“Oh. That sounds nice.”
They slipped out, passing the coat rack to grab the black faux fur she’d worn earlier for a few outside pictures. Stepping into the moonlight, their breath turned to clouds as they followed the dozens of soft lanterns that lit the grounds for the wedding night festivities.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder as if he expected someone to be behind them.
“Perfect.” Honestly, she was glowing too much inside to feel the cold.
He guided her down the snowy path toward the gazebo—the one they’d built for summer weddings but ended up using all year round.
Tonight, the white wood structure looked like a festive wedding cake—topped with snow, trimmed with garlands, alive with lights draped from the circular roof. The tall pine next to it was laden with more lights, making the whole gazebo as bright as a stage.
A table to the side held what looked like two fresh champagne flutes, full to the brim, but when she paused to consider what to do with them, Matt gave her a tug.
“No busing the tables tonight, MJ.”
She agreed with a laugh, letting him lead her up the few steps into the gazebo.
“We wouldn’t have this if not for you,” she mused, gesturing to the precious structure nestled under the mountains.
He waved it off and turned her so her back faced the lodge. “I think this is where we’ll see the best fireworks,” he said, glancing over his shoulder again, then looking down at her. “Yep. Best view in Utah, after all.”
She laughed, flattered as always, but he was acting a teeny bit…tense? That wasn’t like Matt, but he did seem a little odd.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, searching his face.
“It will be,” he said cryptically.
“What does that?—”
He hushed her by taking both her hands, his thumbs brushing along her knuckles. The lantern light caught in his eyes, softening them, deepening them.
“Mary Jane,” he said quietly, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
The serious tone made her heart lurch. “Okay…tell me.”
He hesitated, gaze darting over her shoulder as though checking something. “I, uh, don’t really know how to say this.”
Her heart plummeted. “Just tell me, Matt. Anything. Don’t drag it out.”
“I have to…” He looked over her shoulder again, then twice, and instinctively she started to turn but he gripped her shoulders and refused to let her move. “I don’t want to look at houses anymore,” he said so quickly she wasn’t sure she heard him.
Her breath snagged. “You don’t?”
“No.” He squeezed her shoulders, holding her with his gaze and a light grip. She thought she heard something behind her—a whisper, maybe a footstep—but she couldn’t turn. Not now. She was fully focused on Matt, and it was probably a caterer who’d come to get the discarded champagne.
“I’ve figured out where I want to live,” he said.
“Where?” Her voice was small, a little afraid but only because he sounded so uncertain. “Am I going to hate this? Am I going to be sad because wherever you’re going, I can’t because…I live here?” She let out a sad moan. “I’m sorry, Matt, but I can’t leave Snowberry Lodge. I just can’t?—”
He looked behind her again, his eyes flickering as if he were not listening to her at all, but was more concerned with the lodge.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “We’re good now.”
“Excuse me?” She realized the hands that held her were trembling slightly. “Matt? What is going on with you?”
“Before I tell you where I’m going to live, I need to…well, I need to ask you something first.”
She closed her eyes, knowing what was coming. He wanted her to move or travel or…it didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to do that, but she did love him, so surely they could work something out.
