Page 21 of The Plus One Professional
“Baby!” When he reached Ariana, he pulled her into a hug.
“She’s live streaming,” my sister informed me. “I didn’t want to make more of a scene.
“I’m so sorry! I can’t believe she’s doing this!” Rob leaned back and cupped Ariana’s face in his hands. “I don’t want her here! I just want you, baby!”
I could see the bride’s face soften, and it looked like her wheels were turning. “You should go tell her that.”
Cara and the bridesmaids didn’t seem surprised at Ariana’s suggestion.
“You want me to talk to her?” Rob reiterated.
“Yes. Tell her that.”
Rob took his marching orders seriously. After kissing Ariana and telling her he loved her, he strode out of the room like a man on a mission. The bride and her bridal party all gathered around on their phones and watched as Rob told his ex that he didn’t want her there and that he loved Ariana.
Ariana smiled, looking very pleased at the scene she was watching.
“This is totally going to go viral!” Tabitha, a bridesmaid, predicted.
Nothing made me feel more ancient than social media. I didn’t understand how people could blow up their lives for ‘likes’ or views. I mean, I understood it on an academic level. It provided a platform for people who were seeking attention for themselves or whatever products they were selling. It was sort of like the Wild West had been. Anyone could get rich if they struck gold, aka went viral. But at what cost? This bride had just decided to capitalize on her groom’s ex showing up to her wedding in hopes that she might get more attention. She was already the bride of a five-hundred-person wedding; how much more attention did she need?
Thankfully, the rest of the day was much less eventful. There were no more surprise guests, and no one objected during the vows. The only thing of note was how attractive the wedding guests were. Everyone in attendance looked like they should have cameras following them around for a reality TV show. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least a few of them did.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, and as the guests made their way to the cocktail hours, I spotted Cole in the crowd of suits and dresses. Even surrounded by other good-looking men, he stood out to me. Today, he was with a stunning brunette with legs that didn’t stop. She had to be at least six-foot because, in heels, she stood an inch or two shorter than him.
“Isn’t that the guy you were in the bathroom with?” Billie asked as we stood against the wall.
“Yep.”
“That’s not Jenna.”
“Nope.”
Before Billie could comment any further, there was an emergency with the groom’s cake. Apparently, a drunk uncle had decided to dig into the red velvety goodness prematurely. I quickly called to have a replacement delivered.
The next couple of hours flew by. I was busy assisting the photographer after his assistant got ill. Once I saw the bride and groom off in their rented Bentley, I was relieved of photo assistant duty and realized I hadn’t eaten all day. That happened more often than I’d like to admit. Feeling a little bit unsteady, I headed to the kitchen to grab a snack. After downing a few spinach and artichoke-stuffed mushrooms and two mini caprese skewers, I felt human again.
I walked out of the kitchen on my way to find Billie, and when I rounded the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks. Cole’s date was backed up against the wall, either receiving CPR or getting kissed within an inch of her life by a man who was not Cole. The man whose face she was sucking was blond, and he wore glasses. I stared for a moment; it was sort of like watching a car accident. I wanted to look away but couldn’t. This was no peck. Nope, this was the cinematic end of a rom-com-worthy smooch. Not wanting to interrupt, I retreated back around the corner and was going to find another way to the ballroom when I heard a familiar voice.
“Oh, sorry. I was just…I was looking…”
It was Cole. I held my breath, waiting for what was going to happen next. He’d just caught his date kissing someone else.
“Enoch, can you wait for me outside?” the woman said.
Enoch. The man she was kissing was named Enoch? Not that there was anything wrong with that name; it’s just…she was there with Cole, and she’d kissed a man named Enoch?
You’re in love with a guy named Simon, Billie’s voice pointed out in my head.
Inner-voice Billie had a point. I probably shouldn’t throw stones.
“Sure,” the other man agreed.
My heart was pounding as I listened to Enoch’s heavy footsteps retreat. I told myself to leave, to give Cole and his gorgeous date the privacy they should be afforded. My head knew that was the right thing to do; unfortunately, my feet weren’t getting the memo, and I remained firmly planted where I was.
When the door opened and shut, I heard the woman say, “You are going to get a very good Yelp review.”
Yelp review?
