Neither of us speaks. Once our lips meet, there’s no need.
“I like when you wear these,”I murmur, tipping my head back and tapping the arm of Grayson’s glasses.
“Mm, so that’s why you insisted I wear them today?”
My lips quirk as I run my hand up his back and continue swaying to the music playing around us. “Obviously.”
The dance floor has been busy since the DJ announced that it was open to everyone but has thinned a bit. My sister’s currently off to the side of the ballroom, eating the cake she and Vince took turns smashing into each other’s faces. It made for a great photo moment, and honestly, it was just nice to see her so blissfully happy.
She deserves it. My sister has always been my protector, and I can’t help but feel guilty that I’ve let such a great distance grow between us. It wasn’t on purpose. Life is just . . . not always easy to navigate, especially when we share the parents we do.
As if reading my mind, Grayson sweeps my hair over my shoulder and nods toward the cake table. “Do you want to go talk to her?”
“Today isn’t about me or us. She’s happy. I want it to stay that way.”
“You care fiercely about those you love, sweetheart.”
“Not enough sometimes. I shouldn’t have let Vince’s sisters weasel their way into my spot.”
It’s bitter, but fuck it. That’s the truth. The stem of my frustration. While I’ve let us drift apart, his sisters have taken my absence as an invitation. The realistic part of my brain knows that it wasn’t vindictive, but the other hates that someone else thinks they can take my place in her life, regardless of how often I left it vacant.
His lips brush my temple as he spins us, our bodies completely in sync. “They might be her extended family, but you’re blood. As long as you put the effort in, there’s no beating that bond.”
“I know,” I agree heavily. “I just don’t want to put a damper on her wedding with apologies.”
“You don’t have to. It can wait, Jill. I’m sure having you here has done wonders. You two had quite the giggle fest earlier.”
I smile, nodding as I think back to the family photos we took before the reception started. It was just a stupid, dirty joke about all of the wood we were surrounded by in the forest, but that was all it took to have me and Kate folding over ourselves, howling in laughter. One minute, we were posing for a photo, and the next, I was collapsing against the trunk of a tree while she grabbed my arms, her own knees shaking.
It had been years since we’d laughed like that, and I’ll admit that I’ve been riding that high ever since.
“It felt like we were kids again,” I admit, resting my cheek against Grayson’s dress shirt. “When’s the last time you saw your sister?”
“A few weeks ago. There was no giggling between us, though.”
“Dang, that’s a shame.”
His chuckle gets lost in my hair. He holds me close, cupping my waist possessively. “Your mom is coming over here.”
“What?” I stiffen.
“She’s smiling.”
I pull back and arch a brow up at him, avoiding looking behind me. “Is it a nice smile or one that should have us making a beeline out the door?”
“It’s not unpleasant.”
“Gee, that’s descriptive.” I snort and reach up to kiss his cheek. “I’ll go talk to her, then?—”
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I just need to steal my daughter for a moment, Grayson,” Mom drawls.
I twist in the arms that haven’t released me yet and meet Mom’s gaze. He was right about her not looking entirely unpleasant. There isn’t a beaming smile on her face or anything, but she isn’t scowling.
“Yeah, sure,” I say.
It takes an insane amount of effort to pry myself out of Grayson’s arms, but once I’m able to move again, I leave him with a brush of fingers up his arm. Mom starts toward the cleared buffet table and then takes my hand.
“I’m sorry for insisting that James attend the wedding. It wasn’t my place.”
