Chapter 2: Dancing with a Stranger

What was the proper etiquette when it came to a one-night stand?

The sun was peeking out of the horizon and Jada snuggled closer into Luke’s side. She knew that this was the part where she got up, got dressed and left. But she didn’t want this magical night with the perfect stranger to end.

Luke wasn’t asleep, the way his fingers stroked her naked back told her so. It seemed that he also didn’t want them to be separated, so Jada was going to cuddle in his arms for as long as he allowed her to. They lay there in silence, no one moving, no words said. The sounds of their steady breathing harmonizing with the gentle rolling of the ocean waves filled the air.

Jada’s eyes were still stuck on that Sun. As soon as it rose, her dream night would come to an end. She would have to go from Jada the girl with the sexy waist to the jilted bride who was the maid of honor to the woman who stole her husband and her wedding. The nice, dutiful daughter and sister who never stood up for herself or got what she wanted.

Before she could catch it, a tear dropped on Luke’s chest, betraying her and the façade she was trying so hard to hold on to.

“What is it?” His voice echoed in his chest.

Jada thought about it for a second before she answered. He was a stranger, what were the chances of meeting him again. And if she was to tell him what was going on, who exactly was he going to tell?

“Today’s my wedding day?”

Luke shrugged her off him and pushed himself into a sitting position. Jada grabbed his shirt and pulled it over her head. Jada was expecting him to bombard her with one question after the other, but he didn’t. Luke just glared at her.

A twinge of regret struck her in the chest. “It was supposed to be,” she rushed to explain. She didn’t like the accusing way he looked at her. She wanted to get the admiration from the previous night back. “It was supposed to be my wedding day. But my sister took my groom, my wedding dress, my guest and my wedding.”

Her explanation was still met with silence. At least his gaze had softened.

Embarrassed she looked away. Staring at the ocean, she wondered how long it would take for the waves to carry her to the other side of the world.

“Do you still love him?” Luke finally asked.

“No,” she answered honestly. She met Darrell in a world where her mother and sister didn’t exist. The bank was her domain, she had friends, rewards and responsibilities that had nothing to do with Nina. Darrell was one of those elements that she could wholly own and claim as her own. He showed attention to her, and she was fascinated by it. The attention led to an infatuation that she had mistaken for love. When Darrell had proposed to her, she had to introduce him to her family. That was when the infatuation slowly began to dim, seeing Darrell being led by the nose by Nina stole any attraction or affection she had towards him.

Jada knew what was going to happen next and yet she still allowed herself to continue planning the wedding. It was probably what Nina wanted, to see Jada lose everything and not just the one thing.

For the longest time, she felt like the village idiot who knew but pretended not to know. Her self-esteem also took a deep dive. How dare she think that it would be okay for her to take Darrell back after Nina was done with him? That was when she woke up when she started not to like the girl she was becoming, the girl she had been for years. Hoping that maybe this time Nina would let her have what was rightfully hers from the beginning.

So, as she started wanting better for herself, her ‘love’ for Darrell faded. She was glad that she had never slept with Darrell. The last thing she wanted was to share a man with her sister. Jada could almost see it, Nina jeering at her, rubbing in her face that Jada was settling for her sloppy seconds. Actually, Nina marrying Darrell had saved her from a lifetime of being mocked by her not so loving sister.

“No, I don’t love him. I don’t think I ever did.” She raked the sand next to her thigh with her fingers. “He was just something I could call mine.”

“I know how that feels, having someone take something away from you,” the look on Luke's face as he said this, told Jada that he did understand.

“I guess you are still going to the wedding?”

“I’m the maid of honor,” Jada mocked herself.

“Yeah, thought so. You seem to be the type,” Luke teased.

“And what type is that?”

“The good girl who wouldn’t do anything to upset her family.”

“Ditto!”

Jada wasn’t sure if the sudden attack of pin and needles on her butt was because of sitting for so long on grainy sand or a warning off her latest bad idea. “You could save me from the embarrassing awkwardness if you came to the wedding as my date.”

