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“It’s not a joke. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. We’re going to City Hall today to make it official.”
I stared at him, agape. “Bloody hell, man, that was fast.”
“I’ve been without her for eleven years. I don’t want to wait a single day longer before starting the rest of my life with her,” Dylan said, his expression adamant.
I shot him a smirk, because we’d literally just watchedWhen Harry Met Sallythe day before yesterday. “Are you paraphrasing Billy Crystal to me right now?”
Dylan grinned. “Maybe. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.”
A strange feeling gripped me because I felt the same way about Yvonne. I’d wanted her since I was eighteen. Twelve years. Twelve years wanting a woman who was finally right in front of me, yet I still hadn’t managed to convince her how good we could be together.
I’d done my best not to push, to be charming and flirtatious, letting her know I was very much interested without being overbearing, but I couldn’t think of a way to bridge that final gap.
I glanced once more at my best friend. “I guess this means I’m putting on a suit today.”
Dylan smiled. “Well, of course. The best man needs to be dressed appropriately, after all.”
“Damn you, O’Dea!” I jokingly complained. “Don’t make me cry. You’ll mess up my make up.”
***
Despite the last minute nature of it all, the wedding was perfect, an intimate affair with family and friends. We went through the quick ceremony at City Hall before heading for drinks and food in a bar on the lower east side.
Dylan and Evelyn were wrapped up in each other and very much in love as they swung around the dancefloor. I took the free seat next to Yvonne, handing her some champagne. I’d already had a few glasses myself, which meant I was lubricated enough to think putting my hand on her thigh under the table was a good idea.
She stilled, glancing at me tensely and I saw I’d made her nervous. I removed my hand and swallowed thickly. Maybe she really didn’t want this and I was wasting my time trying to convince her. Then I remembered my parents were sitting across the table from us, which probably made her self-conscious.
I noticed how she was digging her fingers into her temples and wondered if she wasn’t feeling well.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“It’s just a migraine,” she replied. “It’ll pass.”
“There’s a pharmacy at the end of this block,” I told her. “Want me to go grab you some painkillers?”
“Oh, I might walk there myself. I need some fresh air.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said, belatedly realising she might want some space but she only nodded, shooting me a grateful smile.
“Thanks,” she said and I helped her into her coat.
“We’ll be back in ten minutes,” I told my dad. “Just nipping out to the shop.”
“No bother,” Dad replied, his attention returning to the glass of bubbly in front of him.
We stepped out onto the street and cold hit my face immediately. I burrowed into my thick coat, tucking Yvonne to my side, my arm instinctively going around her waist. She didn’t protest, seeming to huddle closer to me for warmth. A feeling of possessiveness took over. I liked having her close, liked tucking her into my side like she belonged there.
“I know it was only short, but the ceremony was beautiful, don’t you think?” Yvonne said quietly as we walked.
“It was,” I agreed, glancing down at her. “You think that’s what you’ll want? A quick trip to City Hall, or are there aspirations for a big extravagant wedding in your future?”
At this she scoffed, and I could tell from her faintly strained expression that her headache was still bad. “I doubt there’ll be a wedding in my future at all, but if there is I’ll likely keep it small. I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention very much.”
I frowned at her. “Why do you doubt there’ll be a wedding in your future?”
“I have told you of my failed past relationships,” she reminded. “Besides, no one’s ever proposed to me.”
“Not true,” I argued and her eyes flicked up, curious. I grinned before continuing, “If you recall I proposed to you by text that day you offered to bring me soup. A proposal you still haven’t responded to, might I add.” I shot her a look like I was greatly pained by this fact which got a laugh out of her. God, I really did love her laugh.
