess he got paid either way.

“Of course you, Anne, take me, Mal,” he proceeded, my sister still held high in his arms. “You’re my Pumpkin, my whole damn world. You get my music and all my weird moods, and you think I’m funny when other people are just shaking their heads wondering what the fuck I’m on about. I think it’s cute when you have your little hissy fits, but if you need me to listen and take shit serious, I promise I will. Good times or bad, you’re with me and I’m with you. No matter what, we’ll always work stuff out together, okay?”

“Okay,” said my sister, raising a hand to wipe a tear from her face.

“You’re the only woman I want or need, and no way are you into any other guy, ’cause you got me and I’m awesome. We good?”

“We’re good.”

“Right,” said Mal. “We’re married.”

“They’re married!” shouted Santa Elvis, throwing in a hip swivel just for fun.

Music started up again and the room filled with the sounds of clapping and cheering. Mal’s and Anne’s mouths were melded together. I wanted that, what they had together, and without a doubt it would be worth waiting for. After spending seven years believing love had to be just so much bullshit, I couldn’t give up on it again now. That was the truth. One day I’d find someone else who made me feel like Ben did.

I just had to wait it out.

Santa Elvis started beating out “Viva Las Vegas” while those assembled went wild. Everyone apart from me and Ben. Shit. I’d pretty much missed the entire ceremony. Thank goodness, Mal’s dad appeared to be taping it. Worst sister ever. I went to start clapping, like everyone else, then remembered the posies of flowers still gripped tight in my hands. Whoops, better not.

So many happy smiling faces—except for one. Oh great, my mom was here. From the other side of the room, her mouth wrinkled, brows drawn in tight. Seemed my initial lack of attention on the bride and groom hadn’t escaped everyone’s notice. Her gaze darted between me and Ben, her frown deepening. Might be best if I avoided dear mama for the rest of the night. Possibly the next decade too, just to be safe. The last thing I needed was for Jan to decide to start sticking her nose back into my life now.

No, thank you.

“Little sister,” Mal cried, bearing down on me with arms wide open.

He’d obviously finally set Anne down, because she was busy being tag-team squeezed by David and Ev. My new brother-in-law basically tackle-hugged me, picking me up around the waist and squeezing me crazytown tight. Breathing … so passé.

“This is going to be great. I always wanted a little sister,” he said. “Older sisters are okay, I mean, don’t get me wrong. But little sisters are way more fun, right?”

I just kind of wheezed.

“And you wait until you see what I got you for your birthday. Best. Present. Ever.”

“Dude, put her down before you fucking break her,” said Ben with some urgency.

“What?” Mal deposited me back on my feet. Thank god.

I gave my sore ribs a rub, taking nice deep breaths. “There was a touch too much love in that hug.”

“Oops. Sorry, little sis.”

“All good.” I grinned, still catching my breath. “Congratulations.”

“Yeah. Congrats, man,” said Ben. They shook hands vigorously, followed by some shoulder slapping.

“Thanks, dude.”

Without missing a beat, the drummer moved on to his next love hug victim. Which left me and Ben staring at each other again. Not awkward at all.

“You look great, Lizzy.”

“You too.” I couldn’t meet his dark eyes any longer, so instead I studied his shoes. A nice safe target. The big black boots made for quite a dramatic contrast against the cream marble floor.

He said nothing.

And yeah, okay, I was done. “Have a nice night.”

“Liz, wait—”

“Must mingle.”

His hand hooked my arm. “Wait. I want to talk to you.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I pulled my elbow free.

“Please.”

That one simple word did it, made me hesitate. Stupid soft me. “Okay. Maybe later.”

“Later.”

It was good to want things in life. Didn’t mean you were necessarily going to get them. Already, the thought of hearing whatever he had to say brought anxiety rushing to the surface. Bridesmaids are busy people; I had shit to do. Ben Nicholson could just wait. Tonight wasn’t about me or him or the lingering mess between us. Not even a little. There were about twenty-five or so people present, excluding Santa Elvis and the string quartet. Mal’s family, his dad and sisters, husbands and kids. Mine and Anne’s mom (henceforth known as She Who Must Be Avoided). The Stage Dive members and their partners, plus Lauren and Nate, of course. Lots of people to meet and greet and mingle up a storm with.

But first I wanted to hug my sister. To hold her tight and know that good things happened to good people, and that she was every bit as happy as she’d always deserved to be.

So that’s what I did.

* * *

After I spent almost five hours chatting and being the best bridesmaid possible, the wedding reception finally began to wind down. Hand to god, I’d more than earned my night out on the town. I’d avoided both Ben and my mom by never standing still for long. My attempts to keep Mal’s clutter of nephews and nieces under control went a long way toward helping.

Mental note to never, ever have children. Working with them would be fine, but I wanted to be able to clock out at the end of the day, thank you very much. They might be cute, but they could also be total maniacs. I was pretty damn certain Mal would be getting hit up for the replacement of at least one of the fancy jacquard-covered chairs. I’d tried to get the pâté finger art out, but with little luck. The perpetrator of that particular crime remained hidden under a hallway table.

Couples were beginning to get overly amorous, what with the late hour, rich food, and expensive booze. As for me, I was ready to par-tay!

“We’re about to slip away,” reported Anne, hooking my elbow with a hand. Her other arm was occupied resting around her husband’s neck.