Luke didn’t answer immediately, instead, it looked like he was giving her offer some thought.

“On one condition.”

“Sure!” A little bit too excitedly Jada responded.

“You’ll take a dip with me in the ocean and save me a dance later on,” a smile crept upon his face as his eyes dazzled.

“Those are two conditions, but I’ll take it as a one plus one.”

“Which one is the bonus?”

“The skinny dipping. It’s more for me than it is for you.”

Jada chuckled wickedly as she pulled his shirt over her head and tossed it to Luke. He caught it and flung it to the side. His gaze followed her as she rose to the feet and back peddled to the water. Luke’s lip lick was the ego booster that Jada needed.

Her night adventures had made Jada a little brazen. She didn’t pick up the shapeless meringue dress her sister had chosen for her and instead splurged on an expensive champagne bodycon dress. Everyone was going to be staring at her, pitying her for being dumped and quickly replaced by her sister. Since all eyes were going to be on her, she was determined to make sure that she looks good and left her audience with a lasting expression. 

Jada stared at herself in the mirror, her heart beating out her chest. An act of rebellion when her mother and sister were not watching was one thing, but acting out in their presence was another. Jada had also refused to straighten her hair. Instead, she gathered her curls on top of her head, just as she had worn it the night before and let it be the crown of an unbothered queen. 

From the safety of her room, she listened as people rushed about the house. Nina had hired a glam army to make her look beautiful for her big day. Unfortunately, none of the mercenaries could fix her soul. She was sure that no one, especially not Nina or her mother would notice her sneaking out of the house, but she put a robe on just in case. 

Jada decided to go ahead of everyone to the church. She was going to meet her sympathetic audience first to get rid of all the weirdness, plus she was excited about Luke coming. If the guests could see them together before the actual wedding began it could save her from the pity that was to be directed in her way.

Jada wasn’t sure Luke was coming through. Yes, he had said he would, but she didn’t have his phone number, email or address. She couldn’t smoke signal him even if she wanted to. She just held on to the hope that he would show up and at least lessen the blows that this day was bound to deliver.

Jada snuck out of the house and was fortunate enough not to encounter her mother or sister. Driving herself she rushed to the church and once she arrived, she called one of the glam squad people back at the house to notify her mother that she had gone ahead. Jada felt bad because her mother was the kill the messenger type. 

Jada watched in trepidation as the church parking lot begun to fill up with cars and its passengers marched towards the church. She closed her eyes, taking long deep breaths, forcing her heart to calm down. Once she felt she had a grip on her anxiety she shed her robe and got out of the car. Armed in her gold strapped heels, champagne bodycon sweetheart neckline dress, and a ruby red smile, she stepped out of the car. 

It was as if they all knew she had arrived. Everyone’s attention turned to her. She enjoyed the men’s dropped jaws, the girls’ ‘yasss girl’ looks and ignored the disapproving looks of the judgmental church monitors. 

One foot in front of the other, don’t fall. 

Jada walked up to the wedding planner who had her bouquet in her hands. She ignored the older lady’s looks of confusion and heads straight for the church doors. These were her guests, the people she invited, so she decided to greet them at the door and welcome them to the hijacked event. For these few moments of satisfaction, Jada didn’t mind whatever consequences that would come her way later, actually, she would gladly welcome them. 

Her brazen attitude as soon put to the test when Darrell arrived. It wasn’t her heart that he had bruised but her ego. He had made Jada seem like replaceable, returnable goods and she wasn’t about to forgive him for the hit. If only Luke could pick that moment to arrive. 

Darrell’s hot gaze led and his feet followed. The way his eyes scanned her body from head to toe didn’t give her that hot desire that Luke’s perusal had left her with. Instead, she felt like she was going through airport security and being inappropriately searched for nonexistent contraband. 

“Darrell,” his name was the only greeting she was ready to offer. 

“Jada,” he hissed out her name, his tone weighed down with desire. “You look…wow!”

