A Proscriptive Relationship

:A Proscriptive Relationship: Epilogue

             "What were you two doing behind there?" Casey inquired when we were close enough for them to hear us.

             Immediately both their heads snapped our way. Mr. Heywood inhaled sharply as his eyes landed on me. I blushed, quickly adverting my gaze.

             "Wow, Holly," I heard Jeremy start. "You look—"

             "Absolutely perfect," Mr. Heywood finished, cutting in. "That color suits you well."

             I looked back up now, smiling slightly. "You don't look half-bad yourself."

             He grinned. "I know."

             "Well who is this strapping young lady?" Jeremy said, turning to Casey with a wide grin.

             Casey raised an eyebrow. "You clean up good."

             Jeremy shrugged. "I try."

             "But what were you two doing behind that pillar?" she questioned again, slowly smirking. "Something you shouldn't be? All alone? You guys were fixing your ties..."

             Mr. Heywood rolled his eyes. "We're not gay, Casey."

             "Well it is Thursday. And you're wearing purple."

             Jeremy looked surprised. "What? It's Thursday? Shit! I was supposed to work—"

             Mr. Heywood slammed his elbow into Jeremy's side. "It's Sunday, stupid."

             "Oh."

             I laughed. "Okay, so are we ready to go?"

             "As soon as you put on your coat," Mr. Heywood responded, giving me a disapproving look. "It's the middle of winter, Holly."

             I grimaced. "But Casey..."

             He sighed, taking his jacket off his arm and handing it to me. "Since we're already late, just wear this."

             "But—"

             "Wear it, Holly."

             I slowly took it reluctantly. "What are you going to wear? You know, Casey doesn't have a jacket either."

             "I've got her covered," Jeremy responded, and I turned to see Casey pulling on what I assumed to be his jacket. "Us manly men can handle the cold."

             "But—"

             "Come on, Holly," Mr. Heywood interjected, holding out his jacket for me to slip into. "Just wear it."

             After another moment of hesitation I finally sighed, putting my arms into the sleeves of the jacket. Mr. Heywood pulled it tightly around me and started buttoning it up for me. I blushed, swatting his hands away.

             "I can do that myself."

             "But I can do it quicker," he responded with a smirk. "But if you insist. Come on, you can button while we walk." With that, he grabbed my hand and began dragging me towards the exit with no regards to the fact that I couldn't button my coat if he had one of my hands.

             The trip to Lake Champlain, where the wedding was being held, didn't take very long at all. Jeremy had thought ahead and booked us a hotel only about twenty minutes away— and he had mapped out the drive beforehand so he knew where he was going. Mr. Heywood seemed just as impressed as I was. Jeremy had a smug expression on the entire time, and when we drove into the parking lot of the lakeside cabin, he looked extremely pleased with himself.