Page 54

Ivy’s sister finishes her heartfelt speech as she hands over the microphone to Drew. I do a double take, my heart skipping a beat. I had no idea he was making a speech tonight. I shift in my seat, leaning to the side to get a clear view of where he’s standing.

“Good evening, everyone.” Drew begins, his voice confident and grounding over the speakers. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Drew. Cooper’s best man, and his best friend since we were teenagers. We lived next door to each other and bonded over football and girls.” A ripple of giggles echoes through the reception tent, a few of Cooper’s old teammates chuckling loudly from the back tables. Cooper just shakes his head, a broad grin splitting his face.

“But football aside... Cooper has been the one constant in my life,” Drew says, his voice dropping quieter. “When I moved in next door to the Bensons, I had no idea that I’d end up being welcomed as a part of their family. Cooper isn’t just my best friend, but a brother who has been by my side through everything, my highest moments and my lowest. He never gave up on me, even when he had every reason to.” He looks down regretfully as my heart sinks deep in my chest. A silent apology for all the years he spent running. He brings his gaze back up to the crowd with a small smile, changing his tone into something lighter.

“I remember the day Ivy moved onto our street at the end of our junior year of high school. We were driving home when Cooper caught a glimpse of her. He begged me to go with him to say hi, and by the end of their first conversation, he smoothly scored her phone number. But what I remember most was when we approached our houses, he looked at me and said…’I think I just met my wife’.” Everyone is quiet, captivated by his every word. Ivy is brushing away her tears.

“Ivy fit in with all of us quickly after that, capturing the hearts of everyone around her. She loves fiercely and is an amazing friend. Watching these two grow together through high school, college, and then life and careers has been a privilege. They never let fear or excuses get in their way, they choose each other every day. It has opened up my eyes to what love truly is.” Drew pauses, looking through the crowd until his eyes fall on mine.

“What Cooper said last night is true, and if you missed it, he said this: ‘There is no perfect timeline on love.’” He says, his eyes never wavering from mine. “It’s the decision to look at another person through the wreckage of life and say, 'I am choosing you–completely unguarded, with zero excuses–every single day, for the rest of my life.'’

He blinks, breaking our eye contact to look at the crowd, raising his glass high into the glowing lights of the tent.

“You showed me and everyone in this room what it looks like when love conquers all. Here's to the bride and groom. To Cooper and Ivy.”

The entire room erupts into a wave of applause, chairs push against the grass as everyone stands to toast the newlyweds. I join in, my hands trembling slightly as I clap, my eyes glassy as I look across the table at the man who just used his speech to promise me he’s finally done running. I polish off the rest of my champagne in one gulp, needing the alcohol to calm my nerves.

The bride and groom finish their emotional dances with their parents, leaving the crowd watching in silence. Then, the DJ takes the microphone, the bass drops, and the lights shift into a vibrant, pulsing glow. The dance floor is officially open.

Finally, a small window opens up so I can head to the bar and get a new drink. I take a long sip of my champagne, the cold zing hitting the back of my throat.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

The deep voice catches me off guard. I turn from the edge of the bar to find Alex standing there, waiting for the bartender to slide a drink across the counter to him.

“Thank you, Alex,” I say, offering a polite smile. “Are you having a nice night so far?

“I am,” he says, lifting his glass in a small toast. “It’s a beautiful wedding. They really nailed it.”

As he speaks, my attention slips. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Drew standing a few yards away, caught in a conversation with a group of his old high school friends. Even as he nods along to whatever story is being told, his eyes are locked on me and Alex.

Alex follows my line of sight, watching the longing gaze stretch between us. A knowing smile spreads across his face as he looks back at me.

“You know that man is head over heels in love with you, right?” Alex adds softly.

My head snaps back to him, my cheeks flushing. “You aren't the first person to tell me that this week,” I sigh, the weight of his observation making me desperate to deflect the spotlight.

“What about you? Do you have anyone special back home, Alex?”

“I actually do,” he says, his posture softening as a quiet, proud expression takes over. “He’s, uh... he’s great, Cami.”

A wide smile forms on my face, the tension evaporating from my shoulders at his admission. I had no idea, but it makes perfect sense, and I love that for him.

“I’m really happy for you, Alex. Truly. Are you still living in California? I’d love to get together with you guys sometime.”

“Yeah, we are!” he says, smiling warmly as he stirs the liquid in his glass. “And I would really love that. I’ll reach out to you when we get back.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Drew says, his voice low as he reaches out to slip his fingers through mine. “Alex, do you mind if I steal her for a few minutes?”

“She’s all yours.” He chuckles, bringing his drink to his lips.

Drew has me by the hand, and I realize he is pulling me out to the dance floor. Other couples, including my parents, are slow-dancing to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” My heart drops to my stomach. Realizing that he just navigated through the crowd, ignoring everyone else, just to find me and ask me to dance, leaves me at a complete loss for words.

We slow to a stop right in the center of the dance floor. He turns to face me, wrapping one strong arm securely around my waist while his other hand gently clasps mine. I rest my cheek against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, letting my eyes fall shut as we sway to the rhythm of the music. My body melts into his, the crowd around me disappearing into a soft blur. He’s the only one who can quiet my mind, keeping me present and calm in every moment. His warm lips place a gentle kiss on the top of my head. I take a deep breath, inhaling his warm scent.

We don't say anything, we just hold each other, savoring the time we have left. My heart is carefully piecing itself back together as the pain of the past begins to fade into a distant memory. And finally, the world around me is no longer burning, but rebuilding itself from the ashes.

The music slows to a stop, and we just stand there staring at each other, neither one of us moving. He smiles down at me, taking a small step forward. He reaches for my face, threading his fingers through my hair. Slowly, he brushes his thumbs across my cheeks and, without hesitation, presses his lips to mine. Right here in the open, at the very center of the dance floor for everyone to see, no more secrets and no more hiding. I smile against his lips and wrap my arms around his neck, as he lifts me off my feet.