Chapter17
Korbin
“I, Tate Hansen, take you, Paisley Hill, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Next to me in the pew, Peyton swiped a tear from her eyes, leaning into me as Paisley and Hansen shared their first kiss as a married couple. The chapel was packed with people for the wedding: friends and family of the bride and groom, firefighters from our station, locals who had become close with one of them during a call. They were loved, my two friends, and today only proved it.
As the ceremony ended with Tate announcing to everyone that the reception was just next door, and to take advantage of the open bar, I took Peyton’s hand and we followed the guests to where the party was starting. We found a small, private table to set our things on before we went to the buffet to load up on food. Peyton and I sat down to eat together as the DJ started the music, and Peyton’s head began to sway to the beat as we dined on honeyed ham and homemade mashed potatoes.
“She looks so beautiful,” Peyton said, her eyes on Paisley as she and Tate made their way around the room to greet their guests and make obligatory small talk. “That dress is stunning.”
I didn’t say anything to this, because I wasn’t really sure what to say. I nodded and focused on my food as Paisley and Hansen made their rounds, finally getting to us. I stood as Paisley approached, just now realizing what Peyton had been talking about. She really did look radiant.
“Korbin, I am so glad you brought a friend.” Paisley reached out for me, wrapping her slender arms around the upper half of my body as she squeezed me tight. She whispered in my ear, “Don’t screw this up.”
“I’m glad I brought her too,” I said, turning towards Peyton. She stood just behind and to the side of me, looking absolutely stunning in a strapless silver gown with her hair done up and beautiful. She stepped up beside me and took my hand, reaching out her free hand to shake Paisley’s.
“It was a pleasure to be here,” she said to Paisley. “And thank you for the invitation. You and Tate seem like you’re made for each other.”
“Oh, it wasn’t easy,” Hansen said, catching Peyton’s comment as he turned away from greeting someone to look at us. He put his arms around Paisley from behind, squeezing her, and she brushed him off playfully. She lifted her chin to kiss him gently on the lips. They were happy. I’d never seenhimso happy.
“Paisley, you look beautiful,” I told her, and the blushing bride smiled, waving her hand at me. My eyes traveled from Paisley and over to Hansen, who didn’t look too bad himself. “And you’re okay, too,” I teased, drawing in a scowl from my best friend.
“Korbin,” warned Peyton, but Paisley laughed.
“Always the little shit, this one,” she said, nodding her head in my direction. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s a teddy bear. Although I’m sure you already know that.”
Peyton blushed a little and looked down at the floor as if to compose herself before she spoke again. “It’s hard to say anymore what I do or don’t know,” she said softly. “But again, thank you for having me. It was a lovely ceremony.”
“And now that the boring part is over, enjoy the reception,” Hansen said. “There’s an open bar and my father-in-law is paying for it, so go to town.”
Just then a soft tune began to play over the room, and Hansen took Paisley into his arms, leading her onto the dance floor for their first dance. Friends and family gathered around the center of the floor, smiling and laughing and holding up their phones to take photos. Peyton stepped up to take my hand, her skin so soft and welcoming against my own.
“Want to get a drink?”
“Yes, please,” I said, following her to the open bar where I ordered a beer for myself and a glass of wine for her. Peyton drank it quickly, and just after that one glass I could see the flush in her cheeks.
“Another, please,” she said, and we sat there for a while, watching the couples dance, easing into a comfortable silence. Peyton was on her third glass of wine when she leaned over towards me, her lips brushing my ear.
“You know,” she said, her tone dropping down to a low purr. “That could be us someday.”
The comment caught me off guard, which is the only reason I could think of nothing to say. She was buzzed, of course, and I knew it was the alcohol talking, so I pretended I hadn’t heard her, acted like something else had caught my attention first. Across the floor, the rest of the fire crew watched the couple dance. They’d all brought dates, too, even if some of the dates were already wives.
“Do you want to dance?” Peyton asked as other couples began to swarm the dance floor, joining the couple in their celebration. I almost said no, but then thought better of it and nodded. I didn’t need Peyton angry at me, not tonight. Tonight, I could have a good time and I could show her one too.
I pulled Peyton’s body against my own and we twirled onto the floor. She closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder, hips pressed against mine as we moved beautifully across the floor—at least, as beautifully as we could with my still-bruised knee yelling at me to stop. I ignored it, however, and continued to dance. The feel of Peyton’s body against my own felt so good, so familiar, and I never wanted this moment to end.
“This is nice,” she whispered, her breath tickling my ear as the slow ballad tapered off and the couples walked off the floor, smiling and giddy. Peyton pulled me off the floor and across the room so we could order more drinks. “A beer for him and a vodka cranberry for me,” she said, taking charge in such a sexy way that I wanted to take her out back and rip that beautiful fabric from her body.
“Thanks,” I said, and tipped the bartender as he handed me my beer and Peyton her drink. She took my arm in hers and we walked back across the room, narrowly avoiding the excited dancers who were now jamming on the dance floor to something that sounded suspiciously like Ed Sheeran. I pulled out a chair for Peyton and she sat, raising the glass to her luscious red lips to take a sip. I sat down next to her and popped the cap from my beer, taking a long drink, realizing that Peyton’s eyes were pinned on me.
“What?” I said, and she giggled. Such a sweet sound, that giggle. A sound I wanted to hear every day for the rest of my life.
“Nothing,” she said softly, reaching for my hand. “You just look very nice in a tux, is all.”
I tugged at my suit collar, pretending to be annoyed. “Don’t get used to it. Hansen made me wear it.”
“You look nice, Korbin,” she said, and somewhere under that tone was annoyance. Impatience. “Just take the compliment.”
