4: Hitting On You

Noah stood with the groom like the competent best man who was forced into the role. And it was true that he was forced into it. The groom, Liam Parker was his maternal cousin. Seeing his distracted look, Liam couldn't resist probing, "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing."

Liam didn't believe his words even for a minute. "Are you upset about the venue?"

"Why would I be?" countered Noah. 

Liam wanted to tell him that it was an accident that his secret wedding planning diary was seen by his then-fianceé, Angelina when they were planning their wedding. And she just loved the idea of having a wedding like that. That's how they ended up here. Even though he had asked Noah beforehand, Liam still knew it would be quite uncomfortable for Noah to even be here much less, playing the role of his best man. 

Seeing his expression, Noah patted his shoulder and said, "Liam, you should be more worried about how you are gonna handle your hyperactive wife. Stop looking at me with such pitiful eyes. I am glad that my plan is used. At least, someone valued my ideas and I appreciate that."

Noah left him behind and went to get a drink for himself. Although he said he was happy, that didn't mean he didn't feel uncomfortable. After all, he put all his feelings into his wedding plan back then. He could still recall his happiness when he did something like that. He might have not even put this much effort and thought into his own future as much as he did with the wedding plan. 

In the end, it ended up benefitting his cousin. Anyway, it was still a happy ending even if it was someone else' happy ending, he was okay with that. 

He drank a few glasses of whiskey at the bar counter when his eyes caught sight of Vivienne once more. She was sipping the wine. Seeing how she closed her eyes as if allowing herself to be transported by the wine's intoxicating allure, his lips curled up slightly. How genuinely happy she looked with just drinking the wine, he really had an impulse to ask if it was really that delicious. So, he ended up doing exactly that.

Noah walked behind her and asked the question that's been on his mind, "Is it that delicious?"

But he seemed to have startled her as she ended up choking. He felt slightly guilty because of that and wanted to apologize. However, once she looked into his eyes, he forgot what he wanted to say. Her eyes, pools of beauty, now shimmered with a delicate sheen of tears, lending them a poignant radiance. Within their depths lingered a hint of grievance, a silent accusation veiled behind the glistening tears.

Noah didn't know if it was Whiskey getting to his head now but he really felt himself being enchanted by the haunting beauty of her eyes. 

"It's not nice to creep up on someone like this," said Vivienne.

"I know. My bad. I'm sorry!"

Vivienne ended up chuckling, making him raise his brow at her inquisitively. "It seems like you have been only apologizing since we met again."

Noah pursed his thin lips and nodded his head, "It seems so. But I was really wondering if the wine is that delicious."

"Why don't you just try it out to find out?" 

"I don't like wine," he replied with a wry smile which surprised Vivienne a little.

"What a shame!" was Vivienne's response. Looking at the glass of whiskey he held, she went on, "It seems you prefer something heavier."

Noah shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "You can say that."

Vivienne looked towards the dance floor where people were dancing under the stars. 

"Shouldn't you be on the dance floor right now?"

"Why?"

"You're the best man tonight. You should be dancing with the maid of honor, no?"

"I think the maid of honor's boyfriend won't like that," he said as he pointed at the couple on the dance floor who were dancing intimately.

Vivienne's lips made an 'O' shape as she had a realization. 

"I think Angie chose the wrong maid of honor," added Noah. "If she had asked you to be a bridesmaid, I'd have loved to invite you for a dance, playing the role of the best man diligently."

Vivienne's brows arched up ever so slightly at his words. "That doesn't sound right."

"Why not?"

"Are you trying to flirt with me, Mr. Noah Sullivan?"

Noah leaned down slightly to look right into her eyes as he asked, "What if I am? Is your boyfriend gonna mind?"

Vivienne's heart jumped a little. 

"Who cares about a boyfriend who doesn't exist?" she shot back at him.

Noah straightened up and looked her up and down with a deep look before saying, "How is that possible? Are all the men around you blind?"

"Maybe," was her careless response.

They both sat down at the bar counter drinking their own drinks. Maybe it was because Vivienne had some wine in her system now that she wasn't feeling as overwhelmed by his presence as she did earlier. Now, she could really hold a conversation with him without her whole body going cold, and her heart about to burst out. And even her brain was cooperating well by not freezing up randomly around him. It had to be the wine courage. She couldn't think of another reason why she'd be feeling so relaxed now when earlier she had been a mess.

"Something is seriously wrong with the world if a gorgeous woman like you is still single."

Vivienne felt her heart being tickled by his words and couldn't help flushing a little, "I think you have had way too many drinks for tonight, Mr. Sullivan. Just because your girlfriend isn't around, you shouldn't be hitting on other women."

"I can't even do that when I'm very single?" he asked in surprise. "Besides, I am not hitting on other women. I'm hitting on YOU!"

Vivienne felt short of breath all of a sudden and a little hot too. She downed the wine in her glass like it was water to ease her parched throat. But it wasn't really helpful either. Because she only felt even more agitated now.

Trying to ignore his last words, she focused on his first sentence.

"You are single?" she repeated. "How is that possible? Weren't you together with..."

Noah didn't let her finish as he interrupted her, "We broke up. It's been years. What? Is it surprising? Don't people break up all the time around here?"

"I'm sorry!" she said, not knowing what else to say. It truly came as a surprise to her that he broke up with his long-term girlfriend. They had been together since the Prom night of the senior year in high school. She was currently wondering why Aurora didn't tell her this very important detail?