“Jesus. This place is packed,” I yell over the music as Reese leads me through the crowd of people.
Friday nights at The Tavern do tend to be a bit busier, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this mobbed before. I stay close to Reese, my hand in his as he weaves me in and out of the mass of bodies toward one of the tall tables surrounding the dance floor. I spot our friends once we get close enough. Juls is sitting on Ian’s lap, Joey is talking intimately with Billy, and Brooke is looking between the two couples, rolling her eyes.
“Why I agreed to show up here dateless is beyond me,” she snaps before taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes widen when they focus on Reese and me. “Ahhh! You’re here!” She moves past Billy and Joey, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank you for inviting me out tonight. I’m so fucking excited about tomorrow.” She glances up at Reese. “Wait until you see your wedding cake. It’s unreal.”
“I can’t wait,” he answers, dropping my hand. “You want anything from the bar?”
“Just a water.” I turn to Juls once Reese leaves the group. “Is that what you’re having?”
She holds up her glass. “Nothing but water for me for the next eight months. I need it tonight anyway after bawling my eyes out at the rehearsal. I can’t imagine how emotional this is going to be tomorrow.”
“Am I the only one who didn’t cry?” Billy asks, reaching up and fixing Joey’s collar.
“I didn’t,” Ian says, glancing over at Juls who shoots him a disbelieving look. “What? I wasn’t crying. My allergies were acting up.”
“Sure they were,” Brooke teases. “Because you didn’t shed a few tears during your own wedding, or when you heard your baby’s heartbeat. You’re practically a chick, Ian. Whereas Reese exudes manliness.”
“Easy, hornball,” I direct at her. She wiggles her brows at me as a response.
Reese returns to the table carrying a beer and a glass of water for me. Ian points at him. “You think he won’t be emotional tomorrow? Are you fucking kidding? I’ll bet a hundred bucks he cries before any of us. Including you.” He motions toward me and smiles. “Shall we make it interesting?”
“Fuck you. I haven’t cried since I was a kid. I’ll take that bet,” Reese says. He looks down at me as he slides his arm around my waist. “Honeymoon money.”
I laugh as Joey slides off his stool. “I’m in.”
“Me, too,” Billy adds.
“Yup. I say you’re going to weep like a baby the minute you see her,” Juls says behind her glass, smiling at Reese. “I’ve seen the dress. Good luck getting any money from us.”
“I want in. I don’t have a hundred bucks yet cause I’m waiting to get paid,” Brooke pauses, shooting me a look which I give right back to her. “But, I’m betting Reese holds his ground. I think Dylan will cry before he does.”
Reese presses his lips to my hair. “You want in on this, love?”
Demi Lovato’s “Really Don’t Care” begins blaring overheard, and I put my glass down and shimmy out of his grasp. “Nope!” I yell over the music, moving toward the dance floor. I connect with him from the other side of the table. “But if I were, I’d be betting against you, handsome.” I grab Joey by the shirt and pull Juls off Ian’s lap. I wave over Brooke and the four of us move into the crowd of people on the dance floor.
The guys stay at the table, watching, amused as we all twirl around each other and sing at the top of our lungs. I keep meeting Reese’s eyes, motioning for him to join me, but he stays put and occasionally shakes his head in disapproval when I begin dancing way more flirtatiously than I did today in the shop. Billy joins us after a few songs and takes turns dancing with all four of us, giving Joey extra attention. The dance floor is mobbed and we get moved farther and farther away from the table when more people try to pack in. Juls motions she needs a drink after a while, and I do, too. I’m sweaty and definitely parched, but I need to use the restroom first.
“I’ll be right there!” I yell over the music, seeing all four of them indicate they’ve heard me as they walk back toward the guys.
I push my way through the crowd toward the back hallway which leads to the bathrooms. There are entirely too many people in the bar tonight. There must be some sort of crowd cap that is definitely being ignored. But as long as there isn’t a line for the ladies room, I’m fine with the mob.