I want to kiss her. To tell her I love her. Promise her forever right here on this balcony with the Toronto skyline as witness.
Instead I say, “One day at a time, JuJu. That’s all I’m asking for.”
“You literally talked about marrying me yesterday.”
“That’s aspirational. The day-to-day is what matters.”
She studies my face. “You mean that?”
“I mean it.”
She goes up on her toes and kisses me. Soft and sweet and tasting like champagne.
“Okay,” she says against my mouth. “One day at a time.”
The door opens and Emma stumbles out. “There you are! They’re doing the bouquet toss! Jules, you have to—oh.” She sees us and grins. “Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” I say.
“No,” Juliette says, shooting me a look. “We’re coming.”
We follow Emma back inside where a crowd of women are gathering. Juliette joins them reluctantly while I stand with the other guys near the bar.
“Twenty bucks she catches it,” Owen says, appearing beside me.
“No bet. Olivia’s going to aim for her.”
Sure enough, when Olivia turns her back and tosses, the bouquet sails directly to Juliette, who catches it reflexively then immediately looks horrified.
“Set up,” I call out.
“Completely rigged,” she agrees, but she’s laughing.
By midnight, the party is winding down. Olivia and Owen make their grand exit through a tunnel of sparklers. Juliette cries again watching them go.
“You okay?” I ask.
“My baby sister is married,” she says, wiping her eyes. “I’ve cried more today than in the past year combined.”
“It’s been an emotional day.”
“That’s an understatement.” She looks at me, bruised face and all. “Ready to go?”
“With you? Always ready.”
We’re walking toward the ballroom doors, weaving between tables and stopping to say our goodbyes as we go. Her parents hug us both. Her dad whispers “thank you” in my ear. Her mom tells Juliette to “hold onto this one.”
Juliette holds my hand and the bouquet as we navigate through the lingering guests.
“So you caught the bouquet,” I say casually.
“Olivia threw it directly at my face.”
“Still counts.”
“It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Sure it doesn’t.”
