Unexpected Harmony

Bryce laughed, "Well, I don't know their asshole father, but their mother is pretty cool, I doubt they are too bad." Bryce lifted his empty glass, "Here's to singlehood until the right person shows up for both of us."

Claire clinked her glass against his, "Cheers." She took a drink and said, "You have to drink something with cheers." She held her wine glass out to him, "Finish it."

"What?"

You have to drink, finish my wine."

"I hate wine."

"I don't care, drink it." Seeing it was a battle he wasn't likely to win, Bryce took her glass and drank the rest with a disgusted look on his face.

He stood, "And with that, I'm going to go to bed."

Claire stood and blocked his path, "I don't know if it means anything from me, but you're a great guy Bryce. Steve and Katherine think the world of you, and if they think that way, it can't be wrong. There's a great woman out there for you, I know it."

"Thanks," he replied with a slight smile.

She suddenly stepped forward and hugged him, his arms hung to his sides at first, then gently hugged her back. As they embraced, he felt himself relax for the first time in a long time at a female's touch, no longer worried about whether Michelle saw and was going to freak out; her shampoo's scent filled his nose, causing him to relax a bit more. She released as suddenly as she started the hug, causing him to release and stepped back as she smiled and said, "G'night Bryce. Get plenty of rest because we party tomorrow."

He smiled, "You too, don't stay out too late." He said his goodbyes and waved to everyone before heading back to the hotel, the scent of Claire's shampoo and the thought of her hug running through his brain.

***

The next morning, Bryce slept in until 9 before getting breakfast, then spent the morning doing some paperwork for his job. He showered around 11:30 and headed down to the lobby to meet the rest of the groomsmen; Justin's wife Heather had volunteered to drive them all out to the venue.

Once they arrived, they all helped Steve put the finishing touches on the seating chart and moved some things around before the photographer that was assigned to them arrived. Once he got there, they all moved down towards the cabin and did the staged walking in photos with their NFL, NHL, and MLB jerseys on. With those all done, they spent the next half hour sitting around and talking until the photographer stuck his head in and said he needed them ready in ten minutes for their groomsmen photos.

Dave was the first one to say it as he buttoned his black shirt and pulled on his gray pants, "Who the hell thought it was a good idea for us to get slim fit suits. Not a one of us is slim."

The room filled with laughter and Steve said, "It was all they had in the colors we wanted."

Bryce slipped his gray vest on, adjusted his blue tie, and responded after looking in the mirror, "Well I guess you did all right, because I look damn good." The room filled with laughter again as they all finished dressing and began to step outside one by one. Bryce slipped on his gray jacket, grabbed the bottle of bourbon from his backpack and made his way out to the firepit area, filling his flask, then realizing the photograph was snapping pictures. "I'm sure that'll be good in the wedding album. Caption, "Drunk groomsmen starts early."

The photographer laughed, "It's one of those random things that couples like because it shows intimate moments."

Bryce chuckled, "I dunno about all that, I just don't want to be thirsty when we are taking pictures."

He and the photographer both made their way back to the cabin where the men were all standing. Over the next hour or so, the groomsmen got all of their pictures taken care of. With the fall colors and the elevation of the venue, they were able to get a lot of great photos both as a group and individually with just Steve.

As they were wrapping up the last set of individual photos, the photographer said, "Okay Steve, you stay with me. Guys, head over to the ladies' cabin for pictures."

Bryce and the rest of the groomsmen made the trek up the hill and were stopped by the other photographer and the wedding coordinator. The wedding coordinator smiled, "Okay guys, go stand close to the trees, Katherine wants to do a first look with you guys."

They all walked to where they were directed and heard whistling from behind them, they turned around and could see the bridesmaids looking out the window laughing and whistling at them. Bryce and Dave shook their butts to the cheers of the women and the laughs of the groomsmen. Once they were in position the photographer told them that she would tell them when to turn around to which they all nodded.

They stood around talking for another minute or so before the photographer said, "Ok guys, get ready." They stopped talking and they heard a door click, and then the photographer said, "Okay, turn around."