Jada gave a tight smile as she shifted her attention to the people walking up behind him. Darrell’s attention was beginning to make her uncomfortable. For the second time that day she was glad that Nina’s sticky fingers had relieved her of this one possession.

“Jada,” Darrell called to her once more.

“Here is your bride,” Jada said as she saw Nina’s limo pull up at the front of the church doors. “You should get to your spot. You’re getting married today.”

“Jada,” he began.

“Nina,” she interrupted. “Take your place, your beautiful bride will be walking down the aisle to you in a bit.”

Darrell reluctantly left and took his place at the altar. That small reprieve gave Jada a few seconds to still her spine and bring back the audacity she felt when she went against her mother and sister and bought the dress she wore that morning. 

Nina and their mother came up the church steps and halted when they laid eyes on her. Jada was satisfied with their shocked wide eyes and the ‘O’ their mouths had formed. Immediately the music begun to play, Jada walked down the aisle before her mother or her sister grabbed her and forced her to change.

Luke wasn’t here. But that was okay. She was sure she could get through the day on her own.

***

Chris was already on his second beer when the wedding guests began to arrive at the reception. He took a look around at the explosion of pink and concluded that when Jada’s sister took over the wedding, that included the décor as well. In his mind, Jada was the embodiment of Mother Earth. He assumed that she liked earth tones and all things natural. He wouldn’t be surprised if she was vegan or was very specific about what she ate. She looked like to consciously careful type.

A huge contradiction to Chris’ reckless type. To his credit, Chris was very cautious about his decision to come to the wedding. At first, he got up after his nap to get ready for the afternoon ceremony, then changing his mind. Telling himself that Jada’s family problems were not his own. But he had promised to be her plus one. He had put on and taken off his shirt three times before he finally decided to go to the wedding, but at that time it was so late he could only make it to the reception.

Chris’ presence was met by a curious gaze. He assumed this was the type of wedding that everyone knew everyone. It was Jada’s guest list, so he assumed that they were mostly close friends and family. He gave a courteous nod to everyone bold enough to stare at him for more than ten seconds. Chris tapped the neck of his beer bottle, wondering when Jada would make her entrance. Being the odd man out was getting too uncomfortable.

Chris wondered how Jada would look if her sister had managed to put her in the ugliest dress in America. He worried that there would be an awkward tension or atmosphere around them. Being in the middle of family and friends was very different from dancing on the beach with no one around. In an instant, he regretted his decision to come. He put his beer bottle down and headed towards the exit. Chris knew that he would be breaking his promise to Jada, but he knew for a fact that she was used to being disappointed.

Chris met Jada at the exit which was her entry. Chris had to collect his jaw from the ground after a few seconds of gawking. Not wanting to miss an inch of her, his eyes slowly took her all in, from the top of her curls to her manicured toes in the gold strap heels. He let his eyes linger for a few moments on his favorite part of her body, her waist.

Chris let out a wolfish whistle before taking a step back so that he could get an even better look at her. Either her sister had been generous enough to allow Jada to wear what she wanted or Jada had gone rogue. But her sister didn’t seem like the type who would let anyone upstage her.

Unable to resist anymore, Chris took a step towards her, crowding her space. He circled his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and wished they were back at the beach. 

“You look amazing, and you smell wonderful,” Chris held her tighter and nuzzled her neck. That earned him a giggle from Jada. 

The sound of someone clearing their throat reached into Chris’ desire filled haze and pulled him out of it. He lifted his head and met the gazes of the bride and groom and an older woman he assumed was Jada’s mother. Jada pulled out of his embrace and took her position by his side. Chris’ arm was still possessively around Jada’s waist. He met the grooms challenging glare and that made him pull Jada even closer to his side. Any closer and she would fuse with the cotton of his suit.

“Darrel Scott,” the groom extended his hand and Chris shook it. “I am the groom.”

“I assumed as much. May I take a bold guess and assume the woman in white next to you is the bride?” Chris asked slipping in as much sarcasm in his voice, enough to make his point but not too much to sound petty. 

