Our "Friendly" Matrimony

6- A Night to Remember

Sophia's POV

The news of the emergency meeting we had called had obviously reached majority of our family members by now, so it wasn't that much of a surprise to walk into a living room hosting the cousins from both our families.

In all honesty, I was avoiding Alex... avoiding his gaze per say.

His head snapped to me every so often and the fact that we were so silent didn't sit well with me at all. We've been friends for ages! How can a kiss just stun us into silence? I didn't like the awkward atmosphere between us, yes it was a big deal and a step that our drugged minds had taken. But that shouldn't have us holding out on each other like this.

It would be best to talk it out.

That was exactly why we were heading to the living room, the room I used in pops mansion was clearly out of question, given our situation, it was best to not be in a confined space. Alex was the one often faced with the dilemma of social anxiety yet I was the one panicking more than him.

"Interrogation over?"

Was the first question thrown our way as I somehow managed to make the massive door budge. Alex was obviously giving me space to deal with my conflicted thoughts. Vincent and Leo were fully informed of the situation at hand, and from what I could observe, they hadn't held back from spreading the news either.

"About damn time, you guys were in the study for over an hour."

 7 of them besides the usual 4 of us had managed to gather in such a short amount of time. However, given the personal property owned by our Families, it wasn't much of a surprise that they could just walk, jog or drive their way over as quickly as possible.

"So? What's the decision?"

9 pairs of eyes turned our way expectantly and I glanced at Alex from the corner of my eyes to find him stiffening up. He's the one with social anxiety, remember that! Reaching out, I carefully took a hold of his hand, watching the 9 pairs of eyes flicker to our joined hands for a second before focusing back on us.

"Our engagement will be announced shortly."

Finding the confidence to speak up after squeezing my hand briefly, my best friend decided to relay the deets. The fact that none of them looked even remotely bothered confused me a bit but it seemed as though Alex had been expecting such a turn of events.

"And?"

Lia, my recently 20 turned cousin probed at us to continue. When we chose to remain silent, Owen, the most serious of Alex's bunch chose to speak up.

"And? When's the wedding?"

He made it sound so obvious, had everyone been expecting this?

"In a month."

I muttered in response, hearing gasps ring inside the room as half of them looked excited and the rest rolled their eyes at the giddy ones. This was obviously a big deal, our families had been tied together by an unbreakable bond of friendship for ages, now it was going to become something more.

Wayyyy more, so they obviously had the right to be excited.

"Then we'll probably be hosting a dinner tonight right?"

I nodded my head as Liam perked up, being the youngest of us all at 18, Liam was babied by both the sides. Of course he hated it, but he was the youngest and as much as he tried, he couldn't ever change that.

Not to mention the crush he had on Cora, the most silent of my female cousins. Her and Owen got along well in that department but absolutely lost it over everything else.

"We have to get ready for tonight then, what are you all waiting for?"

Without another word, we watched as 19 year old Zoe squealed some sense into most of them and they stretched out their limbs, before making for the door. Knowing these guys however, it was obvious they wouldn't leave just like that, and I stood corrected as they turned around, smirks lining their lips and a loud, wall-shaking chorus of "CONGRATULATIONS" rang inside the room before they bolted away to avoid facing the grown ups.

Leaving a giddy Leo and bored Vincent in their wake. I slowly let go of Alex's hand as he sighed and ran his hands down his face in exhaustion.

"This is too much for a day."

I hummed in agreement, silently making my way to the large magnificent couches that screamed stories about my Grandfather's wealth at anyone who visited.

"Looks like tonight's gonna be crazy!"

Leo wasn't wrong, it was certainly going to be something, but I couldn't for the life of me pinpoint exactly what was dragging me down. The fact that my conscious was so silent didn't settle well with me, it was supposed to be screaming at me and reprimanding me. But it was so quiet.

I was getting married...

The ones who were missing and those that were estranged crossed my mind and I immediately closed my eyes. Feeling my mood drift further south, the three present in the room with me could read me like an open book and I knew for sure that they had managed to figure out what was going through my mind.

Alex squeezed my hand in reassurance and I leaned my head against his shoulder. This was certainly going to be a night to remember.

__________________

The land co-owned by our families was carefully tailored to fit numerous mansions for each member of the family. It was your decision to move in, but the option only opened up when you got married. The mansions would be renovated according to your preferences, it was awesome!

The fact that all of us would be so close together, almost at a thirty or fifteen minute walk or drive away from each other, was enough reason for one to move in. My cousin Kaylee, at 30 and Alex's cousin Owen at 28, had both moved into their respective mansions.

Willow, Alex's third oldest cousin was currently redecorating and would move in sometime around next year. And since Vincent was already being matched with Ms. Somerset Jr. a mansion for him was under proper construction.

Knowing that this was a dinner where both the families would be invited and hosted by my Grandfather for an announcement related to me and Alex. We felt the undeniable pressure to look good but casual at the same time.

Which is why, we all had separated to return to our pent houses and freshen up. I chose the new outfit that had been hand picked by my aunt on her previous visit to me, as a gift. I had then waited for Alex to call me and pick me up.

Showing up together was what we usually did at such dinners already, but this time felt different. This time, we weren't giggling and snickering to ourselves about who got in trouble or who was to be married, instead, we were holding hands while silently pondering over our situation.

We had to explain everything to Rachel and JJ and I was just wishing for us to find the time to do so. But it didn't seem like we'd be free anytime soon. Alex had gone with a casual outfit as well, since both of us knew that tonight would be dragged on into the early hours of dawn.

There was so much to discuss and clear up, and so many plans to make. So much to do... And with the new deal we had just finalized also requiring our attention, we could only hope to get through this as sane as possible.

