“You look just like your brother,” the girl says.
I arch my eyebrows at her. “I’m assuming you’re from the bride’s side?” I don’t mean to sound so snarky, but I’m trying to get to Juliette.
“Bride’s cousin,” she answers, her tone already flirty. “I’m Amelia.”
“Adaline,” I say politely, having to raise my voice a little so she can hear me over the music.
“Do you want to dance?” she asks me and before I can politely decline, a sharper voice speaks up.
“No, she doesn’t.”
I look behind Amelia and it’s Juliette. She’s standing there, so self-assured. The wind is knocked out of me.God!She looks so perfect up close. So painfully beautiful.
“I’m sure she can answer for herself,” Amelia says in a snarky tone, ignoring the glares Juliette is sending her way.
“I do want to dance,” I say and Amelia smiles holding her hand out. I look towards Juliette and she's wearing a mask of confusion.
The smirk on Amelia’s face morphs into something else completely when I walk towards Juliette instead.
I put my hand out. “Care to dance?”
She smiles brightly and I swear I hear angels sing at the sight. “Always.” I don’t even bother to turn around and witness Amelia’s huffing.
She clasps my hands and all but pulls me to the middle of the dance floor and the music luckily turns to a slower tune. I spot my friends on the dance floor sending smiles my way as is my brother who’s swaying with Olivia. Miss Kim is also on the dance floor, looking excessively drunk. She shoots me a smile, with a thumbs up. I guess I don’t have to explain anything to her.
Juliette’s hands move to my waist and mine move to her neck, circling it so tightly that she couldn’t escape if she even wanted to.
“I’m sorr—” we both start at the same time and giggle softly.
“Sorry I was late.” She smiles shyly. “I wanted to look perfect.”
“You do,” I tell her. “You always do.”
She blushes and her eyes rake up and down my own form. “You’re gorgeous.”
I feel myself turning red, but I have more important things to discuss. “Juliette, about Stacey—”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” she tells me breathlessly, “My mother dealt with it.”
Her words startle me. I had a plan ready, I was too exhausted to do anything yesterday, but I knew after the wedding that I was going to sort Stacey out. I just needed to see Juliette first.
My mouth falls open. “You told your mother?”
She smiles softly. “Yes, I couldn’t hide it from her forever. Not when I want to be with you.”
“You still want me? Even after I said those things to you?” I shake at the memory of leaving her crying at my doorstep. She doesn’t speak so I keep going. “I’m sorry.”
“Congratulations by the way, I heard about Oxford. I always knew you’d get in,” she says abruptly and I can’t respond because she’s talking again. “I bought an apartment there, a one bedroom. It’s small. It’s right next to your university and there’s a perfect space for a gallery underneath.”
“What?” I mutter breathlessly. Juliette Kingston in some one-bedroom apartment? Somehow that’s the most shocking part of her statement.
Everything is happening so fast that I can barely process it. hands move to my face, cupping my cheeks gently. “You havenothingto be sorry for. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but I won’t be sorry again because I’m done botching up. That apartment is a promise, to show how serious I am, I’m done living for everyone else. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Juliette …” The tears smearing my makeup are worth it when she looks at me like that.
“I’m not going to stand here and make false promises, I’m not a good person.” She shakes her head. “I’m cruel and vindictive, but I promise I’ll protect you, I'll take on every fight. Give me all your anger, all your sadness and I’ll make it my own.” Her voice cracks before she speaks again. “I love you, wholeheartedly, earnestly like it's the truest thing I will ever do. I love you in a way that tears at me and puts me back together at the same time, I love you, Adaline.”
I pull her toward me and onto my lips, unable to hear anymore words before my heart falls out of my chest. She reciprocates almost instantly, her own tears soaking into my lips. I pull her impossibly closer to me. God, how silly we must look—two weeping girls kissing each other, but I don’t care.
