Griffin: You’re gonna put the bride to shame
Ellie: If Abby hears you say that she’ll cut your head off
Griffin: I won’t let her hear then
December
Ellie: I’ll see you tomorrow :)
Griffin: Counting down the seconds, darlin’
Chapter 48
Griffin
December, Age 24
I’ve never really been a big wedding guy. Not that I’ve been to many–I think my experience begins and ends with being the ring bearer in my aunt’s wedding when I was six years old, which ended in catastrophe. But what’s a boy to do when a kite bird decides we’re a little too close to its nest and starts divebombing the guests? If you answered, “launch the pillow with the rings at the bird and run away screaming,” you’d be correct.
But this wedding? I don’t know if it’s because Aaron and Abby are close friends, or because I know how much work Eleanor put into this, but I’ve been damn near in tears for most of the day. Of course I didn’t say it out loud, but I was right–Eleanor blew everyone out of the water, even the bride. When she came down that aisle arm in arm with Aaron’s brother, red wine satin dress hugging her in all the right places, my heart just about stopped. A vision of her walking down a different aisle, this time in a white dress with her dad on her arm, made me weak in the knees. Therest of the ceremony and all through the reception, when everyone else’s gaze was fixed on the happy couple, my eyes were locked on the blonde beauty with tears streaking down her cheeks from the joy of watching her best friend start her future with the love of her life.
“You ready to head home darlin’?” I step up behind Eleanor, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and bringing her back flush with my chest. She just finished a conversation with the venue coordinator, closing out the final details of the night and declaring the wedding officially over. “I sure am ready to get you there.”
Eleanor hums in approval, leaning her head back against my shoulder and gripping my forearms. “You look sexy as hell in that tux,” she murmurs, low enough so that only I can hear. “But I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been dying to get you out of it from the moment I saw you earlier.”
Lord have mercy.
“Okay, time to go,” I growl, unwinding my arms and placing my hands and her shoulders, marching her out of the ballroom while she throws her head back with laughter. I glance over my shoulder one last time, taking in the empty dancefloor and the venue crew starting to clean up the remnants of the reception. It makes me think the same thing I’ve been thinking all night.
This is going to be us someday.
Sooner than later if I have anything to say about it.
And I do. A solitaire emerald cut ring has been burning a hole in the inside pocket of my tux jacket since I tucked it in there this morning. I know it’s taboo to ask someone to marry you at a wedding–which is why I’m waiting until we get home. I’ve known from day one that I wanted to marry this girl, and I don’t want to wait another second. We’ve talked about forever so many times over the last year, and every time she brings it up I light up like a Christmas tree.
When we first started talking again I went into every phone call, every text, with a pit in my stomach, wondering if this was going to be the conversation when she changed her mind again. Two years later, even through some long periods of silence brought on by the busyness of adulthood, she’s still here. Andshe’sthe one talking about the future.
“I love love,” she sighs, curling into my side as we walk to the truck. “I’ve never been happier than I am today.”
That’s my opening. Holy shit. Okay, this is it.
“You know, I was thinking the same thing.” She leans against the side of the truck, turning to face me when she notices that I haven’t moved to open her door. “But I think that every day. Every time I talk to you, I’ve never been happier than I am at that moment.”
She smiles sweetly, tilting her head up and dragging me down by my tie until our lips touch. The kiss is slow and gentle–the kind that makes me soar even higher than the needy, passionate, downrightferalones. “I love you, Griffin Hart.”
“I love you, Ellie Turner.” Inhaling a shaky breath, I continue, “I always have. And I always will. And watching Abby and Aaron tonight has made me more sure than ever that you’re the only one I’m ever going to want.” Reaching into the pocket against my chest, I pull the ring out and hold it between us. “I know I shouldn’t do this at a wedding, but I don’t think I can wait another second.”
When I look up at her face, her eyes are wide with shock. But she’s not smiling. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, desperately wanting to run but rooted to the spot in fear. “I know we’re young,” I say reassuringly, reaching for her hand. “And there’s a lot to figure out. But I don’t want to figure it out with anyone else.”
“Griffin,” she whispers. “Please don’t do this.”
My blood runs cold, and everything stops. My hearing, my breathing, my heart. I’ve seen this look on her face before. It’s the one that’s haunted all my nightmares for years.
This can’t be happening again.
“Why, darlin’?” My voice is hoarse and desperate. “Why not?”
“Because I…I can’t,” she breathes, and I can hear the panic rising in her voice. “Your life is here, my life is in Boston, we’re so young. Why do things need to change? I thought everything was fine.”
