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“There you are!” Ryan yelled across the lobby. “Bout time you came down here and join us losers.”
I turned to see Bailey smile as she walked away from me toward the elevators. “Good luck with that. Good night. I will see you tomorrow,” she said as she left me standing there as the guys made their way over to me.
Bailey
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I wiped my eyes and watched as Cara and Ryan kissed. Everyone erupted into applause as they began their descent down the aisle. I was so happy to know that my best friend had found the love of her life that I could barely take my eyes off the happy couple. Cara stopped a little way down the aisle to hug family members, and Ryan was giving high fives out to a group of co-workers. It was nice to see the pair of them so happy. It was then the priest leaned into me and pointed across the aisle. I looked over to see Jackson waiting across the aisle. He held his arm out for me to take, and that was when Sierra tapped me on the shoulder and nodded in his direction.
“Bailey, we have to go.” She whispered.
The look he gave me made my stomach flip. I smiled in his direction, flipped the bouquet I was holding to my other hand, and laced my arm through his. The second I stood beside him, I could feel the heat rolling off his body. We both smiled at the crowd, and together we walked down the aisle, following the newly married couple out to the flower garden of the hotel for pictures.
Once outside, the photographer began shouting out directions. I swallowed hard. The sick feeling I’d woken with this morning was still present. Cara had asked me many times what was wrong, but I just shrugged it off as nerves.
“What do you have to be nervous about?” She laughed as we sat, I having our makeup done.
I shrugged. “I have nothing to be nervous about. You know I don’t like crowds.” I whispered to her so the other girls didn’t hear. Then I, too, started laughing, doing my best to get myself back to normal.
I had mentioned nothing to Cara the night before about meeting Jackson in the park. I’d gone up to the spa afterward and tried to relax, but when I got to my room, the only thing I could think of was what it was like to be held by him again.
As the morning wore on, the laughter between us woman as we got ready took my mind off of everything and I was finally feeling normal again. That was until I set eyes on Jackson for the first time since we parted ways last night. The butterflies started all over again. I’d fought off nauseousness during the entire ceremony. Now, while the photographer reloaded his camera with a new card and continued taking more pictures of the bride and groom, I stood off to the side, watching the men.
Jackson stood there, talking and laughing with the guys. His eyes danced as they joked about something, and then his eyes locked with mine. Instantly, my mind went straight to last night, standing in the lobby as he leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. That kiss had sat in the forefront of my mind the entire night. That kiss had made my heart skip a beat, and it was just now that I realized I wanted to feel that kiss again.
I wanted to feel his lips against mine, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me against him. I’d had those feelings on my mind since I’d returned to Sunset Cove. It frightened me to think that almost every single night I had fallen asleep to the memory of him lying behind me, holding me the way he used to.
As the photographer shouted out new directions and continued to click away with his camera, I continued getting lost in my own thoughts. I thought about Jackson and me sitting on that park bench last night. I’d felt so safe with his arm around me. I felt so at home with my body against him, my nose buried in the nape of his neck, allowing me to smell the mixture of cologne and his scent. It had felt so good to sit with him like that, with no pressure on what was to come. It was something I hadn’t felt in a long time, just to be in the moment with someone. I couldn’t recall a time I’d ever felt that way with Jim. I always felt there was some expectation from him I needed to meet, but with Jackson, I always felt like I was home.
That feeling solidified the belief that Jim had been right. If we had stayed together, we would only settle for something less than we each deserved. It had taken me a while to realize that I wanted my life to be full of these electrifying moments. I wanted to feel the flutter of butterflies when my significant other looked at me. I wanted to know that I was special and know that those brief glances from across the room told me he wanted me. I wanted to feel special when he asked me out. Hell, I wanted to be made to feel wanted even when we just sat on the couch wrapped up in one another and watched a movie, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. I wanted to feel that anticipation again; I wanted to feel alive again, and I’d only ever felt that with Jackson.
“All right, men, it’s the ladies’ turn,” the photographer announced, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I blinked hard and noticed that most of the men were already over where we’d been standing, and the ladies were on their way over. I was about to step away when Jackson stopped in front of me.
“Can’t stop thinking of me, huh?” He smiled. “It’s okay, I can tell.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. His cockiness was always something I’d adored, but I didn’t want to let on that he was right. Instead, I slipped and gave him a small smile, which was returned with that sexy grin I loved.
Four hours later, everything to do with the wedding was done. People were on the dance floor. I stood over by the dessert counter looking for another piece of the cheesecake I’d had earlier when I felt a familiar touch on my arm. I turned to see Jackson standing there holding a plate with what appeared to be the last slice of cheesecake.
“Thought you might look for this. Would you like some?” he asked, holding the plate out to me.
I smiled. “How did you know?”
“There isn’t much I don’t know about you.” I watched as he stuck the fork he was holding into the cheesecake, breaking off a piece. He brought the fork up and slid it slowly into my mouth, the sweet dessert sending my taste buds into overdrive.
“Has anyone ever told you that your eyes dance when you eat this stuff?” he whispered, bringing another forkful to my mouth.
I shook my head and was about to take the fork from his hand and feed him a piece when the announcement for the wedding party to have their dance came over the speaker. The slow music that played sent those same butterflies that had finally calmed in my stomach to flutter again as I looked to Jackson. He carefully set the plate down and took my hands in his, pulling me toward the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” I said, following him.
“You heard. It’s time for the wedding party to dance.” He grinned and then pulled me into his embrace. I was about to fight it, but the second I was in his arms, my body relaxed, and before I knew it, my head rested on his chest. I closed my eyes as we swayed to the music.
By midnight, most of the wedding party and guests were drunk. Cara and Ryan had already retired to their room for the night. I sat sipping on the last bit of my wine and watching Jackson as he talked with a couple of guys across the room. I watched as he shook hands with them, saying goodbye, and then he locked eyes with me. He made his way across the dance floor and took a seat beside me.
“You just about ready to blow this party?”
