AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Can I meet them?” Millie asks, panting. “Can I? Please? I promise I’ll be cool.”
I laugh. “Of course. Come on.”
Inside, I flag down Lanie and Mac, and Millie can barely speak as I introduce them. We all grab champagne, and toast to the evening—a photographer snapping away nearby.
Again, I marvel: How is this life now? It feels like something out of Other Jennifer’s untouchably glamorous world. But I helped make this happen, every detail.
I belong.
Austin’s working the room, schmoozing like a pro, but the second he sets eyes on me, he steps away from his conversation.
“Finally,” he says, discretely squeezing my hand. “Every time I tried to make my way to you, someone else intercepted me. So, I’ve just been looking from afar. Pining.”
I laugh. “I’m here now.”
He leans close, murmuring for only me to hear. “That dress is going to be very fun to take off later.”
I whisper back, “Not as fun as that tux.”
Our eyes lock, and I feel another bolt of lust. Yes, already. And in the middle of a crowded room.
I step back, needing to be professional. “Is your speech ready?” I ask.
Austin nods. “It’s brief. To the point. No one’s here to hear me blabber, so I just want to express gratitude. I can do that.”
“You sure can,” I say. I can see the little spike of nervousness in his expression, so I tug on his sleeve, “Hey,” I say softly.
He looks down at me, and I feel emotion welling in my chest. “I know you’ve been feeling a lot of pressure,” I tell him. “But it’s been so inspiring to watch you care so much and work so hard to bring this to life. And you did it. I’m so proud of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you. Really, Jenn. I feel so lucky that we met.”
“Me too,” I nod.
Paloma from PR comes to claim Austin for some more interviews, so I return to Millie, who’s cloistered by the snack table with the rest of my special invites for the evening. Austin insisted I invite my knitting circle, and I made sure they would all get the VIP treatment. “Hal! Lottie!” I greet the group, beaming. “Look at you!”
Lottie does a little spin, dressed to the nines. “We’ve still got it,” she declares, clutching her cocktail glass.
“Yes, you do. Are you finding everything OK?” I ask. “It’s already so packed, I can’t believe so many people showed up.”
“Of course they did,” Evelyn announces. “This is the hottest ticket in town.”
“How’s Austin?” Millie asks.
“Hanging in there,” I smile. “He’s nervous but pretending not to be. It’s all going to plan so far.”
They move off to claim their goodie bags, leaving me with Millie for a moment.
“Look at you,” she says, squeezing my shoulder. “You got everything you wanted. And everyone.”
I glance over at Austin and feel that tightness in my chest again.
“I’m falling for him,” I admit in a whisper. “For real.”
“Yeah, that is… kind of all over your face, babe.”
“I’ve got to tell him the truth. Tomorrow. I can’t keep going forward when I know I dropped a stitch.”
Millie blinks. “I don’t speak knitting.”
