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Remember to take it all in. Breathe, and think about how much you’ve achieved.
“Jess…” Nora gasps. “This is…” Her eyes find mine, filled with emotion. We don’t say another word; we just nod at one another and take in the moment as her hand squeezes mine.
When we walk back to the front of the room, I tell Kylie to let in the guests.
Within seconds the room is met with smiles, glittering eyes and amazement.
Two familiar faces greet Nora and me first.
“Jess, Nora...” Harriet spins around, her green dress trailing after her as she takes in the room before settling on us again. “It isn’t often I’m speechless, but I don’t think there is a word to describe how beautiful this place looks and how proud we are of you both.” She beams, her eyes filling with tears.
“Now, now honey, don’t embarrass these two.” Cam pulls Harriet to his side, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “You both look breath taking, and she is right, we are absolutely made up for you.”
My eyes fill for the millionth time tonight as they both hug us. “Oh God, I need to get a grip. My make up won’t last the night at this rate,” I mumble.
Nora laughs lightly, dabbing the corners of her eyes too, sniffing away the tears. “You guys are sitting at our table over there. Number three.” She gestures to the front of the room, and they wave goodbye before they find their seats.
Around twenty minutes later, I glance around the room and notice that most people are seated, apart from the few people Nora is talking to at the bar. I see two people gliding over towards me. Checking the list in my hands, I see that these must be the last two for table five.
I don’t recognise the woman, but she is beautiful, with red hair and a stunning dark green dress.
As I look to the man whose arm she is linking, the blood drains from my body.
My heart thuds, my throat dries, there is so much white noise thrashing inside my head that I barely notice the vice-like grip I have on the table plan that I’m holding, causing the sides to crumple and tear.
Surely, it’s a ghost?Not like the cute Casper kind, either. More like the, ‘I haven’t seen you for years, ex-boyfriend kind’.
I’m desperately trying to think about how to flee to the nearest exit. My eyes blink rapidly, trying to see anything but the couple walking towards me but it's hopeless. My tunnel vision is so strong I can’t look away and my feet, super glued in place.
Which can mean only one thing: I’m about to come face to face with the man I haven’t seen in ten years.
The light blue glow from his phone casts an ethereal shadow onto his face, catching his high cheekbones and the tip of his nose. His lips are the same heart shape that fit so perfectly with mine all those years ago. His hair is a little darker and styled short at the sides, but blends seamlessly with his stubble.That’s new. He looks older… more defined, and more…man. His black tuxedo hugs every inch of his tall, broad frame and his long strides confidently devour the space between us.
Jesus, he is owning that tuxedo.
When they reach me, his date clears her throat, dragging his attention back to her as she passes me their tickets. Liam looks warmly at the woman next to him until finally he turns his head to me and two familiar, warm hazel eyes find my icy blue ones.
A shudder rakes it way from my toes to my knees, settling in my chest.
The air between us is thick, silent, and unyielding. My heart thrashes like a wild stag being hunted. My body is impaled by his stare. My skin on fire as I watch in slow motion as the realisation hits him too. His eyes simultaneously widen and soften, flickering with the same familiar look he gave me so often when we were kids .
I wonder what to say…
Oh hey, ex-boyfriend who was my first and only love. The one who I cried over for months and have never really got over. How’s things?
Yeah, nailed it, subtle but direct.
“Scotty?” The lingering silence shatters like glass, and of course he calls me by my nickname. A nickname that I haven’t heard for years. Ten years, in fact.
An invisible weight presses against me, robbing me of any breath I’d hoped might help me before he deftly scoops me up to give me a bear hug, the way he always used to do when we were kids. If I had any hope of breathing before, I definitely have none now. I’m engulfed with his warm, summer scent that is stronger now and more grown up. My hands have clenched into fists that are currently squashed beneath this 6-foot-something giant of a man, making it impossible to return the hug, leaving me trapped in this weird twilight moment between past and present.
My mind races. I’m caught in a vortex of emotion as my skin becomes clammy, a bead of sweat threatening the base of my neck. I squeeze my eyes closed, focussing on the note from my therapist. But that isn’t helping me, because nothing could've prepared me for seeing the love of my life again.
14
Liam
Jessclearsherthroatin my ear and I reluctantly put her down.
