A Wedding Date in New York

Jess shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the train rumbled along the tracks toward New York. She had been staring out the window for most of the ride, watching the autumn-colored scenery blur past. Across from her, Ryan sat casually, one arm draped over the back of his seat, drumming his fingers to some song playing in his earbuds.

"You're nervous," he said, glancing at her.

Jess sighed. "That obvious?"

"A little," he admitted with a grin. "You don’t have to be. It’s just a wedding. Good food, dancing, and me being charming enough to make up for any awkward moments."

Jess snorted. "That’s a tall order."

Ryan chuckled and stretched his legs. "You’ll do fine. My family’s nice. A little overwhelming, maybe, but nice."

Jess wasn’t convinced. She had barely wrapped her head around agreeing to this, let alone what awaited her when they arrived. A fancy wedding? A hotel stay? Pretending to be someone’s date all weekend? What was she thinking?

The train pulled into the station, and before she knew it, they were in a cab heading toward the hotel. The city lights flickered past, adding to her growing nerves. The lobby of the hotel was sleek and modern, filled with well-dressed people moving in and out. Jess swallowed hard when Ryan handed their reservation details to the front desk.

"One room, queen bed," the clerk confirmed.

Jess's heart stopped. "Wait. One bed?"

Ryan winced. "Yeah, about that... the hotel was packed because of the wedding. It was either this or separate rooms on different floors. I figured this was easier."

Jess stared at him. "Easier for who?"

Ryan raised his hands. "Relax, I’ll sleep on the floor or something. I'm not a creep."

Jess sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fine. But if you snore, I’m smothering you with a pillow."

Ryan smirked. "Duly noted."

—------------------------------

The venue was breathtaking—a grand ballroom with high ceilings, twinkling chandeliers, and elegant floral arrangements in every corner. Jess tugged nervously at her dress, feeling like an imposter among the well-dressed guests. Ryan, however, fit in effortlessly, greeting relatives and friends with ease.

Jess tried to stay in the background, sipping her champagne quietly. That plan failed when a bubbly woman, Ryan’s aunt, spotted them and practically squealed. "Ryan! And this must be Jess! We’ve heard so much about you."

Jess froze. "Oh?"

Ryan, to his credit, smiled easily. "Only good things, I promise."

His aunt beamed. "So how did you two meet?"

Jess's mind went blank. Crap. What was the cover story? She glanced at Ryan, silently pleading for help.

"Oh, you know, the usual," he said smoothly. "Coffee shop mix-up. I stole her order, she yelled at me, and the rest is history."

Jess forced a laugh, playing along. "Yeah. He got my name wrong, too. Called me ‘Jennifer’ for a week."

His aunt giggled. "Adorable!" Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "Do you lovebirds have any wedding plans of your own?"

Jess nearly choked on her drink.

Ryan laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder in a way that felt too natural. "Not rushing things, Aunt Linda."

Jess couldn’t tell if she wanted to thank him or strangle him.

—-----------------------------------

After the ceremony, the reception was in full swing. Jess, despite her protests, found herself enjoying the food, the music, and the atmosphere. Then came the dancing.

"You’re not escaping this," Ryan said, holding out his hand.

Jess hesitated. "I don’t dance."

Ryan smirked. "Neither do I. That’s what makes this fun."

Before she could argue, he pulled her onto the dance floor. The music was slow, forcing them into a close sway. Jess kept her eyes on his shoulder, hyper-aware of his hands resting lightly at her waist.

"See? Not so bad," Ryan murmured.

Jess wasn’t sure if she agreed. It was… nice. Too nice. It made something in her chest tighten uncomfortably. Then a drunk groomsman cut in, placing a hand on her lower back. "Hey there, sweetheart, how about a real dance?"

Jess stiffened. Before she could react, Ryan smoothly stepped between them. "She’s with me, man."

The groomsman held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Didn’t know she was taken."

Jess's face burned. She wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or something else.

"You okay?" Ryan asked gently once they were away from the guy.

She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for that."

Ryan studied her for a moment, then led her outside to a quiet terrace overlooking the city. The cool air was a relief from the warmth inside.

"You seem deep in thought," Ryan said.

Jess hesitated before sighing. "Just… people change, you know? Sometimes faster than you expect."

Ryan leaned against the railing. "Yeah. But change isn’t always bad."

Jess looked at him then, really looked at him. He wasn’t just some guy anymore. He was kind, funny, and unexpectedly understanding. And he had just defended her without hesitation. That was terrifying.

—-------------------------------------

Back at the hotel, the queen-sized bed loomed like a problem waiting to happen. Jess changed in the bathroom, emerging in an oversized T-shirt and leggings. Ryan, already in sweatpants, flopped onto the floor with a pillow.

"You sure you’re good down there?" she asked, feeling oddly guilty.

"Jess, if I shared the bed, you’d probably punch me in your sleep."

She snorted. "Fair point."

They turned off the lights, and silence settled. Just as Jess started to drift off, Ryan spoke softly.

"I had fun tonight."

Jess hesitated, then whispered, "Me too."

And that was the scariest part of all.