Almost three hours later, Elly was enjoying her view of the entire reception, complete with wasted film stars and a dozen moving cameras that were capturing their every move. Her view was even more fantastic because she was seated at the farthest possible table away from the wedding party. She held in a chuckle as she squinted at the dance floor, which was sitting on a raised mirrored platform that overlooked the empty seats of the theater. Joe was kissing Lola to the cheers of everyone around them, as they swirled and moved across the floor. Joe was a horrible dancer, but Lola was lithe and jazzy, absolutely entrancing. The stage at the Fabulous Fox, a monstrosity that used to host Broadway shows and orchestras, was covered with twenty-five ornate round tables. Mood lighting bathed the entire room in light blues and lavenders, while a projected monogram blazed across the glossy floor. The golden deities that hovered above the stage took on an extra-creepy vibe when bathed in the shimmery light, as if the gods themselves were attending a disco. Somehow, between her flowers and Gemma’s vision, this wedding had absolutely lived up to its finale status. From the gold filigree six-layered wedding cake to Lola’s Marchesa form-hugging reception dress, everything was perfection. Elly’s table had been designed within an inch of its life, and while her tablemates (four extras, one makeup girl, a stuntman, and two strangely quiet children) exclaimed amazement over the intricate details, all Elly could think was, I did that. I put that there. The white tablecloths were covered with a navy and champagne overlay. Across the table, under a draping of birch branch, about thirty small gold vases all clustered together to create a virtual forest of pink, blue, and white wildflowers. Green-seeded foliage exploded out from underneath the lush blooms. Zinnias with their showy pinks, dahlias with their creamy petals, and delphiniums with their deep blues all collided into each other in an ornate cluster of color. Viewed up close, it was intimate and vintage, when viewed all together from the stage, it was simply astounding. And she had placed each bloom. She was so tired.
The food had been delicious, and the speeches awkward, showing that even when celebrities got married, the best man’s speech would still be embarrassing. Sitting back in her custom-ordered chair, Elly gulped from her signature Joe Keats cocktail and did her best to hide her shoes underneath the table as everyone joined the newlyweds on the dance floor. The crowd raised their hands above their heads and swayed in unison, clapping and leaping to the live DJ that threw out his hands over his worshippers with abandon. It was, without a doubt, the best wedding that Elly had ever been to, but she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. Exhaustion, from everything—from three hours of sleep the night before, from chasing down Dennis, and from the thought of an emotional goodbye with Keith tomorrow—had robbed Elly of every ounce of energy. She fantasized about laying her head down on the table, but, like, who did that? People would assume that she was utterly wasted, but was that so bad? It looked so cozy, that pile of mashed potatoes suddenly looking a lot like a pillow.
One of her favorite songs came on over the speakers, and Elly pushed herself up from the table, her feet screaming out that it was time to go. Maybe she could stop by the cookies and milk station on her way out. As she went to push out her chair, she felt a hand wrap around her elbow. Elly looked up and almost didn’t recognize the man standing in front of her. His blond hair was combed back from his head, a slight hint of facial hair growing around his chin. He was wearing a tuxedo that was bursting at the seams, but he was so handsome that Elly almost dissolved into tears. “Dennis!”
He grinned. “Nice, right? Sean loaned this to me. It’s way too small and my pants aren’t really buttoned, but it worked!” He spun around and Elly clasped her hands to her mouth.
“How did you get here? And they let you in?”
“I took a taxi. I’m getting pretty good at it. And I convinced the bouncer that I was playing the drug dealer in her next movie!”
Elly cringed. “Lola needs better security.”
“Oh, no joke.” Dennis looked at her dress. “Elly, you look really pretty. I like your dress.”
Then he squinted at her shoes. “Uh, are those … Crocs?”
“Let’s not talk about it.” They both laughed. Blushing, Dennis pulled out a flat, square box from his pocket. “Here. I have a present for you.”
Elly felt tears blur her eyes. “You don’t need to get me anything.”
“Well, it’s almost more a present for me than for you.”
She pulled open the string and unwrapped the box, slipped open the top, and turned it over. Two small items fell into her hand. One was a jade necklace in the shape of a pineapple and the other was a computer disk.
Dennis leaned over her. “That necklace was my mom’s. I want you to have it. It’s from Japan. She wore it almost every day.”
“Oh, Dennis.” Elly immediately slipped it over her hair. The pineapple hit right at the base of her neck, a perfect fit. “Thank you. This means … so much. And, um….” She held up the disk. “Is this a mix CD? That’s so very nineties of you.”
“No.” He moved his foot in a small circle. “It’s World of MageCraft.”
“Oh Dennis, I’m not sure that’s really my thing, but thank you.”
“No. It’s my copy. I’m giving it up.”
“What? You don’t have to, I promise. I know that your online friends are like your family.”
“I don’t need them anymore. It’s not good for me anyway, at least not right now. It’s time for my life to start. Besides,” he looked up at the ceiling, avoiding her eyes, “I have family now. A real one.”
Elly bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. She put her hand on his arm. “Oh, Dennis, I….”
“Elly.”
She sniffed. “Yeah?”
“Don’t get all sobby on me. I want to party at Lola Plumb’s wedding. C’mon.” He put his hand out. “Dance with me?”
Elly was still trying not to cry as Dennis led her out to the dance floor. “Dennis, I don’t dance. I….”
The music stopped, and Joe and Lola stepped out onto a balcony overlooking their guests, wearing their third outfit of the night. They waved to their family and friends before wrapping themselves completely up in a gratuitous kiss. The crowd burst into cheers. Lola dramatically raised her toss bouquet up into the air before flinging it into the crowd. It arched up and sideways and then….
“Elly, watch out!”
Elly looked up just in time to see the bouquet collide with her face. She stumbled backward and the bouquet exploded onto the floor. The crowd laughed and Elly felt her face flush in embarrassment as all the cameras closed in around her. But then she laughed. What else could she do?