Mark and Angela were always together. They seemed to be constantly holding hands and felt no embarrassment making out in public. They made Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift look like schoolchildren.

To say they were attached would be an understatement. As a literal expression of their attraction, each lover wore a matching magnetic bracelet - not entirely the commitment provided by handcuffs, but far more practical.

They were together so often that they soon became known as MarkAngela and eventually as "The MarkAngel."

Nicknames turned into straight-out name-calling and heartless teasing by those who were once their friends but now felt betrayed and abandoned by the two lovers.

Mark never made time to hang out with his buddies. He couldn't be bothered playing hoops with them, shooting pool, or having a few beers with the guys. He always had an excuse to be with Angela instead.

Angela felt her friends were immature and couldn't understand that she was a woman in love and had no interest in their childish games.

Mark and Angela were so blind in the cloud of their passion they failed to see what their relationship was doing to their friends around them.

But that didn't stop them from inviting all their friends to a romantic destination wedding that they were throwing for themselves in Tuscany. Yes, Tuscany! Never mind that most of their acquaintances (many of whom were already ex-friends) lived within a 100-mile radius of New York City - The wedding would be in beautiful (and expensive) Tuscany. It would be the closest thing to a marriage made in heaven.

Okay, so a lot of people declined the invitation. But the future bride and groom still expected at least a dozen people. Then, a few more invitees mailed their regrets at the last minute. And some never replied at all.

The day before the wedding, no one had arrived, not even the bridesmaid. And the guy slated to be the best man never showed up, either. He said he would attend but bailed out one week before the big day, saying, "Something came up."

The young couple were pretty bummed-out, and decided to contemplate their situation in the hotel bar with the company of a few drinks.

They let their bracelets attract each other, and Mark said, "Don't worry, Hon, we'll get through this somehow."

Angela raised her glass with her free hand and said, "Nothing can stop us now!"

"I'll drink to that!" replied Mark.

"Me too!" said a deep voice from the other end of the bar.

"Me too!" added a silky-smooth feminine voice.

Mark and Angela directed their gloomy gaze toward the young couple.

A handsome bearded man gave a friendly wave and said, "Hi! I'm Gabe, and this is my fiancée, Ariel." The couples cheerfully approached one another and shook hands. "Or, as some people call us - 'Gabriel.'"

"I'm Mark, and this is my fiancée, Angela. We're getting married tomorrow. Say..., how would you like to be our best man and bridesmaid?"

Story and Cover Illustration Copyright © 2024 by Michael DeFrancesco