In my experience, weddings are the type of events that either make someone irritatingly happy or outrageously sad. As I sat at table number three on that particular night, I had no shame in admitting I belonged to the second group. Melody radiated light as she twirled around the dance floor with her new husband, Paul. Her dress swirled around behind her, the gems catching the light and distributing it around the room.

One of the lights landed square on the face of Melody's mother who, like the other parents, was standing in the corner greeting guests and collecting gifts. These events are at least as much for the parents as they are the couple getting married. Perhaps moreso.

The bride and bridegroom looked so happy twirling around the floor it was almost contagious. But I couldn't help but feel sadness over my own lack of success finding a husband. I was acutely aware that Melody's wedding meant I was the only one of our friend group to remain husbandless. It's impossible NOT to be happy for her, though, when she looks so radiant and joyous. It was also impossible not to be sad for ME. It was a very conflicting feeling.

I downed the last of my champagne and before I'd even set the glass down on the table, Melody was dragging me out onto the dance floor. "Come on, Maid of Honour!" she shouted in my ear so I could hear her over the heavy thumping of the bass. "I need to dance with you!"

"Thanks for reminding me of the maid part!" I shouted back, resisting the urge to roll my eyes only because it was her wedding day.

"You knew what I meant so don't sass! This is the last time you'll be a maid of honour like ever, so let's just celebrate it, okay?"

"Oh, yes." I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my voice or stop my eyes from rolling that time. "I just love not having found someone to marry. I'm so excited for my parents to start having a say in..." I looked at the silver watch adorning my left arm. "In just over twelve hours."

She looked at me, her mouth pulling into a frown. "Marriage isn't all bad."

"You saying that from all your experience?" I teased her, before continuing more seriously. "But no, I don't think marriage is all bad. I think it's probably great if you find someone you want to do it with. But I--"

Our conversation was abruptly cut off when the music changed and Paul returned to collect Melody for a dance. If anything could convince me that marriage was something worth pursuing, it was these two looking at each other like they were the center of the universe. But then, I reminded myself, these two married by choice, not necessity. Not only does that sound a lot more romantic, but also like a better recipe for happiness.

"Do you mind?" Melody called over the music.

"No, go ahead!" I waved my hand dismissively to indicate I didn't need her to stay on my account.

I glanced around the Grand Ballroom, looking for someone I knew and could talk to. The room was beautifully decorated in reds and golds and filled to the brim with Melody and Paul's family and friends, many of whom I had known since I was three years old.

Maybe, if I play my cards right, I can find someone in this room who might be the love of my life, I thought to myself. If I even believe in that sort of thing. It was possible the next twelve hours would result in me finding someone to at least date, I guess. It was a slim chance, but maybe having someone I wanted to date would hold off my parents for a little while. Maybe I could stop them from choosing for me if they thought I was going to choose for myself. I could buy a little time, at least.

I stepped to the side of the dance floor to avoid getting swept up by the conga line and let my eyes wander the room looking for someone I hadn't known since we were in diapers. Curse my mother and her vast array of friends. I had to admit, not many of the guys in the room looked like they had the potential to be the love of my life. At least not at first glance, and a first glance was all I had.

I wandered toward the bar, hoping someone would catch my eye on the way to more champagne. A few of the men in the room looked like they might be desperate enough to pretend to date me just in case I might end up marrying them in the end. That felt really mean, though, so I settled my attentions on the one man who looked just as unimpressed to be there as I was.

I walked to the other side of the bar where he sat in his sleek black suit looking out at the crowd. "Hello, I'm Aubrey," I said, offering him my hand.

He looked over to me and then back to the room without saying a word. Cool, I caught a rude one.

I tried again. "I don't want to be here either, really," I said, hitching up my gold floor length gown and sitting on the seat beside him.

He actually laughed at that one as I signalled the bartender for another champagne.

"That's surprising coming from a girl." He finally turned to face me. "Wait, aren't you the maid of honour?"

"Glad to see you were paying attention. Very keen observation skills. Yes, I am the maid of honour." I took my drink from the bartender and passed him a small tip from my clutch.

"So, if you're the maid of honour, why aren't you excited to be here?" His brown eyes stared into mine and his body turned towards me as though he were genuinely interested.

"Well, because I turn twenty-five in exactly eleven hours and fifty-two minutes and you know what that means."

"I do," he said, taking the drink from my hand and downing it himself. "What are you trying to say?"

Wow, he's forward.

"Well, first, I'm trying to say you owe me my drink back." I pointed at the empty glass he set down on the bar. "Otherwise, I'm trying to say I'd like a way out of this 'my parents get a say in who I marry' thing. Take it for what you want."

His eyes pierced mine, searching them for a meaning I had left out. I didn't know what I was trying to say, so he didn't have much hope of finding anything.

"Are you making a pass at me?" He asked finally, reaching out to take a new glass of champagne from the bartender.

No, I thought to myself. "So what if I am?" I challenged him, taking the glass of champagne from his hand and downing it in one gulp.

"You want to marry me, a person you have never met and don't know at all, so your parents don't get to choose for you to marry someone you have never met and don't know at all?" He raised his eyebrow in confusion. "No offense, but that sounds like an awful idea."

If there had been champagne in my mouth, I probably would have spit it out at his forwardness.

"Whoa back up there! I would never propose marriage. I was thinking more like casually go on a date so hopefully my parents will believe I'm looking to marry you and they won't set me up with someone, like, tomorrow."

For a second, we sat frozen at the bar, eyes boring into each other like a matador and his bull. Finally, he stood up from his stool and revealed himself to be slightly shorter than me. "I do not date strangers," he said before disappearing into the crowd.

Why am I so bad at this?

I searched the room again, hoping some magical, perfect man would materialize from the crowd. Sadly, no one did. It seemed Mr. Rude had been my only hope. Maybe I could convince my parents we had agreed to a date and hope he didn't tell them?

I took a deep breath and made sure my clutch was closed before making the long walk across the room to table five where my parents sat with the grandparents of the bride. "Ma, may I have a word?" I said when I was finally within earshot.

She stood up and excused herself, looking effortlessly graceful as her silver gown flowed behind her. When we were far enough from the table, she grabbed my arm to stop me and turned me to face her. "What would you like, dear?" She looked interested, but her voice was irritated.

"I was wondering if, maybe, you and Papa might consider holding off my marriage match for a week or two." I paused for a breath and then we both spoke at once:

"I was hoping to go out on a date with--"

"You know that is quite out of the question, dear. We have discussed this. The law allows it and society demands it. I'm sorry you don't like it, but your father and I will be deciding. You've had ample time to find someone yourself, and I don't see what good two more weeks would do. I will discuss your request with your father before we make any final decisions, but I am fairly certain he will agree."

"Okay, I was just--"

"That will be all, Aubrey. Go rejoin your friends and enjoy the party. Maybe you can get some ideas for your own wedding." She smiled at me like she really believed my own wedding was an exciting prospect.