Chapter Text
Please join us for the wedding of
Lydia Branwell
&
Johnathon Monteverde
6:00 p.m. November 23, 2017
Park Chateau Estate and Gardens
East Brunswick, New Jersey
“Okay, I know how much you hate these things, but even you have to admit this place is pretty damn beautiful.”
Alec grimaced as he took in the venue and the large crowd of people who were mingling around the ballroom. His face smoothed out when he saw the unimpressed look Magnus was shooting him, and he grabbed two glasses of champagne from a waiter passing them, knowing that would pacify his friend somewhat.
“Did they have to choose New Jersey though?” Alec asked, handing a flute to Magnus. “There are plenty of gorgeous places they could've gotten married in in New York City, which would have been a much shorter drive for most of their guests.”
Magnus let out an incredulous laugh, drawing curious glances from some of the guests standing nearby. “You’re impossible,” he said. When Alec just shrugged, he continued. “Have you ever been to a wedding that you enjoyed?”
Alec took a moment to think about that. He’s known Magnus for as long as he can remember — they grew up together, and they’d been to a lot of weddings in that time. Alec’s views on them had basically never changed.
“It’s all so cliché.”
“Such a waste of money. What a way to start a life together, $5,000 in debt!”
“No one actually cares about your relationship except for immediate family… maybe.”
“I bet those two don’t make it through the year. All this hoopla is gonna be for nothing.”
Magnus had heard it all, but it never changed his opinion. Magnus loved weddings. Alec said it was just because he loved parties in general, and he couldn’t disagree with that. But there was something special about a wedding. Magnus wasn’t sure if it was the decor, the new faces he met at each one, the open bars, or just the general atmosphere of love that was so endearing to him. He just loved them.
And he had to admit, the fact that he got to go to the majority of ceremonies with his best friend didn't hurt, even if his best friend was the biggest cynic in the world whenever he stepped into a chapel.
“I’ve been to too many of these things to feel anything other than exasperation by now,” Alec said in answer to Magnus’ question.
Magnus narrowed his eyes at him. “I don’t buy it.”
“Buy what?”
“That you genuinely hate every wedding you go to,” he said. “You’ve been to dozens in your lifetime. You wouldn’t have gone to all of them if there wasn’t a tiny part of you that enjoyed it.”
“You’re acting like you ever gave me a choice in the matter,” Alec shot back.
It was true. Alec’s biggest weakness came in the form of three people: Max, Izzy, and Magnus. Whenever any of them wanted something from Alec, they just needed to flash their wide eyes at him and tell him how much it would mean to them if he complied, and Alec was done for. With Magnus, he most commonly used this advantage when he and Alec were invited to weddings. Alec never stood a chance.
Jace was still bitter that Alec never had a similar soft spot for him.
“So there is a little part of you that enjoys these things,” Magnus declared with a smug smirk. “The part of you that just aches to be in my presence. How very sweet.”
Alec fought back a blush and shrugged. “You’re okay I guess,” he said. Magnus didn’t know how true his words were, and Alec wasn’t about to bring any attention to it. That “little part of him” that loved being around Magnus wasn’t so “little” as it was “all encompassing,” but Magnus didn’t need to know that.
“I love you too Alexander,” Magnus replied, bumping Alec’s shoulder with his own.
“I still don’t see why you feel the need to drag me along to every wedding you attend,” Alec said. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say it was you who was looking for ways to be around me.”
“Of course I want you here! I would be completely lost at these receptions without my best wingman at my side.”
Right. Over the years of their friendship, Alec and Magnus had developed a sort of routine when they went out together. Magnus was the life of the party wherever he went, and Alec loved to watch him in action, but his larger-than-life personality caused people to flock to him. Being the introvert of the pair, Alec opted to stand to the side during most of their outings. This gave Magnus the chance to do his thing, while Alec could spend his time watching Magnus interact with the people around them.
Then, one night when they were in college, Magnus spent the majority of his time flirting with one man, despite Alec’s warnings that there was something off about him. It wasn’t until Alec intervened to stop the guy from slipping something into Magnus’ drink when he wasn’t paying attention that Magnus realized Alec had a talent for reading people in a crowd. From then on, Magnus looked for Alec’s approval before he took someone home. And although there were plenty of other things Alec would rather do than vet the people his best friend wanted to sleep with, Alec figured it was better than Magnus getting into bed with a total nut job.
“I would say I’m less of a wingman than I am a buffer to the insanity that lurks behind some of these pretty faces,” Alec said, looking around the room again and trying not to glare at some of the men and women who were already eyeing Magnus.
“Your judgment has never failed me. Once you give the all-clear, I know I’ve found someone special.”
“Really? Because I can’t remember a single relationship with someone you met at a wedding that lasted longer than a few days.”
“I don’t come to play the long game Alexander, you know that,” Magnus responded. Alec willed away a smile when he saw Magnus twirl his fingers on the rim of his champagne flute, an evil grin on his face.