They all turned at once to find Katherine standing before them in her wedding dress; their smiles and cheers as the photographer snapped away soon turned to groans as they saw what she was holding. In her left hand she held 5 shot glasses, and in her right, a bottle of Patron Silver. Katherine smiled, "Bottoms up boys!"

There were murmurs all around as she handed the solo cup styled shot glasses out and then began pouring. Justin's was filled first, and she filled it to the rim, causing Sean to blurt out, "Jesus woman! You trying to kill us?"

Katherine laughed and kept pouring each a glass, "I don't want to hear it. I know you all can handle it." As she poured Bryce's, then her own she said, "Hate to break it you guys, you're stuck with me now."

They clinked glasses and all took the shot, each making a grunt or a groan as the liquid burned down. With the shots down, Justin squeaked out, "I think you're stuck with us."

Everyone laughed, and Katherine hugged them all while the photographer continued snapping away. They all made small talk for a few minutes until the wedding coordinator appeared with Katherine's dad for a few more photos. While they were doing that, the other photographer appeared, leaving Steve down at the guy's cabin to read over letters that Katherine had written to him.

The guys stood around talking, and the bridesmaids began to trickle out one by one after retouching their make-up. Claire was the last one out and Bryce was looking at his phone when she walked up and gently smacked him with her bouquet, "How do I look?"

Bryce looked up, "Wow, you look beautiful." She was wearing a pastel dress that matched the blue of his tie. The dress was floor length like the others, but Claire's had strap the went over each shoulder, then another that hung loosely around her shoulders, a v-neck that looked a tad loose and showed a bit of cleavage, along with a slit in the dress up to mid-thigh. Around her waist and up through the cups, the dress was pleated, drawing attention to the sculpted top. Her hair was pulled up shorter and fell in loose curls around her neck and shoulders with a single braid on each side going around the top of her head and pinned in the back.

She pushed him gently, "Don't act so surprised!"

"Sorry."

She laughed, "Cut it out, I know what you meant. How does the back look?" She slowly spun, showing him the back where the dress came together in the middle of the back leaving a small part of her freckled upper back showing.

"Looks great."

She turned back to him and smiled, "I'm glad. You don't look too shabby yourself. Where's your flower?"

"No one has given them to us yet."

She turned to the wedding coordinator, "Where are their boutonnieres?"

"Oh crap, let me go grab them, I think Steve's mom just got here and she has them." She ran down the hill and reappeared a few minutes later carrying a box with their flowers, "Sorry about that."

Bryce found his, pulled the tag off it, removed the pin from the stem, then stopped, unsure of how to proceed. He looked up to see Claire and slightly frowned, "Ummm, I dunno what I'm doing."

She laughed, "Of course you don't you silly man, let me."

He handed her the pin and flower before saying, "Don't stab me."

She laughed, "I'll try not to." She successfully got him pinned and then stepped back, adjusting the flower slightly, then straightened his tie. "There, I think you're good."

He smiled, but didn't know what to say, as he took in her smile and beauty as the sun streamed through the trees. He did eventually say, "Thanks."

As she smiled back at him, they were interrupted by the women's photographer, "I have to say, you two are so natural together." They both quickly turned to her as she continued and turned her camera towards them, "Look at these, you two take great pictures."

As they looked at the screen, she scrolled through the pictures of them as they talked, laughed, and Claire fixing his tie and pinning his boutonniere. Bryce thought to himself, "We do look pretty natural," and at the same time Claire was thinking to herself, "Wow, he's really handsome."

They looked up and smiled at each other softly and the photographer asked, "Are you two an item?"

Bryce shook his head, and Claire blushed, shaking her head also, "No, just friends."

The photographer shrugged, "Well...alright then." and proceeded to the ceremony site.

Claire continued to blush and suddenly turned towards the cabin, "I need to get a couple things ready for the ceremony. See you there."

Bryce was surprised by her sudden departure and said, "Okay."

Before he could think too much, Dave called his name, "Let's go hand out programs, people are starting to get here." Bryce shook his head and followed him back towards the ceremony site but couldn't help but wonder about what the photographer said, and then Claire essentially running away.