Walking up the steps to the mansion, we were immediately welcomed by Pops butler. He ushered us inside and informed us that almost everyone was here. Besides Kaylee since she would obviously have to dress up both of her children and then drag her reluctant husband along.

Good Lord, everything the poor woman had to go through! But we loved them all regardless.

"Ah, There they are!"

My uncle Colton was grinning so wide, I feared that his face would get seriously damaged. Regardless, he opened his arms and engulfed both of us in a hug.

"I totally expected this dinner."

He muttered in our ears, making both of us stiffen, he winked in return before he was shoved to the side by Alex's excited aunt Melody. The tiny woman pulled both of us into a hug by our waist, getting patted on the head by a chuckling Alex as she pulled back with a huff and left room for us to hug and greet the others.

Hunter, who was Alex's uncle, settled for a simple handshake from the both of us and nodded in our direction quietly. Owen had definitely taken after him in the silence department.

"You guys literally took so long!"

Noah- my sometimes favorite cousin's- outburst took us by surprise as we settled in our seats on the dining table.

"I know right! How long have we been begging them to get it through with already!"

Everly's agreement shocked me. She was that one cousin from Alex's side that always knew when something was up, regardless of being a year younger than me, I'd say she was just as smart as us when it came to reading people. Afterall, she was uncle Arlo's daughter.

"Through with what exactly?"

Alex decided to ask and I knew for sure that we would both regret this the instant their faces lit up with evil grins.

"The annoying s****l tension between you two."

Our cheeks lit up bright red as a round of laughter rang through and even my grandfather chuckled at the crude joke.

"You have kids with you!"

Kaylee, who had just arrived was the one to make such a crude joke while Alex responded with the only logical thing he could find to complain about.

Kaylee kissed both of our cheeks, as I borrowed her one year old from her and settled him onto my lap. Her grinning 5 year old on the other hand, dragged her father to every single person for a greeting.

I cooed at the adorable baby in my arms as Alex pinched his cheeks and the incoherent babbling from the toddler started. Owen's wife was yet to show, and from what I had heard, she had left to check on her very own sleeping toddler barely five minutes before we had arrived.

Owen excused himself to go look for her while Alex's cousin Mateo decided to return to the issue that was supposed to have been forgotten.

"Seriously though, do you two have any idea how long we've been chanting for you to kiss from the background?"

Why was everyone so hell bent on embarrassing us today!!

Mateo winced and glared at Alex who sat right across from him and I could only guess that my best friend had kicked him.

The baby in my arms attempted to sleep and nuzzle himself into me and I gladly welcomed his tiny form into a tighter embrace.

"Hey, don't kick him, it's so true!"

Liam came to Mateo's defense and grinned at us as Alex glared at him to shut it.

"Literally everyone was expecting something like this to happen. Even Macey, right Macey?"

Upon hearing her name, the 5 year old turned to us with a grin and happily nodded her head. Her elvish hearing senses literally never stopped picking up on conversations happening around her. Even as she sat in my grandfather's lap.

Noah, who had finally chosen to speak was the only one who would go to a sneaky five year old for back up. No wonder he was related to me.

"Honestly though, you can't be mad at us. Blame the elder's, they were planning to have you wed soon enough already."

Our jaws dropped at that as both me and my best friend exchanged surprised glances and turned our accusing gazes towards the silent grown ups who enjoyed the situation silently.

"We were going to give you a choice of course, but at the time, it didn't seem like such a big issue."

Of course they'd think that! Good lord!

"Oh everyone's here already?"

Remi, Owen's wife finally showed up, her cheeks turning an adorable pink and Owen stared at her adoringly as she greeted us with a shy smile.

"Hey Rem."

There were literally just a handful of people who weren't into picking on us and thankfully, our sweet Remi was among them. It was obvious that she had just put her baby to sleep as both her and Owen seemed a bit more relaxed.

Pulling back her seat for her, Owen helped Remi settle into her space before carefully cradling the 1 year old Joshua out of my arms. He carried him out of the room, to probably put him in the nursery while the chitter chatter started up again.

"I think we deserve some credit for keeping this ship from sinking."

I rolled my eyes as Alex groaned at Liam's words. I swear to god!! They were never gonna let us live this down!

"We do."

My 22 year old supposed to be darling, Cora, spoke against me. Making me clutch my chest in dramatic despair. She rolled her eyes in my direction before shrugging.

"Everyone in this room has shipped you two at one point or another."

Her response to my questioning look only had us heaving sighs of frustration.

"For the record, who initiated the kiss?"

GOD NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

My expression must've given away exactly how I was feeling as laughter bubbled through their throats all over again.

"I did?"

Alex muttered to himself in confusion and I turned to stare at him with wide eyes. Please do not join the troop Lexy, I swear I'll kill you!!

"Oooooooh."

A round of oooh's and aaah's sounded around the table as Alex cleared his throat.

"Who noticed the camera?"

Oliver was the one to ask as he diverted his attention from the book he was reading. Everyone knew better than to disturb the book worm. We still hadn't forgotten the fact that he had literally bitten us when we had disturbed him that one time when he was 8.

Our cheeks tinted a dark shade of red which was obviously answer enough. But did that stop them? of course not!

"Seriously, neither of you?!"

Everly's laughter had me lowering my head slightly to let the hair fall around my face and curtain my red cheeks from their amused gazes. Feeling Alex's hand curl around mine was the only thing that provided me with a sense of support as those surrounding us got busy in discussing matters regarding business.

Those of our cousins who were still in Uni and weren't given a station of their own, remained focused on us throughout the dinner. Asking us questions or throwing statements at us that would leave me flustered and clutching Alex's hand as tightly as possible.