Chapter fourty-four:

"Do I look okay?" Ria had fished her creased garments from the forgotten heap on the car floor. To Blaine's bemusement (and disappointment), she'd made him cover his eyes and turn around whilst she'd redressed herself.

Ria's complexion had that all-too-familiar post-cardio gleam, even though the concealer beneath her eyes and around her nasolabial folds had budged. Now, she utilised her nimbly fingers to comb out her partially damped strands of hair before patting her cheeks to ensure her foundation didn't appear streaky. "Well? How do I look?"

"Honestly? Like you just got fucked."

"Blaine! You can't say that when we still have to go back there!" She ploughed an elbow against his hard chest. Still, she wasn't really peeved, the upward curvature of her mouth defying her words and actions.

He peeked at her whilst clumsily completing the buttoning of his waistcoat. He squinted as he acknowledged the juxtaposition between her two eyes. "You look good. But you're missing your...lashes." He gestured around her left eye.

She manoeuvred her hand across her face, registering the apparent absence of her false lashes. "Oh, shit. Where is it?" She plunged between the seats as he switched his phone's flash on. "It must have fallen off whilst we were—" She ceased, darting back at him. "You don't think.." She tugged at his trousers and boxers, peering down at his crotch.

"Why would your lashes be there?"

"I don't know. I thought it might've got stuck to your ballsack while I was—"

"Look, you don't need to use your lashes to get another round in. I'm already ready to go." He flashed a toothy grin before registering the mildly irate expression etched across her face. "You can just take the other lash off. No one will even notice. There." He gently tugged the right lash away, clutching her forearm to settle her back up before lugging her hand into his own, the warmth radiating from his to hers. "Come on, Ri, let's get back in there."

The two slinked into the hall, an hour had lapsed, but amid the dancing and drinking, the guests didn't appear to notice their absence. Or, so they thought.

"And, where have you been?" Hazel emerged behind them, hands perched on her wide hips, peering at Ria before gripping her chin to analyse her face.

"Hazel, get off. You're ruining my makeup."

"It's already ruined. Clearly, you two were out playing hide the sausage, but at your own brother's wedding?" She twisted toward Blaine. "At your best friend's wedding, huh?" She cocked her head to the side in mock solemnity before crowing. "Does this mean you two are official now?" Blaine flared his mouth to respond, but she jumped up before he could speak. "Oh, I'm so happy for you guys! But I would like to formally put in my request for a nephew first, please!"

Ria let out an embarrassed sigh, but she could hear Blaine chuckling behind her, his hands threading around her waist, nudging her to rest on him. The mere action restored a state of tranquillity within her. "I'll see what I can do." He quipped in response.

They slipped into the ocean of bodies garnishing the mirror-adorned dance floor, quickly reuniting with Lydia and Reid. The couple appeared far more at ease than had been the case during and after the ceremony.

"You need to help me find a boyfriend - or girlfriend now. Everyone's all boo'ed up, and then there's just me. On the sidelines."

"Have you tried a dating app, Hazel?" Ria placed her index finger in her ear, attempting to vocalise over the booming music radiating through the hall.

"No, I'm not going to find the type of guy I'm looking for on Tinder." Hazel rolled her eyes, exasperatedly.

"And, what type of guy is that?" Ria enquired, but already regretted asking the question as she noticed the mischievous glimmer within Hazel's iris.

"A bad boy, obviously." Hazel said. "You know, the type where I'm crying, and he wipes my tears with his glock." She smashed her cheek to the palm of her hand, her mouth dropped open as though she was imaging the unrealistic scenario in her mind. "Hot, right?"

"You need a therapist. Not a boyfriend, Haze." Ria concluded, as they joined the the swaying crowd.

They irrhythmically danced until the sky converted from a benign pale blue to a more malignant pitch-black. And for the time being, the events of the year sailed away from them. As though after the tumultuous year they'd had, a rainbow really was waiting for them on the horizon. Even Reid remained civil; every lingering touch between Blaine and Ria was noted yet accepted.

Lydia and Ria paid homage to the Aslan's Turkish lineage by continuing the tradition of loading the groom's cup of coffee with salt instead of sugar. The girls giggled as they observed Reid gagging over the contents whilst an equally mortified Blaine encouraged him to get it down.

Later that evening, Reid twirled his sister around, their bodies bustling against others, triggering an avalanche of apologies. He whispered, "You definitely told Lydia to put more salt in there than usual."

