Jacob needed a stiffer drink, if he was going to get through the night.  None of the weak stuff servants were carrying around on trays.  So he went to the bar.<br/><br/>"Southern Comfort, please.  Easy on the ice."<br/><br/>The bartender nodded, poured, and passed him his drink.  Taking a sip, Jacob scanned the crowd in search of Nick and Kim.  It was best to give his congratulations while he was sober enough not to slur his words.  He spotted Nick waaaaaay over on the other side of the crowd.  He could either skirt the crowd or work his way through it.<br/><br/>"The shortest distance between two points is a straight line," Jacob murmured, remembering Geometry class with Mr. Oswald.  Most of the faces he recognized, the result of having the only cafe other than Starbucks in downtown Yonders.  He didn't charge as much as Starbucks and his WIFI was faster than theirs.  The crowd that wanted to patronize a local business over the big chain came to his place each morning for their jolt of caffeine before going to work.  The only thing Starbucks had over Books and Brew was faster service.  With a second barista, he could fix that problem.<br/><br/>Noticing Camila Baldwin with Nick, Jacob had to remind himself that she was off-limits, no matter how gorgeous she looked.  With lawyers for parents, he was aware of what line of work her brother was involved in.  He wondered if she did, though.  He'd heard she'd become a fashion model.  She certainly had the look.  But an overly protective brother with Cyrus's connections could both help and hinder her ambitions.<br/><br/>Speaking of fashion models, there was one coming up to his right.  Though he couldn't remember her name, he'd seen her in one of the New York gossip magazines rubbing elbows with other fashion models and celebrities.  Jacob took a long and appreciative look at her.<br/>"Was it Kailey?" he muttered under his breath.  Sighing, he decided he would find out from her on the return trip, after congratulating Nick and Kim on their engagement.<br/><br/>Love was an emotion Jacob believed in.  But marriage was an institution he didn't understand.  To try to stay in love with someone for life or until divorce (whichever came first), seemed like an exercise in futility.  His mother was a divorce lawyer, so he'd witnessed how ugly marriages could become at the end.  Still, no reason to rain on Nick and Kim's parade.<br/><br/>"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!" Jacob exclaimed, speaking louder than necessary to be heard over the crowd.  He held out his hand for Nick to shake, though he could see him struggling to remember if the two of them knew each other.  During that pregnant pause, he glanced around to see if Cyrus was near, then said, "Hello Camila.  You look fabulous tonight.  Should I congratulate you as well on the contract with Wilhelmina?"<br/><br/>Why the furtive glance?  Overprotective brother.  Duh!  Camila attended high school after Jacob had graduated, but he could only imagine how her brother would have acted if another student had shown interest in his sister.  What he did like about her, besides the fact that she was gorgeous, was how tall she was.  At 6' 5", Jacob had always found it hard to find a dance partner who was comfortable with his height.  Maybe he'd ask her for a dance later.  Preferably when her brother wasn't around.