Free Falling (Book Three: Exposed)

Was he flirting with me?

I looked down at the less than glamorous boot-cut jeans I had on, and the tank top that I slept in more often than I wore out in public, and gave him the side-eye. Maybe he wasn’t flirting; that could’ve been sarcasm.

Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”

He shook his head with a smile that didn’t confirm either of my theories. When the doors parted at my floor, not gonna lie, I felt a little disappointed that our short-lived conversation had to end. Thinking back, this was the same effect he had on me that first time we’d spoken on the phone.

Get yourself together, girl…

“Well, I’ll see you tonight,” I said, waving at him over my shoulder.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I’ll be seeing you.”

*****

The wedding went off without a hitch, just like I knew it would. After standing in the receiving line and taking too many pictures to count, I was glad to get to the reception where I could finally have a seat and eat something. The second the limo pulled up to the banquet hall, I smoothed my turquoise gown down my legs. The guys got out first, and then helped the women they’d walked down the aisle with out of the vehicle. The second I placed my hand in AJ’s, I noted how easy it had become now.

I linked my arm with his and walked the red carpet that Maisha requested from her coordinator. One by one, we were announced by the emcee once the double doors opened. AJ and I were at the end of the line right before Terrell and Maisha, so when our turn came up, I took a deep breath and tried to smile although it hurt my cheeks by this point from all the picture taking.

Our names were called, the doors flung open, and it was go time. Courteously, the crowd applauded us, and I had my sights set on the table where I already had my mind made up to get out of these shoes. With the lights concentrated on us, I couldn’t make out a single face in the otherwise dimly lit room.

AJ pulled out my seat and then took his own a few chairs away, with only Maisha and Terrell’s seats between ours. The newlywed’s names were called and their guests roared with applause and cheers when Terrell rushed in past his new bride and cut a step like the clown he is. Acting like he’d forgotten she was even there, he doubled back and took Maisha’s hand and ushered her across the elongated dance floor to their seats between AJ and I.

As her maid of honor, I stood to straighten Maisha’s dress before she sat, bustling her train and then guiding her down into a comfortable position.

“Thank you, girl,” she said, quickly peering up.

The emcee notified the guests of the timeline that the event would follow – dinner, toasts from the maid of honor and best man, and then the first dance.

Wait….a toast? I completely forgot about that part.

My palms started sweating and I panicked, trying to think fast. What the heck was I gonna say?

Within ten minutes, our entire party had been served and now the guests were lining up to eat. I spotted Jason mingling near the buffet with a guy he apparently met at his assigned table. That didn’t surprise me. Biting into a piece of asparagus, I discretely glanced down the table at AJ, stealing a glance while he wasn’t paying attention. He might not’ve noticed, but Terrell sure did. When our eyes locked, Terrell bore a big, toothy grin.

“See something you like,” he asked, leaning across Maisha’s plate so no one heard but the three of us.

“Leave the girl alone,” Maisha whispered. “It’s bad enough you set her up with the whole ‘marching down the aisle together’ thing. That was just rude.” She turned to look my way. “Do you know I couldn’t get this man to make one single wedding plan whatsoever, but he was all up in the coordinator’s face telling her how everybody needed to walk to the altar?” She shook her head and I leveled a finger at Terrell as I glared at him.

“I knew that was you…fool,” I hissed.

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