22 - two miserable people meeting at a wedding AU
Kate sits with her chin propped in her hand, idly swirling the swizzle stick in her drink and making ice cubes click together. Sheâs not even sure why sheâs still here; nobodyâs asked her to dance, the food doesnât seem appealing. All thatâs really keeping her attention is the open bar.
Thereâs a loud sigh as someone approaches her table, and she looks up to see a tall man in a tuxedo drop into a chair a couple down from her.
"Not having the time of your life either?" she asks, raising her eyebrows.
He looks up at her, and offers a weak smile. âNot exactly.â
"Yeah. One of those college frat pact things, I havenât actually seen him since college. What about you? Always a bridesmaid? Well, except at this weddingâŚâ
"Just⌠a guest. Sheâs a coworker. Not really a friend, but she invited me and seemed too excited about me coming. I think she thought Iâd meet someone here." She gives a brief, cynical laugh. "Never been a bridesmaid, actually. Donât have that kind of friendship with anybody."
"This is actually my first go as a groomsman, though not my first time down the aisle."
"Youâre married?" Kate asks, eyeing him.
"Oh," Kate murmurs, looking back at her drink.
They fall silent, and she studies him surreptitiously. Heâs certainly attractive, and he fills out his tux quite nicely. He seems about as unhappy as she is, and she decides to take a chance.
"Iâm Kate," she offers, turning in her seat and extending her hand.
"Rick," he replies, smiling as he grasps her hand. His eyes are blue, she notices now, and her stomach flips in a way she doesnât hate.
"Do you, umâŚ" She reaches into her purse and pulls out her room key, holding it up between her fingers. "Do you want to get out of here?"
"Yeah," he says, his smile widening. "Yeah, definitely."
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