AllFreeNovel
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Winding down from eating, Lawson jumps up and grabs the DJ’s microphone to make an announcement. “Good evening, everyone! We are about to start the music and party until daylight! As you all know, my mother passed away earlier this year. Though I cannot have a mother-son dance, I’d like to invite my brother and sister to the dance floor to join me. They raised me to be the man I am today.”
He nods to the DJ who plays Rascal Flatts, “My Wish”. This fucker is an emotional mess and is spreading it to us. I approach the center of the floor, and meet my brothers in the center. We have a small group hug, and hold on to each other as the lyrics play to our emotions.
Posted up on the white walls of the tent, we notice a slide show. We turn to Massey, who subtly nods. She put this gift together for us. It’s a slideshow of us as kids with our mom before the accident. I stand between my brothers, arm in arm with them, and watch each picture come across.
Memories flash before our eyes and laughing tears fall on each of our faces. Lawson motions for Massey to come over and he grabs a hold of her. He hugs her so close, sobbing into her shoulder. This is what he needed for today. To be reminded that he is loved. From the beginning until the very end. He’s never alone, and will always be in the presence of the people who will love him.
My sweet best friend understands him.
Leland and I give them a sappy ‘thank you’ hug and I shuffle to the man who knows how to hold me up. I barely make it to the side before Victor sweeps me up in his embrace. It takes all of me to remember to breathe. Shaky breaths and shaking hands grip on to him. Damn you, Massey, for knowing that we needed this as well.
When the song ends, Massey’s dad walks over for the father-daughter dance. He whispers something into Lawson’s ear, which causes him to cry harder. Lawson gives Massey a quick kiss, then gives her hand to her dad for their dance.
Lawson saunters over to us, still trying to recover. Shit, we all are. We stand together and watch Massey and her dad sway back and forth. He’s whispering in her ear, causing her to cry buckets of tears.
“Why is everyone crying?” I sob. “It’s supposed to be a happy day!”
“He said,”—Lawson takes a few breaths — “He said he’s always known that we’d end up together. He had hoped that our paths would cross in this way. Leland and I were the only males in her life who looked out for her. You were her only friend. Fuck man, that’s deep!”
“You are a good man, Lawson.” Victor slaps him on the back.
Lawson sniffs back more tears. “I appreciate that, man. But I’m only good because of that woman.”
I hold on to Lawson and Victor’s hands while we wait until Massey and her dad finish dancing. Her dad walks her over to Lawson and gives him another handshake.
“She’s all yours, good luck!” Mr. Withers teases.
“Dad!” she squeaks with embarrassment.
“Thank you, sir, I don’t need it,” Lawson proudly states.
He takes Massey’s hand to walk back to the dance floor. He turns to the DJ, giving him a head nod, then yells out loud, “Let’s get this party started!”
As everyone cheers, the music is turned up louder. Everyone swarms the dance floor, and the party has officially started. Singing and dancing, Massey and Lawson show us what it looks like to be in love and not give a fuck about what people think. My poor brother is a horrible dancer, and my best friend is laughing and eating it up. We sing and dance in the center of the floor. Jumping up and down.
After a while of dancing, the wedding planner pulls Massey and Lawson to the side to tell them it’s time to do the garter and flower toss. They line the guys up, including Victor and Leland, and we watch awkwardly as Lawson takes the garter off. Massey is loving every second of this. He flicks it over his shoulder and all the guys jump for the tiny scrap of fabric. Victor emerges from the crowd of testosterone and throws his fist in the air to celebrate his achievement. He swings the material over his head while the other guys slap him on the shoulder.
The wedding coordinator grabs my hand to tug me to the open floor. Reaching behind me to grab Taylor. “I go, you go.”
“This isn’t right, you know.” He tries to pull away.
“Hush! Leland went for the garter and you go for the flowers. Push these girls out of the way.” I stop and turn for a second, looking at him. “That would be hilarious! Let’s make Victor put the garter on your leg.”
“Deal!” Taylor laughs.
I am so glad he’s willing to make things more awkward for Victor. Other women surround me as my best friend holds onto a bouquet. She’s shaking the bundle of flowers toward me with a wild look in her eyes.
She turns and takes a couple of pretend throws over her shoulder. Everyone shifts with her movements. A few push others around. I have my hand on Taylor’s back, ready to push him wherever the flowers go. That’s when everyone stops and moves away from me and I stand confused.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“Collins.”
The look of my best friend when I turn back around grounds me. Standing in front of me, she’s holding the beautiful bound flowers toward me. My heart stops. There is a steady ringing in my ear as the entire tent falls silent. My jaw falls slack.
“What the hell, Massey?” I barely get the words out.
With her other hand, she grabs mine and places the bouquet in my open palm. Spinning me around I come face to face with him… There he is, down on one knee, holding a ring. And, not just any ring …
