American Obsession

At the end of the night, the wedding party is busy gathering up decorations and the remaining things that the happy new couple will be keeping. There is a van parked outside that we are helping load everything into. I head back into the hall one last time to grab my purse. I look toward the table where Jay was and can't see him. A stab of disappointment runs through me, thinking that he left without saying goodbye. There is a good size crowd of wedding guests still mingling in the entry way of the winery, on the edge of the hall. I scoot through the large crowd and decide waiting outside might be the best idea. Erik offered to give Lexie and I a ride home. So now, I need to find her too. Outside in the cobblestone courtyard there is a fountain, and a breeze is making the water in the fountain spray across the ground around it. I decide to step off to the side of the walkway near the fountain. From here I can see anyone coming out and can see the parking lot, so I will know when Erik pulls up. I jump when a firm arm wraps around my waist. Startled, I look back to see it's Jay. A flush and a smile come across my face, and I immediately step toward him. I have my arms crossed over me, the little bit of a breeze and the lack of back and sleeves to this dress making me cold. Jay unbuttons his suit coat and starts to take it off. "What are you doing?" I ask him. "You're cold, I'm here to warm you up," he says with a sneaky grin. He wraps the warm jacket around my shoulders. "Thank you. I was worried I wouldn't get to say goodbye to you. I'm glad you found me." "Me too." Erik's black car pulls up and a drunken Lexie starts walking towards it, giving me a wave. I hadn't even noticed she was out here; I was so distracted by Jay. "Erik's here, I have to go." I start removing his jacket, but he stops me, sliding it gently back on to my shoulders. He leans in closer to me, his large hands on my arms, holding me close. "You keep it." "I can't keep your jacket." He leans in closer, his mint and whiskey tinted breath wrapping around me, his lips barely grazing my cheek. "You can give it back to me on our first date," he says coolly in my ear, and doesn't pull away from my face. "Okay," I say, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I don't have enough air to get more words out. "My phone number is in the pocket. Will you text me later?" "Yes," I breathe out. Moving one hand up to my neck and cheek, the other now wrapped around my waist, he plants the most perfect soft kiss on my cheek. My heart is hammering now in my chest. He backs away slowly, still holding my waist, and leads me to Erik's car. Every step is torture, I never want him to leave. He opens Erik's passenger car door and raises my right hand up and plants a soft kiss on it. "Good night. Text me later." He says with a flirty smile. "I will. Good night." I turn to get in the car, and he closes the door behind me. "Well, that was interesting," Erik says sarcastically as he starts to drive away. "Oh my God that was the hottest thing EVER!" Lexie drunkenly calls out from the backseat. I have nothing to add but a huge smile. I reach in the jacket pocket and find Jay's number on a piece of paper, signed "XOXO".