The reception was in full swing under the canopy of twinkling fairy lights. Guests were laughing, dancing, and enjoying the lively atmosphere. At the center of the garden, a pair of elegant chairs was set up back-to-back for the much-anticipated Shoe Game.
Aaron and Amy took their seats, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner's. The officiant from earlier, now serving as the emcee, explained the rules. "For those of you unfamiliar, I'll ask a series of questions about their relationship. Aaron and Amy will raise the shoe of the person they think best fits the answer. Let's see how well these two know each other!"
Cheers erupted as the couple got into position, their playful smiles showing they were ready for whatever was coming.
Meanwhile, the groomsmen had claimed their spot on the floor, seated cross-legged in a tight semi-circle near the couple. Dressed in their tuxedos but looking more like a gang of troublemakers, they lounged casually, exuding a devil-may-care attitude.
"Oh, this is gonna be good," Kevin whispered, leaning forward with a mischievous grin.
"Yup," John agreed, his deep gray eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see how much dirt we can uncover without actually saying a word."
The first question came from the emcee: "Who said 'I love you' first?"
Without hesitation, both Aaron and Amy raised Aaron's shoe.
"Called it!" Blake said, smirking. "Aaron's always been the sentimental one."
Kevin added with mock seriousness, "Yeah, I remember him practicing in the mirror for weeks in high school just to ask her out. The guy was a wreck."
The crowd laughed, and Aaron shot Kevin a mock glare. "Thanks for that, Kev."
The next question followed: "Who's the better cook?"
Aaron hesitated for a moment before raising Amy's shoe. Amy confidently held up her own.
"That's generous of you, Aaron," Nathan said dryly. "Especially after the 'spaghetti incident' of senior year."
The other groomsmen roared with laughter.
"Oh, come on," Aaron protested. "That wasn't that bad!"
"Bro, you turned spaghetti into soup," Marcus said, wiping a tear from his eye.
The questions kept coming, each one more revealing and hilarious than the last.
"Who's more likely to get lost on a road trip?"
Both Aaron and Amy raised Aaron's shoe without hesitation.
John leaned back, chuckling. "I can vouch for that. This guy once got lost in our own neighborhood during a run."
"That's because you gave me bad directions!" Aaron shot back, pointing at John.
"Sure, blame the guy who was at home," John retorted, earning more laughter from the group.
The emcee continued: "Who's more dramatic?"
Aaron and Amy raised Amy's shoe simultaneously, sparking an exaggerated gasp from her.
"Excuse me?" Amy said, feigning offense.
Kevin grinned. "We love you, Amy, but let's be honest—you once cried because a squirrel looked at you funny."
"That squirrel was judging me!" Amy shot back, making everyone laugh even harder.
The groomsmen, emboldened by the growing hilarity, began whispering among themselves, feeding each other lines to shout after every answer.
"Who's more likely to forget an anniversary?"
Aaron raised his own shoe, while Amy raised his as well.
"Smart man," Blake called out. "Admitting it upfront saves you future fights. Veteran move!"
By now, the crowd was in stitches, the groomsmen's running commentary adding a layer of humor that made the game unforgettable. Even Aaron and Amy were laughing so hard they had to pause between questions.
The final question came: "Who's the better dancer?"
Amy immediately raised her own shoe, while Aaron hesitated before holding up hers as well.
Marcus shook his head, pretending to look disappointed. "You know, Aaron, we tried to teach you. But some people just aren't meant to groove."
"Hey, my moves aren't that bad," Aaron protested weakly.
"Remember prom?" Kevin countered. "You did that weird flailing thing—what was that even supposed to be?"
"It was interpretive!" Aaron defended, laughing along with the group.
As the game ended, the emcee thanked everyone for participating, and the crowd gave Aaron and Amy a round of applause. The groomsmen got up from the floor, brushing off their tuxedos and grinning like kids who had just pulled off a perfect prank.
John walked over to Aaron and clapped him on the back. "Solid performance, man. But I think Amy carried you on a few of those."
Aaron chuckled. "You guys are the worst. But I have to admit... that was fun."
"Anytime," Kevin said with a mock bow. "We're here to provide entertainment, free of charge."
As the night carried on, the memory of the game lingered, a perfect blend of love, laughter, and a touch of mischief—just the way Aaron and Amy's story deserved to be celebrated.
To be continued...