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Dammit, Anna, I cursed myself. This is fake. It’s all fake.
But it felt so real.
Too real.
I pushed open the doors and stepped into the cool, evening air. I felt better the second the cool breeze rushed over my skin and through my hair.
I sat down on a bench outside the venue and closed my eyes. Focus, Anna. Focus on breathing and forget about Levi for two seconds. Forget about how freaking amazing he looks in that suit, and how his lips are so kissable. Forget about how he can dance better than anyone you’ve ever met. Forget about how good his body felt against yours…
“Excuse me?”
I opened my eyes to find a woman standing in front of me. She was about my mother’s age and had a very nice smile.
She didn’t wait for a response before sitting next to me. “I’m sorry to bother you. Are you okay, miss?”
“I just needed to catch my breath but thank you.”
“I understand. Patton and Molly know a lot of people. It was getting really stuffy in there for me too,” she said with a laugh. She pulled out a cigarette and offered me one, but I shook my head since I didn’t smoke.
“I usually don’t smoke much anymore, gave it up twenty years ago, but this wedding planning really has taken over my life and made me pick the habit back up again.”
“Wedding planning?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m Patton’s mother. Call me Carol,” she said sweetly. She seemed to think for a moment and put the cigarette away after all, maybe because I had declined. “You’re here with Levi, right?”
“I am, yes.”
Carol’s smile widened. “I’ve known Levi since he was a little bitty thing, no taller than my knees. Can you believe he was ever that small?”
“Hard to believe now,” I agreed with a smile.
“Well, I have to say, I have never seen him as happy as I have tonight, with you. The way he looks at you… I have a feeling your wedding bells aren’t too far off.”
My heart jumped. I wanted to argue with her, tell her we weren’t ever getting married, but it just felt… rude, almost. I couldn’t figure out what to say, but thankfully, I didn’t have to.
“There you are,” Levi said, walking over to the bench.
“Speaking of the devil. I knew he wouldn’t let you out of his sight for long,” Carol said. She stood up and patted the seat for Levi. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
“Mrs. Roswell, you don’t have to–”
“No, I insist. I need to get back in there anyway. It was great seeing you, Levi, and I loved meeting you, Anna. Best of wishes to the two of you.”
The woman sauntered back into the party. Levi didn’t sit, he just stood there with his hands in his pockets, and the feeling of warmth from earlier had returned. Just looking at him… overwhelming.
“You really look good in that suit,” I told him, making the understatement of the year.
“Thanks,” he said. “And you look amazing in that dress. I swear, every guy in there was checking you out.”
I laughed, realizing I hadn’t noticed a single guy checking me out, but I hadn’t been paying attention to anyone but Levi to say for sure.
“You okay?” he asked me, taking the seat next to me.
“Yeah. Like I said, I just needed some air.”
“It’s a big party,” Levi said. “Way more people than I expected.”
“Yeah, too many people if you ask me,” I said with a laugh.