"I might have done." Ria mock-taunted in return. "I think you may have deserved it though."

"I probably did." He agreed but appeared preoccupied as his eyes skated to Ria's neck for a second. "Is that new? The necklace?"

"Huh?" She replied, caught off-guard by the abrupt change in topic.

"Isn't that necklace—" He shook his head as though the thoughts in his mind would dislodge with the mere motion. "Is it new? Did you buy it?"

She remained hushed, her swaying motions becoming increasingly sluggish. She was doubtful if mentioning Indiya's name was appropriate on such a day.

"Where did you get it?" He continued his interrogation, becoming more assertive. He inclined forward, capturing the sun pendant between his index and middle finger. "I asked you a question, Ria."

"It's just a necklace, man." Ria heard Blaine's voice booming behind her, a defensive arm cloaked around her. She wasn't surprised by his sudden appearance as he'd not strayed far from her for much of the night. "What's your problem, Reid?"

"Indiya gave it to me earlier today." Ria finally conceded, evidently concerned that her lack of response may cause an argument between the boys.

Reid felt the saliva escape from his mouth, rendering his mouth dryer than a scorching dessert. "When? Why would she?"

"I don't know. It was after the ceremony. Indiya just said it was a gift. I thought it was weird...but I just thought it was a peace offering."

He'd entirely halted his movements, drawing several glances from guests as they rammed against his being in their varying intoxicated states. Suddenly, the thought of this celebration left a bitter taste on his tongue. He recalled the memory of when she'd given him the matching set - a promise of the future they would have, she'd said. And then, his brain forced forward the last comment she'd made concerning the necklace only four months prior. "I'll take it off when I'm dead."

At the time, he'd waved her words away. She hadn't meant anything by it. It was an expression, just something she had said without thinking about the implication of the words. She hadn't meant it. Had she? Now he wasn't so sure.

"Reid?" Lydia scooted between the siblings, the grin on her face dissipating as she absorbed the concerned creases lining Reid's face. "Has something happened?"

"It's Indiya," Reid mumbled absent-mindedly, his eyes still etched upon the pendant as though it would speak and equip him with the answers he so craved.

Lydia's lips were now tucked into a thin line. "Can we...maybe not talk about her today of all days? We've just got married, and you're talking about your ex?"

"It's not like that, Lydia."

Ria spoke up. "She was being really strange, if I'm honest. I just thought it was because she was here...I thought the wedding was too much for her."

Reid's eyes snapped shut before he focussed his gaze on Blaine, a silent message conveyed through the look. Reid's attention was now wholly diverted from Lydia, although she was still speaking.

Ria acknowledged the uneasy passing glances between the two boys. "What? She wouldn't." She asserted. "It's not what you're thinking. Yeah, things were tough, but I don't think...it's not what you're thinking."

"You're right," Blaine murmured, but his voice contained traces of scepticism. "I'm sure it'll be nothing...but we should still go and check on her."

"Right." Reid agreed, swerving towards Lydia, perching his hands on her shoulders. "I'll be back in ten, okay?"

"Reid, you can't be serious." Lydia laughed incredulously. "You're leaving me to go to her! Your ex! On our wedding day!"

"I'm not leaving you! I'm coming straight back. Something's not right with her. But I promise I'll come back. Trust me, Lydia."

"I don't," Lydia whispered; the last time he'd made her a promise had been in Cyprus and had been regarding the reason for his breakup with Indiya. Had his past relationship always been looming in the background? She thought they had moved past it. "If you go now, it means you still care about her. And that means that us...that this—" She gestured around the room. "Means nothing to you."

Reid took a step back, his jaw clenching as he took in the weight of her words, causing his shoulders to droop. "Okay."

"I'm coming with you both." Ria grabbed her bag, wrapped around a chair, before rushing towards them.

"No." Blaine's hand encircled her wrist. "Why don't you go back to your house with Hazel? I'll pick you up on the way back." But he saw the resistance within her eyes. "Please, Ria?"

She nodded reluctantly, feeling her bag slip away from her shoulder as dread washed over her.

----

Authors Note;
My break was a little longer than anticipated as I've been pretty sick the last few weeks, and I'm still recovering. Sorry about that. I hope everyone's well, and had a good new year!

This chapter is shorter as this is a double update - ch 45 will be out later today ❤️