Chapter 48

As the bride and groom passed between them, Liz snapped back to reality and stood up with Audrey. She was slightly shaken from the intensity of Lucky’s stare, and nearly stumbled as they filed out of the living room.

She followed her grandmother to their car. “Are we going home?”

Audrey shook her head. “Not yet, there’s still the reception, remember?”

“Oh yeah,” Liz mumbled, gazing out the window, but not really seeing anything. Her mind was still back at the Quartermaine’s.

~*~

The reception was beautiful, as expected. Jerry made a somewhat goofy toast to his brother, and they did all the traditional things: cramming cake into each other’s faces, drinking champagne from each other’s glasses, throwing the garter and bouquet (which Audrey tried to get Liz to catch, but she refused to get up from the table).

Elizabeth and Lucky had spent the majority of the reception pretty much like they had the wedding. They were a few tables away from one another, and would throw little glances back and forth, but that was all. Luke was trying to figure out what more he could do without literally pushing the two of them together, when it was time for the first dance. Jax and Chloe had chosen “From This Moment” by Shania Twain as their song, which once again caused Lucky to glance back at Liz, remembering that it was one of the songs they turned down when they were planning their "wedding."

When the song was about over, Lucky suddenly stood up and walked over to her table. Luke and Laura exchanged looks of surprise with one another, then looked over at Emily’s table to see if she and Nikolas had noticed. They had.

Liz was sitting at her table, absentmindedly playing with her napkin, when she heard someone sit down next to her. She looked up, assuming that her grandmother had returned from talking to Monica, but was surprised to see Lucky instead.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey. Do you mind me sitting here? My parents were starting to make me sick. Weddings like this make them get all mushy, as if they aren’t bad enough on a daily basis!”

Liz chuckled and nodded. “I don’t mind. I thought you were mad at me, though.”

He sighed and looked down at the table. “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have freaked out on you. I just hate the idea of playing in front of a crowd like that, but my dad had a good point about it.”

“What was that?”

He looked up and grinned at her. “It never hurts to have an extra $500!”

She laughed. “Does that mean you’re going to do it?”

“Yeah, I figured why not just go for it? If they laugh me out of there, then I’ll know to keep my music to myself from then on. If not, maybe I’ll win.”

“What would you do if you won? Would you just go out and buy something, or are you the kind that saves all their money?”

He thought for a moment. “A little of both, probably. But, if I won, I’d have you to thank for signing me up, so I promise to take you to dinner as a thank you.”

She blushed slightly. “Okay, then if you lose, it’s only fair that I take you out instead. Only, it would have to be at Kelly’s. I’m broke!”

He laughed as the next song started, and turned to look at the dance floor, which was filling up. “You know what? I’m getting tired of always worrying about what my parents are going to think. Let’s go out there and dance. It’ll be fun!”

She looked at him hesitantly. “I told you before that I don’t dance.”

“You said you don’t fast-dance. This is a slow song. Come on, I don’t bite. Or, would you rather just sit at this table and study that napkin all night?” He looked at her, daring her to turn him down. She couldn’t help laughing.

“Fine, but if they tease us later, it was all your idea!” She stood up and followed him out onto the dance floor, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. This was only Lucky, her home ec partner, her friend, nothing more....

All through my wandering years
I always said I was biding my time
All alone in the dark I'd face my fears
That no other heart would come to mine

At first when you found me
It took me a while 'till I realized
Why I felt weak when you were around me
Why I couldn't speak when I looked in your eyes

Lucky gently wrapped his arms around her waist, and she put hers around his neck. He knew his parents were watching, and for once he didn’t care. He was tired of avoiding Liz, his friend, just because they were determined to play matchmaker.

Liz giggled, and Lucky looked down at her with a smile. “What’s so funny? I’m not that bad a dancer!”

She shook her head. “No, that’s not it. I just realized what song is playing.”

