Chapter 239 - A Las Vegas Wedding (3)

16 March, Las Vegas, United States

John looked directly at Paul. He had known that Paul loved Sally, and while she was not in any public relationship, he seemed to hold out hope that he could win her in the end. To anyone paying any attention to him since Andrew and Sally publicly announced their engagement it was obvious how much he had withdrawn from his friends. He not only felt the loss of the woman he wanted but had lost her to a friend who he cared about deeply. It was something he did not seem to know how to deal with.

John knew that Paul's actions in manipulating everyone into drinking heavily last night was about trying to make Andrew lose control for Sally to see him in a different light in the hopes that she would break up with him. But, unlike Paul John knew that these two would not collapse at the first hurdle, as they had no qualms in still lying to his and Sally's parents about what he had interrupted.

"Paul, I do not want you take this the wrong way…"

"You idiot John, I always know when someone tells me that I am not going to like what they have to say."

"Well answer me these questions. Do you love Sally? Do you want her to be happy?"

"You all know I love her. Her happiness means everything to me."

Matthew, sensing what John was about to say discretely signalled to him to stop talking. He could see John took notice of his signal.

Matthew quietly said, "That is the important thing. In the end, all we the men how orbit around the loves of our lives can want is their happiness. We want that to be with us, but if their choice is someone else, if we feel for them as we say we do then we must let them go to follow their heart. If things end badly, we must be there to help them pick themselves up and move forward with their life. But we cannot force decisions on them including them picking us. Andrew is her choice, and you must let her go and simply respect that. If you do not the two of them will end up cutting you out of their lives, and that will force the rest of us into a choice between family and friends. That is a choice we do not want to make."

"You married Lexi…"

"Paul, do not look to Lexi and I. There is a lot you do not know about what happened with us. Chester and Phillip and the ones to look at. Phillip did not stand in Chester's way when he was coerced by his parents into his marriage. He kept his friendship and would have accepted that if that was what it was meant to be, but they were given a chance, which they have both taken. And if we are all realistic, we know if the situation had been reversed Chester would have done the same. That is what love is about, the other is the most important person, their happiness is everything."

Steven added "He is right. While it was alright to want to pursue Sally before her engagement, you and her were not meant to be. I have told you for at least a year that you are in love with the idea of Sally, not in love with her. Who knows if that has meant you have missed the opportunity to find your true love?" Holding his hands up as to signal to Paul to stop talking "And before you say it, yes it seems like I am playing the field but, I have not found the person for me. At least I am open to the prospect of finding that person, not hung up on some idealised person who opted for someone else."

In tears Paul said, "It hurts though."

Steven, John and Matthew looked at each other, before Steven said, "It will. But respect her choice. That is all you can do, and in doing that it will become easier day by day, and eventually in doing that you will be able to move forward. But think about this, at least unlike Andrew you will not have the idiot police officer there for a brother-in-law."

Looking at John, and seeing the momentary horror that crossed his face, Paul gave a someone strained laugh before adding "True, who wants to have to mind every little thing that they do, simply because they are worried about their brother-in-law."

"Hey, I am not that bad. Unlike Andrew and Chester's brother-in-law, Mister soldier there, at least I am willing to join in the fun. He is too rigid."

"Rigid, my a*se John. You really want to throw that challenge at me. Fine, we will bring it on, and I promise you all that I will drink the lot of you under the table. The first one to crash out must pick up the bill for the whole lot of us. The only thing is that it needs to work around Lexi and my arrangements with Dominic."

"Forget that…"

"Hey John, do not encourage us to forget about the child we are responsible for. You would be the first to drag us before the courts for ignoring our responsibilities."

Paul added "You have a bet Matthew. You better bring a lot of money, as this will not be a cheap exercise for a lightweight like you."

"Lightweight," scoffed Matthew "My friend, you have no idea. But at least you are not worrying about other things."

A voice came from the door "What is this I hear about a drinking bet…"

"Lexi let it be. There is a reason for it," responded Steven.

"Well forget about making those bets you idiots. We have a wedding to get to, and the grooms will kill us if we mess up their perfectly planned schedule and day."

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