“Nina Williams,” she said as she left her husband’s side and took a step towards him.

“Now Scott,” the abandoned husband added.

Chris knew he was attractive, he rivaled Adonis and any other Greek god out there, but he assumed what made him even more enticing was the fact that he was with Jada. This woman did what everything her sister had. Chris gifted her one of his killer smiles, ignoring the hand Nina stretched out and lifting Jada’s own to his lips. 

“Nice to meet you. You must be the mother of the bride?” Chris directed his attention to the woman who had been scowling at him since the moment he noticed her presence.

“This is my mother, Helena Williams,” Jada introduced her. 

“Who are you?” Direct and to the point.

Chris couldn’t help his amusement at the woman’s hostility. Did she particularly dislike him or was it because he had completely brushed off her favorite child for Jada. 

“Luke Evans, I am Jada’s guest,” Chris answered.

“I didn’t know my little sister was inviting anyone to my wedding,” Nina shot daggers in her sister’s direction and Chris couldn’t help but jump to her defense.

“I assumed that these were all of Jada’s guests.”

That earned him a gasp from the bride, a look of shame from the groom and if it was even possible and even more hateful glare from the mother. Chris didn’t know if he was helping Jada or making her situation with her family even worse.

***

Jada’s feet stopped working when she saw Luke walk towards her. He was wearing a beige suit with a white shirt buttoned up to his mid-chest. The way his body moved as he sauntered made his shirt move allowing her and anyone paying attention a glimpse of his chest. Her fingers itched from the memory of how his skin and muscles felt beneath her touch. Luke stopped right in front of her and she took in his expression. He was every bit as surprised and pleased with how she looked as well. Jada bent her head to hide her smile, but when he pulled her into his arms, she couldn’t hide the sigh that escaped through her lips.

Do I have to be here for this reception? Jada could think of a few more exciting things she could do with her time, and they all involved unbuttoning Luke’s shirt.

When Luke moved her to his side, his arm possessively around her waist, she grabbed the back of his jacket. The gesture was probably unintentional, obviously intimate and so seductive that a pool of warmth formed between her thighs.

Do I have to be here? 

Jada was barely paying attention to the exchange he was having with her family. After her mother’s introduction, her mind went back to the warmth of his palm against his belly. Jada swallowed hard and she fought to catch her breath. Her desire was damn near suffocating. 

“Jada!” 

Jada shook the fog out of her heart and wondered who amongst the four people standing with her had called her name. All except Luke, they held the same bewildered and look on their faces.

“This day is about me, remember.” It was from Nina.

The creases her annoyed expression was drawing lines in the layers of foundation that had been plastered on a few hours ago. Nina looked like she was ready to blow like her head would blow and curse words would explode out of it. 

Jada realized that it bothered Nina that Jada wasn’t hiding in a corner cowering from the pity looks and the shame that this day would bring. But no, Jada felt the complete opposite. She loved the looks that people gave her since they saw her at the ceremony, and her ego was enamored by the way the women gave her envious looks with Luke on her arm, and the men gave her an unusual share of attention.

“Yes, it is,” she said. Jada didn’t attempt to hide her gloating at trumping her sister for once in her life. “We should all take our seats and get this show on the road.”

“Where is he sitting?” Helena asked.

It was then that Jada remembered the pity chair that Nina had insisted be added to the family high table. Nina claimed that she wanted everyone to see that Jada held no hard feelings and had moved on. Nina knew perfectly well that Jada didn’t have a date at that time and her chances of finding one at such short notice would be slim. But now she had the chance to turn Nina’s gag back on her. She was happy to display Luke front and center and have people envy her instead of pity her. 

It was a good thing that Luke was handsome. 

Sometime, later in the night, Jada would make sure to apologize for the circus he had unwittingly joined.

“He’s sitting beside me. Nina made sure I had a seat for my date.” Hold back that smile.