“Menace.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Magnus replied, taking their glasses and handing them off to a passing waiter. “Speaking of future prospects,” he said, shifting around to face the rest of the ballroom, “What do you think about the redhead a few tables over? The one with the green bowtie?”
Alec didn’t even need to look to know who Magnus was talking about, and he grimaced. “I caught his eyes lingering on your feet for way too long when he first checked you out.”
“Yuck. Hard pass. What about the woman with the dark hair and gold dress to the right of him?”
Alec was already shaking his head. “She stuffed her silverware into her purse when the waiters were clearing tables. And you’re wearing your expensive watch.”
“Good point,” Magnus said, clutching his wristwatch as he scanned the other guests. “Fine then, how about the tall one standing by the band? You know I have a weakness for a man who can pull off suspenders.”
Alec took a long, hard look at the man Magnus was referring to. A few seconds later, he let out a resigned sigh. “I suppose I don’t see anything too alarming about him.”
“Such high words of praise, Alexander,” Magnus said. “Are you sure you don’t want him for yourself?”
“You know I’m no good at hooking up with people at weddings. I don’t know how you manage to end all your one-night stands so smoothly. Even when I attempt to approach someone, they always want a long-term commitment. They’re looking to be the next person who gets engaged,” Alec said.
“Maybe that says something about you, Alexander. Maybe you’re more ready for a serious relationship than you think you are,” Magnus said. Alec thought his wording was a bit too carefully placed for it to sound natural, but he didn’t push it.
“Right, because my attitude just screams that I would love to spend my next year planning a wedding,” he said.
“You sell yourself short, my dear,” Magnus said. “Any of these men would be lucky to have you.”
Alec turned to lock eyes with Magnus, and words failed him. He was frozen by the warmth in his gaze, confused at why Magnus was looking at him like that. But before he could read too much into it, Magnus broke his stare to glance down at himself and straighten his jacket.
“Well, wish me luck! I’ve got a pair of suspenders to seduce,” Magnus said. With that, he pivoted away from Alec and took off in a confident strut toward the band.
Alec watched him go, taking a moment to grab another glass of champagne. Now that Magnus was gone, it was just a waiting game until he felt it was acceptable for him to head out. He took a seat at an empty table and checked the time on his phone, scowling when he saw that he had at least another 45 minutes of this ahead of him. But before Alec could sulk too much, he was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“You know, when you and I broke off our engagement, I was sure that you would be the first of us to end up hitched.”
Alec swerved around in his seat, beaming as he took in the blonde woman in the white gown standing before him.
“Lydia!” Alec said, standing up to give the woman a tight hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you, but please sit down. It’ll give me an excuse to,” she said, and Alec laughed as he reclaimed his seat, Lydia taking the one next to him. “I feel like I’ve been walking around for days. I just finished talking with the last of John’s relatives when I saw you. I’m impressed you’ve managed to stick around for so long.”
“I’ve been talking with Magnus. He left just a few minutes ago,” he explained, gesturing with his glass at where Magnus was on the other side of the ballroom. Alec took a long swig as he watched Magnus laugh at whatever the other man said, leaning closer to grip his arm. He looked back to see Lydia smirking at him.
“Right. You know, I really meant what I said a moment ago. When you and I decided to call off our wedding, I was sure that the next one I would be attending would be between you and Magnus.”
Alec avoided her eyes, his face red and skin tight. After a moment, he cleared his throat and shook his head. “You and I were never going to get married, Lydia. We were just the victims of our parents' misguided scheme to advance their businesses.”
“Sure, but it ended because you built up the courage to be honest with yourself and your family," Lydia said with a proud smile. "And who was it again that made you so comfortable with your sexuality? I believe it was a certain best friend of yours that you’ve been in love with since before you could walk.”
“Lydia,” Alec warned.
“Alec,” she replied, imitating his voice. “We made a deal when we called off our arrangement that you would finally muster up the nerve to make a move, remember?”
“That deal wasn’t binding,” Alec said. When Lydia let out a loud cackle at his response, he continued. “It wasn’t! We were drunk, and it was never put in writing.”
“Your stubbornness is one of the many reasons why I love you,” she said, becoming more serious once her giggling died down. “But it also is keeping you from happiness.”
“No, it’s saving me from inevitable humiliation.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, actually,” he said, looking away from Lydia just in time to watch Magnus and the guy with the suspenders laughing together as they walked out of the ballroom hand in hand. He clenched his jaw and turned back to Lydia, who was looking at him with sadness in her eyes.
“You’re a smart man Lightwood. You’re right about a lot of things,” the bride admitted as she stood up and smoothed out her dress. “But you can be incredibly stupid sometimes.” Lydia held up a finger to stop Alec from arguing. “Nope, I’m obviously not making any progress with you tonight, and I have many more guests to greet. I don’t have time to get through your thick skull today.” Lydia snatched his almost-empty champagne glass out of his hand and downed the rest of it. “You have my permission to get out of here though. I’m not going to let you be miserable here for another hour without Magnus to keep you company. Goodnight Alec.”
Alec didn't have the chance to respond as Lydia spun around, her skirt flowing around her, and disappeared into the crowd.