Love Is Always Write Volume 4

frowned at the uncomfortable cut of the suit. He should have arrived a few days earlier for the fitting. He'd been too busy partying before he left his friends and New York. The current headache was reminding him that he'd been partying too much since he arrived home.
    Penny clapped her hands, startling Owen, and causing the pounding headache to change its beat.
    "So, I'm twenty and beginning my third year at university. I work at a veterinary clinic, and I'm hoping to become a vet tech, before I go to veterinary school," she said, as if it were very important he understood she had goals in life. "Do you like to swim?"
    "What?"
    "You know, do you like swimming?" She flailed her arms like a manic pinwheel.
    "Yeah, I like swimming." Owen just stared at her. Pretty much at a loss for words.
    "Me too!" She stopped air-swimming and adjusted her dress. "We have so much in common. By the way, I really love your hair. It's so dark and silky, and those green eyes. You really could get any girl you want."
    "Thankfully, I don't want any." He had to stuff down the urge to laugh.
    "New York must have been interesting, but I bet you're glad to be home. Big cities can be so, well big." She laughed as if she had just said the cleverest thing.
    "I'm glad to be here for Grace's wedding, and to see my family." Owen watched a couple of his high school friends as they partnered up for the procession. He wondered how they were holding up after last night. His best friend, Jay Greene, gave him a weak smile. Jay looked about as alert as Owen felt.
    "Are you here for the summer?" she asked.
    "Yes."
    "Are you going back to NYU in the fall?"
    "No."
    "Are you staying here in Iowa City?"
    "Yes," Owen tried to put some feeling into his voice.
    "Are you transferring to UI?" Penny leaned in front of him and opened her eyes wide.
    "I don't know." He backed up as she invaded his personal bubble. "I haven't thought about it much. Today is Grace's big day. I'm focused on making her happy." He didn't mention he was also focused on finding a cure for his hangover.
    "You are so sweet!" Penny hugged him. "I'm so glad she paired us up for the wedding. Aren't you? But, really, what are you going to do with an art degree?"
    "Same thing you'll do with your degree. Hang it on the wall." His patience meter was hitting tilt. So far, he'd been able to avoid having any conversations with her by showing up late to the rehearsal and sitting with Jay at the dinner.
    "Have you ever been arrested?"
    "Have you?" He leaned in close.
    "No, of course not." This time, she backed up.
    "Do you have siblings?" she asked.
    "Three," he replied.
    Finally, the music started. Owen hoped the animals she worked with found Penny less annoying than people did. Thankfully, Grace had warned him. If he could just get through the next three hours and make a polite escape from his duties, he'd be happy. He didn't want to do anything to upset Grace's day. Reminding himself to be pleasant and polite, he turned to Penny. He took her arm and faked another smile.
    Penny squeezed Owen's arm and let out a laugh. "I love this part, when the music begins. It's when I start to imagine my own wedding. Don't you?"
    "This is the first wedding I've been to. I haven't had much experience. You know, with the lack of marriage equality in all fifty states." Owen watched the first couple walk up the aisle. Only a few more minutes. He could do this.
    As soon as he and Penny stepped outside to line up, she became the consummate bridesmaid. Bouquet in hand, she was calm and blessedly quiet.
    The ceremony was in Wildwood Park. Owen looked around at the familiar location. This was where he, Grace, and Jay had played as children. The place they hung out as teenagers. The historic Bandstand was decorated for the nuptials with fresh flowers and cascading ivy vines. The guests were seated to face the stage and the Iowa River beyond it. Owen admired the fairytale setting that was Grace's wedding. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if he would ever want to get married.
    The actual wedding part didn't take as long as Owen had expected. The photographs following the ceremony took much longer, especially as Penny returned to her constant stream of questions. Owen made a minimum of effort at keeping up with the conversation, mostly non-answering what was asked.
    He did his duty and kept Penny away from Grace as much as possible. Grace had shared a few knowing looks with him throughout the photo session. He could