This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, wasn't it? Well it certainly had become memorable already and the wedding ceremony hadn't even started yet, but happy? The jury was still out on that one ... Alexandra stood in the women's bathroom in the lobby of one of the fanciest, most expensive hotels in Las Vegas and stared at her own reflection in the mirror. She was getting married to a wonderful, handsome man not too long from then in the largest banquet halls in the hotel. She was resplendent in her princess bridal gown. Her hair was perfectly coiffed upwards into a pony tail that cascaded down through the diamond encrusted tiara she wore and down to her shoulders then pooled onto her bare back just under her shoulder blades. Her makeup had been applied to perfection; her cheeks rosy, her eyes bright blue and sparkling. She glanced at the clock behind her on the wall; the ceremony was to begin any moment and her handsome pop star husband-to-be would be waiting nervously at the altar ... So why was she staring at the reflection of someone who's heart had just been torn in two instead of waiting for her cue to begin walking up the aisle? The heartbreak started only 10 minutes before when she left the safety of the bride's room to rush down the hall for a last minute bathroom break when she was greeted by a handsome friend of hers, Josh Groban.
"Where are you going?" He asked as he met her in the hallway, her dress billowing around her as she tried to breeze quickly down the hall for a quick tinkle before the ceremony was to start.
"Bathroom." She said. He laughed softly.
"Nervous bladder?" He teased. She sighed and nodded.
"Nervous everything." She said and eyed the door to the women's room only 500 feet away.
"Hey, can I tell you something?" He asked, his hands clasped together in front of his chest. He was dressed formally in a three piece dark blue suit, tie, and white shirt. His dark, curly hair was combed to perfection, but his eyes were distant, nervous. Alex dropped the hem of her dress, her arm was getting tired of holding it up and her hands were sweating in the satin gloves that covered her hands and her arms up to her elbows.
"Of course you can. Is something wrong?" She asked cautiously. Josh and his fiancée, also Alex's best friend January Jones were scheduled to be married in the same banquet room of the same hotel the very next week and the way he fidgeted in front of her now she had an awful feeling what he had to tell her may have something to do with that. He now ran a hand through his curls, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through pursed lips. "What is it, Josh?" She asked urgently, not only did she have to pee but the wedding was to start any minute now.
"Ummm ..." he looked at her then looked away. Forcing himself to look at her again their eyes met and he held her there. "I, uhh, I ... I don't know how to say this."
"Just spit it out." She said.
"I ... I love you." He said suddenly and so quietly she wasn't sure she actually heard what she thought she did.
"You what?" She said, confused. His eyes bore into her and for a moment she was sure he could see right through her.
"I love you, Allie. I want you so badly that it hurts." She sighed and looked down at the floor.
"Josh ..." She said in desperation. He slid his hands around the sides of her head and after glancing up and down the hallway making sure no one was looking he turned her head up to his.
"I can't help it. It's how I feel."
"How long have you felt like this?" She asked, her eyes searching his for answers.
"A long time." He whispered.
"How long?"
"Does it matter? What matters is that I want you. I want to kiss you. Can I kiss you? Just once before you marry him." She closed her eyes as his mouth descended upon hers, his lips first brushing hers sending shivers up and down her spine then he pressed them more urgently against hers. Her arms were pinned to her sides by her fright though she had an urge to slip them around his waist. Her whole being was paralyzed by his kiss and a fear of being caught. After an endless moment he pulled back slightly. "You are so beautiful. Tell me that kiss didn't mean something to you?" Alex said nothing, just kept her eyes closed breathing heavily into his face. "Would you like to sneak away and have a moment before the ceremony?" He whispered. Her eyes popped open and she frowned. "Okay, forget that. I know you have to go but this is far from over Allie. Just don't forget how I feel about you." He pressed his mouth to hers once more for a deep seated kiss that included his tongue wiggling it's way between her lips and mingling briefly with hers. He dropped his hands from her head and took a step backwards. Alex swooned forward briefly. Josh reached out and held her by the shoulders. "Are you going to be okay?" He asked. She cleared her throat and swallowed hard.
"Umm yeah." She said softly before turning and literally sprinting to the women's room, pushing the door open and slipping inside.
-------------------------------------------------
Dave the doorman held the front door of the condo open to Alex and she breezed through.
"Hey Dave. Are they home?" She asked referring to Josh and January. They should have been home from their honeymoon two days ago but she was afraid to call. She wasn't sure she could pull off acting like nothing had transpired between her and Josh not only at her wedding but his. It was a terribly uncomfortable situation and one that she would have to work out in her own head. Jan had left three messages on her cell phone and Alex decided she'd better make an appearance or Jan might begin to suspect something was wrong.
"Yes Ms. Portico, they've been back for a few days now." Dave said pressing the elevator button for her, tipping his cap and then returning to his place at the front door. The elevator arrived and Alex stepped in. As she went to press the button for the fourth floor she noticed her hand trembling. She sighed disgustedly, pressed the button and then held it in her other one.
"Get a grip Alexandra ..." she muttered to herself as the lift ascended. She stood staring at the large foreboding wooden door before getting up the courage to knock. The door swung open and she was greeted by first the surprised face and then the smiling face of Josh. Alex felt her insides turn to mush. He leaned on the edge of the door.
"Well, hello ..." He said in a low voice. Nervously Alex tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Is your wife home?" She said, accentuating the 'wife' part. He opened the door all the way and swept his arm down the hallway indicating she should enter. Alex brushed past him and entered the condo. She waited while he closed the door before meeting her in the hallway that led to the dining room.
"She's not home." He said with a shrug.
