Dinner is finished and out of the way, a beautiful five–course banquet with no expense spared. Fairy lights are strewn all through the ceiling and the trees outside in the garden. Large candelabras with twelve candles adorn every table. The venue looks like a romantic fairy tale. Bridge and I are giggling at each other at the table. The tinkling of a teaspoon on a champagne glass brings the attention of everyone in the room. Ahh, the speeches. I smile at Bridge and take a sip of my champagne. Joshua is standing next to his brother at the bridal table, champagne glass in hand. Scott is sitting back in his seat smiling, maybe a little unsure of what his brother is going to reveal. Josh dips his head, as the crowd grows silent. He smiles a breathtaking smile. I’m weak from want of him.
“Hello everyone, on behalf of my family I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us in the marriage of Scott and Alyssa.” He turns and holds his glass up to the two of them. “Firstly I would like to thank Scott for giving me the honour of standing up for him today. It means a lot to me Scott. Know that I love you.” The crowd gushes. Bridget looks at me with puppy dog eyes. I smile as I listen. His voice has changed. He sounds slightly different—he has an American accent. Not strong, but definitely there. My eyes are transfixed by the beautiful man standing up before us all. A man who is as dear to me as breath, a breath I hold as I listen closely. “Alyssa firstly to you. You are an incredible person. One, for putting up with him.” He raises his glass at Scott who shakes his head and the crowd laughs. “When Scott told me he was going to ask you to marry him, I asked the obvious question. Why? What in the hell do you want to do that for?” The crowd laughs again and he raises his eyebrows. “The answer he gave me however silenced me, forever. He told me he had found someone who loved him for no reason, and that gave him a reason to want to love her back.” The crowd gushes again, and he smiles as he raises his glass to Alyssa. “So to Alyssa, thank you for loving my brother for no reason.” The crowd giggles. “I only hope that my other brothers find the happiness that you both have found today. I believe in a prophecy I heard a long time ago. Soul mates don’t finally meet somewhere at a certain place at a certain time, they’re in each other, all along.” I smile a sad smile. I know what he means. “So on that note,” he smiles. “Tonight I would like to make a toast to three people.” Everyone giggles. “To Alyssa and Scott.” Everyone repeats “To Alyssa and Scott.” “And to my soul mate,” he raises his glass, “who has been with me all along, but is absent from my side.” He raises his glass to the crowd, and everyone claps and cheers. I can’t help it, I try, I really do. But the hot tears are bursting the dam. I blink repeatedly to try and stop them while looking down at the table. I grab a napkin from the table and wipe my eyes quickly before anyone sees. On raising my head I look straight into the longing stare of Joshua who is now back sitting in his seat. We sit silently staring at each other as the party continues around us, both oblivious to the chatter. I give him a sad smile as I wipe my eyes again. That is exactly how I feel about him—he is my soul mate but he is absent from my side. I know it’s just a coincidence that he put that in his speech, but hearing it come from his lips has broken the dam. I stand and make my way to the bathroom.
“Are you ok?” I am stopped on the way by Adrian. I smile and nod, unable to speak past the tears in my throat. “I loved that speech too,” he smiles as he rubs my arm. I smile again and continue on my way. Embarrassment is heating my cheeks and I am still unable to articulate anything. Ten minutes later I stare at the reflection looking back at me in the mirror and the memory bank starts to replay. I can literally feel him, taste him, time has erased nothing. It was as if it happened yesterday.
I love you Natasha. I never thought it was possible to feel like this about anyone. I can’t stand the thought of being on the other side of the world and separated from you. Come with me.
Stop it!
With the formalities over, I am on my seventh champagne and Joshua has started to drink and relax. I wish I could relax—all the alcohol is doing is making me unashamedly check Josh out. My eyes constantly flick back to him every five minutes and like clockwork every five minutes my eyes lock with his. He doesn’t even pretend not to look at me. He is drinking his Corona with one hand in his pocket, his eyes not leaving me as he tips his head back. He stands at over six foot four tall, totally ripped with muscle. His dark skin and chocolate hair all add to the alluring appeal. And his posture, the way he stands, legs wide. He’s just so…Alpha Male. So freaking hot. His piercing blue eyes bore into me, even the way he is drinking his beer is seducing me, the way he’s watching me, god. I’m not the only girl in the place under his hypnosis, every woman here is affected by his physical presence. He stands out. So tall and so athletic, and Bridget is right, his pheromones do smell fucking awesome. He can give a great come fuck me look too. Because any moment, I might do just that.
Bridget walks over. “Ok, spit it out.”
“What?” I ask.
“What’s with Joshua?”
“What do you mean?” I look anywhere but at her.
“Don’t shit me, the UST between you two is ridiculous. I’ve been watching him.” Shit this can’t be good.
“And?” I repeat.
“He’s looking at you like he wants to kill you.”
“Kill me?” I shriek.
“Yes either that or eat you.”
I giggle into my champagne glass.