***

After handing out programs for a half hour, all the guests were seated, the groomsmen lined up, and waited for their signal. When the wedding coordinator cued the music, Bryce began his steady walk down the cobblestone path, making sure to follow the direction of "Don't look at the photographer, but make sure you smile." He took his place at the end of the patio and the remaining groomsmen filled in by him.

Once they were all in place, Steve escorted his mother and father down the aisle, followed by Katherine's parents; before her father turned around and made his way back to the men's cabin where Katherine and the bridesmaids had all moved to. Claire was the first down the aisle and Bryce maintained his smile as she made her way down the aisle. It wasn't until the very end of the aisle did she glance over at him, make eye contact, and briefly stick her tongue out at him, drawing a giggle from the groomsmen, and making him feel better after their awkward moment with the photographer.

Claire was followed by the remaining bridesmaids, and once they were all in place, the officiant spoke to laughter, "Would you all please rise for the real reason we are all here."

The music changed, Katherine and her father made their way down the aisle to the patio with everyone else. The ceremony was a simple affair since neither Steve nor Katherine were particularly religious. Sean and Sara both read a short poem that had been chosen about love, and after about 15 minutes, the officiant said the words everyone had been waiting for, "Steve, you may kiss your bride." To the claps and cheers of the crowd, he did just that.

As everyone began to process up the aisle, Claire couldn't help but be a bit nervous; she knew she should apologize to Bryce and explain why she ran off, but she was also afraid she would weird him out. As Justin and Lori started up the aisle, Claire turned and saw Bryce approaching her with a smile on his face. She couldn't help but think to herself as she smiled back, "God, he's handsome."

She approached him smiling, linking her arm through his as he said, "We didn't fall coming down, let's not fall going up."

She laughed as they began to make their way up the aisle, she looked up at him and smiled, "Sounds like a plan to me." They reached the cabin where everyone else had already gathered and let out a cheer as Katherine and Steve kissed. Once the cheers had died down, the wedding coordinator appeared, congratulated the couple, then directed everyone back down to the ceremony site once everyone had cleared out so they could begin to take pictures.

The first round of pictures were the families, leaving the bridal party to relax in the chairs. Bryce plopped down in a seat in the 5th row after running to the bathroom; as he watched the pictures take place, Claire appeared beside him with a small plate of food, "Hungry?"

"YES! I'm starving, the pre-wedding snacks weren't enough." He grabbed a slider and some veggies, and they sat silently as Katherine's family finished up and the photographer moved onto Steve's family.

Claire finally broke their silence, albeit quietly when she laid her hand on his arm and said, "I'm sorry about earlier."

"What about?"

"Running off so suddenly."

"Oh...yeah that was definitely a little weird." he said with a slight chuckle.

She took a deep breath, "The photographer's comment just scared me."

"What? That we take great pictures together?"

"....Yeah."

"Well duh, we are both awesome, of course we take great pictures together."

She giggled, "That's not what I mean."

He set the plate down, "Well, what do you mean?"

She didn't say anything for a moment, fiddling with her fingernail, then finally looked down and said, "No one has commented on anything like that since I got divorced. Sure some people have tried to set me up with guys, but I have emphatically shot them down."

"Okay?"

"Well...you're easy to talk to and I feel like I can be myself around you. Which I know is weird because I went from stone cold bitch to us texting all the time, then here we are today."

Bryce laughed and pulled his flask from his pocket, "You're perfectly fine. I appreciate everything over the last few weeks and days. I've been able to pretty much forget Michelle the last week or two." He took a drink from his flask and offered it to her, "You told me to share..."

"I was kidding, I don't drink bourbon."

"Well now is a good time to start, try it."

She took a swig, feeling the liquid burn as it rolled down her throat. She didn't gag like she had prior times trying bourbon. The taste still wasn't what she was used to, but she had to admit, "That's not terrible, better than the other kinds I've had."

He raised his eyebrows, "So you HAVE had bourbon before."

"My ex tried to get me to drink it with him and it was nasty."

He laughed, "What was it?"

"I don't remember, it had a black label."

"Jack Daniels?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Sure?"

"Well there's your problem, he had shitty taste."