“That…you can’t... I mean,” Nina’s brain was on the fritz as she couldn’t pull enough words together to form a coherent sentence. 

“Let’s go, family,” Jada chirped.

“You’re in a hurry.” Darrell narrowed his eyes at her as if trying to x-ray her brain or something just as ridiculous. 

“Yes, the sooner this party is over, the sooner my private party begins,” emboldened, she winked at him. 

Jada turned around taking Luke with her. She had to stop herself from doing a happy dance. She now realized why the queen’s wave was different from all others. It showed that she owned the crowd with just that title. Jada was the queen of this night. She would usually rush past the nosy aunties, but she stopped each time one asked to meet her new man. By the time they had reached their seats, they were all talking about Jada and her date to the wedding. 

It pissed Nina and Helena off, but Jada was having the time of her life.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you,” Luke leaned in and whispered in her ear. That was when Jada realized that since coming to the reception this was the first time they had directly addressed each other and she as ashamed.

“I am so sorry,” she rushed to say. “I didn’t mean for it to turn into this dog and pony show. I intended to have you come as my buffer but I’m exploiting you.”

Luke shrugged his large shoulder that was now free of his jacket. Through the thing cotton shirt, Jada could make out the curve of his muscles and it was driving her crazy. She had gone from a virgin to a complete wanton in just twenty-four hours.

“I get it, my brother stole the girl I was planning to marry as well.”

That’s why he was so willing to help. He knew exactly how she felt.

Jada didn’t want to show that she felt bad for him and have him mistake it for pity, so instead, she slipped her hand over his thigh and rested it inches away from his crotch. Luke shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. 

“Look at it this way, if you were there with her, you wouldn’t be here with me.” Jada had rom-coms to thank for her bold choices of words. They were sure as hell were not something that Jada the bank teller would ever say.

“I knew there was a reason for my heartbreak.” Luke nuzzled her neck drawing out another sigh from Jada.

“Higher power at work,” she managed to hiss out with a breath. 

Luke was drawing a crowd of curious aunties and Jada was doing her best to manage it. The last thing she wanted was for the wrong people to discover that she and Luke were mere strangers. Intimate but still strangers.

Jada had managed to shut down questions that she didn’t dare ask Luke and encourage the fawning over how handsome he was. She was doing well until she was pulled away for the speeches. She hated to leave Luke alone but he seemed confident enough to charm these ladies without any interference from her. She walked up to the sound station and waited impatiently as they got the mic ready. 

“Where did you meet this guy?” Darrell asked over her shoulder.

Startled Jada spun around missing her footing and almost fell. If it wasn’t for Darrell’s quick hands she would have ended up on her butt. Jada thanked him as she pushed out of his arms.

“Quick hands.” She muttered. “I’m sure Nina appreciates that. You can help her grab what doesn’t belong to her.”

Darrel gave a frustrated sigh before asking once more, “Where did you meet him?”

Lie?

Tell the truth.

Did she care what he thought?

No!

The Truth it was.

“I met him at the beach,” she answered.

“When?”

“Last night?”

Darrell recoiled in shock. “You brought a stranger to my wedding?”

“You brought Nina to my wedding; you don’t hear me complaining?” she didn’t spare the sarcasm. “Plus, he’s not a stranger. We know each other, on an intimate level.”

Jada’s night would not be complete without irritating Darrell. She had to slip in the word intimately into their conversation. She wanted to show him that she wasn’t the same girl that he had callously dumped.

“How did he convince you?” 

The look of betrayal on his face amused and shocked her at the same time. She took the mic the MC handed to her and decided to land one last punch before delivering her speech and escaping this charade.

“He does amazing work with his tongue.” Whatever demon has possessed me, feel at home and stay for as long as you’d like.

Jada swayed her hips to the front of the guest and delivered a flawless speech praising her sister’s ability to get everything that she wanted. She then handed the microphone to the best man, grabbed Luke by the arm and walked out of the wedding.

Jada ignored Helena’s attempts to call her back and decided that she would live this night like she had the last one, for herself.