All this time I've been searching
Until you, I was lost in my dreams
And I never knew that love could feel like heaven
Watching over me

Oh wherever you are
Invisible hands reach over the miles
For every wish you make to the stars
There's one silent kiss I send to the sky

All this time I've been searching
Until you, I was lost in my dreams
And I never knew that love could feel like heaven
Watching over me

He listened for a moment and chuckled. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Jax and Chloe were in cahoots with my dad. How weird is that?”

“I don’t know. Of all the songs for them to play now, what are the odds that they would have picked the one we chose for our project?”

Everything's changed
Since you came my way
'Cause you put the color
In the world of gray
And you make the love
That carries me away

All this time I've been searching
Until you, I was lost in my dreams
And I never knew that love could feel like heaven
Watching over me

Feels like heaven
Watching over me

Over at the Spencer table, Luke was arguing with Laura.

“If that wasn’t a move, I don’t know what was!” he said, looking over as the young couple began to dance. “Look at them!”

Laura looked, then shook her head. “Sorry, we specifically said that first move was admitting to the other how they felt. Nikolas and Emily are keeping an eye on them, and if they had said anything, one of them would have let us know, so no, you don’t win yet!”

Luke looked back at his stepson, who had pulled Emily out onto the dance floor shortly after Lucky and Liz had gone. They were dancing as close as possible to the other couple, in case either of them said anything.

“Okay, what are you two up to over here?” Felicia asked, pulling Mac behind her. “And why are you staring at your son like that?”

Luke laughed. “Well, if you must know, we’ve got a small wager going about him and Elizabeth, and we’re trying to figure out if I’ve won.”

“You haven’t won yet, I already told you that!” Laura interjected.

“A bet? On what?” Felicia asked, curious.

“On which one of those two is going to crack first and admit their true feelings for the other. You see, we all know they were meant for one another, but they’re too busy arguing all the time to see it themselves. It’s only a matter of time before they come to their senses, so we thought, in the meantime, we’d make it interesting. Care to join in?” Luke said, grinning at his friend.

Felicia laughed. “Sure, how much?”

“$50.”

“Well, I don’t know Elizabeth that well, but if Lucky’s even half as stubborn as his father, I’ll put my money on her!” Felicia said, laughing when Luke tried to look hurt.

“I’m with my wife. My money’s on the girl, too,” Mac piped in, just as Lucy and Kevin walked up.

“Did I just hear the police commissioner placing a bet?” Kevin joked.

Mac turned around and smiled. “You shouldn’t be surprised, after last year’s Nurses Ball! I seem to remember you joining in that bet pretty eagerly.”

Lucy looked at both of them in confusion, causing Felicia to laugh. “I’ll fill you in later, Lucy.”

“So, what are you betting on this time?” Kevin asked. They told him and Lucy about the bet.

“Well, my money’s on Lucky. He’s a charmer, just like his father,” she said, smiling at Luke. Kevin decided to go with Elizabeth, mainly to spite Lucy. As they were walking away, Jax and Chloe walked up.

“There’s my maid of honor!” Chloe greeted happily, hugging Felicia. “Are you all enjoying the reception so far?”

They all nodded and gave their congratulations. “So, Jax, I hear you’re a betting man!” Luke said, clapping him on the back.

“Why do you ask?” he asked, listening as they filled him in. He chuckled at how they were betting on their own child, but he could never pass up a bet, so he and Chloe both chose Elizabeth.

“Hey there brother!” Jerry greeted, coming up behind Jax, Bobbie at his side.

“Jerry, hey you’re going to want in on this,” Jax said, relating the details of the bet to him. Bobbie started to laugh.

“Luke, this has you written all over it!”

He shrugged. “What can I say, Barbara, I’m a hopeless romantic!”

She shook her head and looked over at the couple. “Well, I’d have to put my money on Lucky.”

Jerry wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled. “Then so do I. She’s a Spencer, she ought to know!”

~*~

As the song ended, Lucky and Liz looked over at the tables to see if they were still being watched. They were surprised to find a group of people around his parents. As soon as they looked over, the group quickly looked away.

“Why do I get the feeling something’s going on that we don’t know about?” Liz asked warily.

“Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Come on, let’s go find out what they’re up to now!” Lucky said, taking her hand and leading her back to his table.

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