Weddings, you gotta love 'em! All that romance and all that drama. You just can't beat them.
I've always enjoyed a good wedding. A spiffed-out groom in a tux and a blushing bride in a fabulous gown. You are guaranteed to have at least one hung-over groomsman and one that's already tipsy. There is just so much comedy and tragedy on tap that weddings are just too hard to resist. That and of course, an open bar at the reception!
This wedding would prove to be a memorable one. My girlfriend and I had been planning to attend a friend's wedding. On the day in question, she came down with a "massive headache" that meant she couldn't attend. Fine, going stag meant I'd get all the usual odd looks and questions but I didn't want to miss this wedding.
The bride was stunning and the groom looked shell shocked but they said their vows, exchanged rings and kissed.
I often skipped the photo sessions because they are usually as boring as watching paint dry but with no date, I figured I'd go along.
It was a beautiful, verdant park and I'm sure the photos would be spectacular. The wedding party smiled happily, but after the photographer had snapped the shutter I noticed one bridesmaid in particular lost any sign of mirth. She looked as sour as lemons, odd on such a special day. She was paired up with the hung-over groomsman. I noticed that during a break in the photo session, the groomsman walked over to a nearby bush and threw up. The bridesmaid shook her head in disgust. Who could blame her?
At the reception, I made it through the receiving line. The bride introduced me to any bridesmaids that I wouldn't know. She introduced me to the sour one.
"Marty Frobisher, this is my cousin Astrid Kopekne."
"Hello Astrid, it's nice to meet you."
I put on my full 1000-watt smile for her. She just grinned back.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
Up close I got the impression that she hated being there. If she was trying to hide it she was failing miserably. It made me wonder, is she perhaps secretly in love with the groom? Is she angry for not being chosen as the maid of honour? Or is she just pissed that she got paired with the irresponsible and hopelessly hungover groomsman?
After the speeches and the standard rubber chicken dinner, the dancing began. A pissed-off Astrid danced with her partner for the one official dance. She held him so far away from her that dancing looked comical.
When the music stopped she went back to the head table and took her seat. The groomsman made a full-on sprint to the bar.
I was sitting with a group of older adults, grandparents of the bride and groom. I wanted to dance but with no date, I was out of luck. The bride's grandmother whispered in my ear.
"Why don't you go and invite young Astrid to dance? Maybe it will brighten her day."
Grandma had a great idea, why not, I said to myself. I nodded at Grandma and walked up to the head table.
"Hi Astrid, I'm Marty. Would you like to dance?"
"Okay."
I offered my arm and she took it. We got to the dance floor and with a rock and roll classic we shimmied and shook our tail feathers to the band's playing. When a softer song began I held out my hand to her in invitation. She hesitated but then took my hand and we assumed the slow dance position. A little bodily contact but just a little. She did hold me closer than her former hungover partner. My guess was I probably smelled better.
Astrid was obviously of Scandinavian descent. Blonde hair done up with curls, especially for the occasion framed a beautiful face with clear blue eyes. The bridesmaid's dresses fit tightly to her top, showing a full figure. The gown flared out below the waist. She danced well in a pair of heels. Few women can pull that off.
"Are you enjoying the wedding Astrid?"
"I'm enjoying this dance, so far that's the highlight of my day."
"I'm glad I could make it a little brighter for you."
"That guy they paired me with is disgusting. I am filling in as a bridesmaid at the last minute. One got sick so I stepped in. This is her dress, it doesn't fit me all that well."
"You look wonderful in it like it was made for you."
"Liar, it's too tight up top. If I took a deep breath I'd split the seams."
"Well, for modesty sake keep up the shallow breathing!"
That got the biggest smile I had seen on her all day.
"Did you bring a guest with you?"
"No, my boyfriend hates weddings so he told me to go alone. I could kill him sometimes."
"Weddings are an acquired taste. I happen to like them."
"What about you? Are you here stag?"
"Yes, my girlfriend came down with a bad headache, I'm afraid she may share your boyfriend's opinion on weddings."
"So if we're both at loose ends why don't we stick together? I like you so far, you've made me smile and you're a good dancer, plus and you don't smell like puke."
"Good to know, I hope I can bring more smiles and maybe even a few laughs."
Since it would look very odd and a breach of protocol for me to sit with Astrid at the head table, she came to sit with me at the table with the grandparents.
Grandma leaned over and whispered again.
"You two looked wonderful together. Thank you for making this day a little brighter for her."
Astrid and I drank in moderation. We wanted to be loose, not staggering like much of the bridal party. We danced often, each time we danced slow she held me closer until there was no space between us. As the song ended she looked up at me smiling, I lowered my head to hers and kissed her.
"That was nice, but if my boyfriend was here he'd skin you alive for that."
"I'd hate to see what he'd do if he saw this."
I kissed her again but I pushed my tongue past her lips. She welcomed my tongue with hers and we just kind of lost time. Eventually one of us broke the kiss.
"Marty, if he saw that you'd be dead meat."
"Well let's not let him see us then."
We resumed the passionate kissing. I was getting very excited, holding her close and kissing like this. My excitement was pretty obvious to Astrid who could feel it hard against her.
"Once the bride and groom leave, about half an hour from now, we get released from duty so we can do whatever we want after that."
"I want to stay with you as long as you'll have me, Astrid."
"What if I wanted you till morning?"
"Then I guess I'm yours."
"Don't go anywhere I'll be back."
She scampered off to do whatever it took to help the bride change into some travel clothes.
I sat back down with the grandparents. Grandma again thanked me for showing Astrid a good time. She also commented that we made a cute couple.
I decided to take a break and call my girlfriend. I should note here that we were not exclusively dating each other. We both had dated others while we were each other's primary. I hope that makes sense. What that meant to me was I could entertain Astrid quilt-free. I had no idea what Astrid's status was.
"Hey, how is the headache?"
"It's ok, I took some painkillers. I'll survive."
"Good to hear. The party is still going strong. Looks like it's going to be a late night. It's been a fun time."
"Did you meet anyone interesting?"
That was our code phrase for did you find somebody hot!
