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I lift mine and Layna’s joined hands and plant a kiss on the back of hers.
“Thank you,” Layna says, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“What do you mean you just like giving me a hard time?” Linc shoots an accusatory glare at Harlow.
She just smiles prettily and shrugs as he towers over her.
“You’re going to pay for that later,” he warns in a low voice.
“I’m counting on it,” Harlow whispers.
As they walk away, Layna and I exchange glances.
“I don’t think we were supposed to hear that last part,” she says.
“I really wish I hadn’t,” I say.
We both laugh and I pull Layna to me for a kiss. I can’t help myself. I keep looking for excuses to touch her, to kiss her. I still can’t believe she’s mine. I think I must be in shock. When Harlow pulled me out onto the floor for that dance, I didn’t know what to expect. And after she and Linc had left me standing there with Layna, I’d known it was planned. I’d assumed Layna would apologize and try to explain once again why we weren’t right for each other. I figured she would use the public venue to get me to talk to her without causing a scene. I never expected her to tell me she’s in love with me. I still can’t quite believe it.
“What?” Layna asks, her brows lowered in confusion. “You’re staring at me.”
I smile and shake my head. “Nothing. Just trying to wrap my head around it all.”
She steps closer and wraps her arms around my waist. “It’s a lot to take in.”
I gaze down at this woman who, until only a few minutes ago, I’d thought I’d lost for good. Her expression is so full of happiness. So different from the way I left her this morning, in my hotel room, her eyes shining with unshed tears. When I remember the words I said to her just before I’d left, shame washes over me.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“For what?” she asks, confusion wrinkling her brow.
“This morning. I shouldn’t have said that. I was angry and hurting.”
She shakes her head. “Cole, stop. You were right to say it. As much as it hurt to hear, you weren’t exactly wrong. I kept you at a distance because I was scared. I didn’t want to risk falling for you. I didn’t want to fall for anyone. But especially not you. Because I knew how easy it would be to love you. And how much it would hurt if you didn’t feel the same way. So, I kept things light. I told you again and again that we were just friends. I kept reminding myself of all the reasons we shouldn’t be together. All the ways it might not work out. And all the while I was ignoring the way I felt about you. Pretending I wasn’t falling for you.”
Her eyes close for a moment and she takes a deep breath. When she looks at me again, her eyes shine with unshed tears.
“Cole, I’m scared of what I feel for you,” she whispers. “What if it doesn’t work out? What if—”
I bring my hands up to cup her face and silence her with a kiss.
Pressing my forehead to hers, I whisper, “I’m scared too. I’ve never felt this before. I don’t know how to do this. But I know I want to try. With you. So, let’s be scared together.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
I smile. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing her say those words.
“I love you, too.”
The next hour drags slowly by. Every time I try to lure Layna away from the reception, it seems like someone comes over to chat with us. When it’s time for the wedding toasts, we take our seats with the rest of the wedding party. Layna and I are separated since the bride’s attendants are on one side and the groom’s are on the other. I can tell that Linc is just as annoyed by this as I am. But when Layna stands to give her toast to her sister, I feel a sense of pride welling up inside me. She stands tall and beautiful as she speaks, her voice only cracking at the end when she dabs at her eyes. I glance around the room and see that most of the women in the crowd are doing the same. Some of the men are covertly blinking shining eyes as well.
When she finishes, she turns to look at me, giving me a smile that’s meant just for me. My heart trips in my chest almost painfully. I return the smile, wishing she weren’t so far away from me right now. How long do we need to sit in these assigned seats? Someone should have talked to Piper about this before the wedding. I watch as Layna turns to walk back to her chair. She takes two steps in that direction before turning back to face me and walking directly over to where I’m seated.
“Can I sit here?” she asks, one eyebrow raised in challenge.
My smile grows wider, and I shift my chair away from the table intending to stand. Before I can, Layna lowers herself to sit in my lap, bringing one arm around the back of my neck. My arms immediately move to encircle her waist and I lean forward to kiss her cheek. I’m surprised by her boldness in front of a room full of people, but I admit I’m not upset about it.
“I didn’t take you for a public display of affection kind of girl,” I whisper.
