And then it’s Rhett’s turn. Our second dance as husband and wife. The band strikes up, and he pulls me close, one hand on my waist, the other one holding mine.
“Hi, wife,” he murmurs, smiling down at me.
“Hi, husband,” I whisper back.
And as we sway together, the world falls away until it’s just us, the ocean, the music, and the promise of forever.
Chapter Forty-Five
Pippa
The air around us is warm and electric as we dance. Rhett keeps his arms tight around me, as if letting go even for a second would undo the entire day. I rest my head against his chest, just breathing him in, feeling the steady beat of his heart. Around us, applause and laughter ripple through the room, but for a moment, we’re cocooned in our own quiet bubble.
“Come on,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. “We have to cut the cake.”
I laugh, nuzzling him. “You don’t really like cake, do you?”
“But it’s our wedding cake, so yes.”
He grins and guides me toward the dessert table, where our wedding cake stands like a sculpture in the center. It is four tiers high, covered in ivory colored frosting and edged with delicate sugar flowers, each petal painstakingly crafted to look impossibly real. There’s something whimsical about it, the sort of simple elegance that still makes your eyes widen. Rhett leans in to kiss my temple.
“Ladies first,” he says, offering me the knife.
I roll my eyes, giggling, and take the blade. “You’re not going to smear any cake on my face, are you?”
“Yes, and so are you,” he says, his eyes sparkling.
Together, we cut into the cake. The first slice is a mess, so I guess it’s probably for the best that we take the first piece. It is fluffy, creamy, and filled with more sugar than either of us has any right to eat in one sitting—but it tastes perfect. We feed it to each other, frosting smearing across noses and lips, and laughter echoes as our friends and family capture the moment. Sandra claps her hands together.
“That’s it. I can die happy now,” she says.
Lucy bursts out laughing. Maria is already documenting the catastrophe on her phone, while Vanessa shakes her head, smiling fondly at me. Once the cake is consumed and the frosting cleaned off our faces, we move through the reception, mingling with the guests again. I feel like I’m floating, gliding on some invisible current of love and celebration. I find time for another quiet moment with Sandra and Lucy.
“You’re glowing,” Sandra says softly, tugging me toward a corner so we can talk. “Seriously, Pippa, I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“It feels surreal,” I admit, taking a deep breath. “It’s all perfect and insane at the same time.”
Lucy grins. “You deserve it. You and Rhett, you’re something else. Watching you together today, I don’t even have the words for it. I’m just glad I got front row seats.”
I squeeze their hands. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two. Honestly, I wouldn’t be standing here right now without all the support, the advice, the insanity, and of course, the constant, ridiculous commentary.”
Sandra laughs, tossing her head back.
“Oh, we’ll continue the commentary for the rest of your life. That’s a promise.”
We hug tightly, and I feel the warmth of their love surrounding me. It’s reassuring, a reminder that even in the swirl of glamour, this is real.
The night moves on. Our friends drag us back onto the dance floor. Maria is being Maria in full force, shoving Rhett into ridiculous choreography while Harrison demonstrates the one-armed moonwalk, which apparently is a thing, for anyone willing to watch. Max jumps onto the bar for a brief, fleeting moment of glory before he jumps back down to wolf-whistles. Laughter fills the room, mingling with the music, the clinking glasses, and the murmurs of awe from guests who are clearly delighted by the sheer joy around them.
At one point, Rhett takes my hand, guiding me to a quieter spot near the edge of the terrace. The ocean glitters under the moonlight, the lights from the party casting a golden glow over it. I lean against him, breathing in the scent of him and the night air.
“This is everything I ever wanted,” I murmur.
He kisses the top of my head. “And you’re everything I ever wanted. And more.”
I smile into the fabric of his suit, feeling the beat of his heart sync with mine. “Forever?”
“Forever,” he whispers.