She laughed, "Just add another check to the list for bad aspects of my marriage, shitty alcohol."

He laughed and before he could say anything else, they were interrupted to begin bridal party pictures. Over the next 15 minutes, they completed all of the planned pictures and as they were wrapping up, the head photographer said, "Okay, Katherine and Steve, you're with me; Everyone else you're going with Andrew for some fun pictures."

The groups split up, and the bridal party ended out near the parking lot where the groomsmen had taken pictures earlier. Andrew, the other photographer said, "Okay guys, Katherine wants some silly photos of each pair, so come up with something real quick, we only have about 10 minutes before introductions. Everyone began to talk quickly between themselves; Bryce looked at Claire, "I picked walk -in, you can pick this."

"What? No, I dunno."

They laughed and finally Claire said, "What if we do the awkward prom pose?"

"YES! That'll be perfect."

Claire got his attention, "Andrew, we know what we want."

He motioned for them to come over into the trees and they told him what they wanted, he laughed, shook his head then moved them into position. Once he had Claire in the right spot with the lighting and the trees, Bryce moved behind her, placing his hand on her hip. She giggled and said, "This is so weird."

"I know, but I think I did this at my prom."

Claire laughed as the photographer had her place her hands on his and lean back against him as they both looked off towards the parking lot.

"Alright guys, smile!" They both smiled and did their best to not laugh while everyone else laughed and let out the sarcastic, "Awws."

The photographer thanked them and began to cycle through the other pictures, one pair jumped at the same time, another playfully slapped the other, and by the end, everyone was laughing, causing the photographer to snap even more pictures. After he flipped through them he commented, "Okay, those are perfect, let's head back to the tent so we can do introductions."

***

They all made a stop at the bathrooms before making their way to the edge of the tent where cocktail hour was going strong. While they were out of sight, the wedding coordinator ran through the order of events before dinner, "We will do the parents introductions first, then the bridal party, then finally Steve and Katherine. Once we are all in, we will go ahead and do the first dance, the father daughter dance, then the mother son dance. Once all that is done, we will do the formal bridal party dance Katherine wants, and then it's dinner time. Any questions?"

Bryce raised his hand, causing everyone to laugh, "What song are we coming out to?"

Steve spoke up, "Parents are coming out to the chorus of, "Can't Stop this Feeling" and then you all are coming out to, "All I Do is Win," Kat and I are coming out to, "Happy.""

Everyone nodded, and Bryce said, "See aren't we glad I asked?"

There was more laughter as the wedding coordinator said, "Alright folks, let's go."

The coordinator made her way into the tent, signaling the DJ to switch gears to the introductions. As he started getting everyone excited, then started with Steve's mom and dad, Claire looked at Bryce, "You ready to do this?"

He bounced up and down on his toes a few times causing Claire to laugh, "Am I ready? Are you ready?"

As Katherine's parents walked out onto the floor, Claire shrugged her shoulders, "I guess so, just don't drop me."

They stepped up to the tent flap as the DJ said, "And now for your bridal party, Bridesmaid Claire Miller and Groomsman Bryce Grimes!"

"Here we go!" Bryce knelt down and Claire held her dress's slit together with one hand and the top up with the other as he scooped her up and she rested across his shoulder with a laugh. As the staff pulled back the flap on the tent, Bryce started jogging into the tent and as Claire laughed and the crowd cheered, he weaved around the tables for 15 or 20 seconds until they reached the front where the dance floor was.

As the crowd laughed and clapped, he gently put her down; as her feet hit the floor she said between laughs, "I'm good!" He stood up and they briefly steadied each other, his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist. As they made eye contact, she smiled back at him, and they subconsciously squeezed the other gently as they maintained eye contact and the crowd noise faded to the background. Their moment was interrupted as the next pair was announced, causing them to break eye contact and take a few steps back to clear the center of the floor.

The rest of the pairs made it in with no issues, one pair walked in chugging High Noons, once danced in together after they both realized they could ballroom dance, another played football with the bridesmaid's bouquet, and the maid of honor and best man walked in wearing sunglasses taking selfies with random tables. As the music changed, the DJ exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, your bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. Steve James!"