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Between the tiers, cascading sugar flowers in white and shades of lavender spill down like a botanical waterfall, each petal and leaf handcrafted to perfection.
At the very top, there is no traditional bride and groom but instead a bespoke sculptured heart crafted from fine spun sugar threads so thin, you can see through them.
Sophie and Baden playfully feed each other thin slices, sharing chocolate- and lavender-infused kisses in between.
It’s utter perfection.
Perhaps the type of wedding Juniper and I would have had one day had I chosen her over my career.
After the bride and groom have their dance, the marble floor fills with guests. Most of the music is upbeat and everyone takes their turn grooving to pop and rock songs we all know and can sing by heart. I’m no stranger to dancing and have a great time cutting it up with Juniper and most of the other Titans. Even Drake, who looks more like he’d only condescend to head-bang out to some Megadeth, joins Brienne in the old-school “Macarena.”
I finally decide to make a move on Juniper when the music slows and “Wonderful Tonight” comes on. We’re on the dance floor already, so I take her hand and pull her close, not a request but a demand she share a moment with me.
“Having fun?” I ask her as we sway to the mellow, smoky voice singing Clapton.
“Most fun I’ve had in a long while,” she says, her face flushed with pleasure. “The people here… everyone’s just so nice.”
“They all adore you,” I assure her. I mean… it’s Juniper. How could they not?
My hand moves from her hip to her lower back, pulling her a little closer. Our other hands are clasped.
She tips her head back to smile at me and I can tell what’s going on in those pretty eyes of hers. I know what she’s going to say as soon as her lips part.
A thank-you for the evening, for helping her dad, for getting her away from Joshua, and every other gratitude because she’s feeling so happy. I don’t want to waste this feeling.
“You know, letting you go was the dumbest mistake I’ve ever made, Juni. I look back on it now, and I don’t know how I could have been so stupid.”
Her lips quirk and she gives the tiniest eye roll because we’ve already hashed this out. “Enough with the worst mistake claim. Honestly, I think you’re so hinged on that because you know how bad things were for me. If I’d led a charmed life, you wouldn’t—”
I bend down and kiss her. It’s the first time in fifteen years and it’s just a gentle brush of my lips against hers to get her to stop speaking.
Her eyes are closed when I pull back. I wait for them to flutter open, note they’re awash with confusion and pleasure. “I’m not just saying that. I’ve not had a serious relationship since you. Only casual dates. Never told another woman I loved her because I’ve never even come close to feeling that for someone. I walked away from the love of my life and that’s a level of stupidity I’ll never match.”
Some of that is tongue in cheek and I say it to try to get a smile out of her. Instead, her gaze focuses in on me sharply. “Do you still love me?”
“Yes,” I reply, the singular truth ringing bold and without hesitation. I didn’t have to think about it.
I’ve never stopped loving Juniper.
Juniper blinks at me, her mouth sagging in shock. “You do?”
“Always have. And I don’t expect it back from you. I understand I killed what we had.”
She shakes her head again, eyes closed briefly as she processes. When her gaze locks onto mine, she says, “I don’t know how I feel, but I can tell you I do have feelings for you. I had to shove them away and then I let anger pile up on them. But all that’s gone now. I don’t know what’s left behind, but…”
Her words trail off and I don’t want her to fade back into her protective zone. I touch my forehead to hers. “But what, Juni?”
“But there’s always been a part of my heart that belonged only to you.”
Relief washes through me at the small kernel of tenderness she might still carry for me.
“That’s good, Juni,” I whisper before brushing my lips against her temple. “I can work with that.”
CHAPTER 20
Juniper
“Who wants more tea?” Brienne asks as she stands from her chair. She is the epitome of class and grace. She went with a retro fifties glam look in a floral, off-the-shoulder dress that hugs her torso and flares outward at the waist, paired with pale blue pumps, vivid red lipstick, and her hair in pin curls. She even wore white satin gloves to our little tea party.
