Her gaze flicked back to me as if she’d caught something between the lines.“It doesn’t.”
Laughter and music drifted in from the reception hall, and I forced down another sip, bracing myself this time.
Across the room, Rose laughed again.Her hand fell from her stomach as she leaned closer to Cynthia.The moment passed, and it meant nothing.Rose had said nothing about kids.
I just wasn’t built for that life.The responsibility, the pressure, the fear of turning into the man who walked away and never looked back.
I couldn’t be him.
“For what it’s worth, knowing what you want and don’t want doesn’t make you a bad guy.It’s respectful, actually.”Lori gently clinked her glass against mine and winked.“I expect you to put on a show for the people.
“We have to give them what they want.”
The doors to the reception hall opened.Rose and Cynthia disappeared inside.I stood with Lori and the rest of the bridal party, waiting for the DJ to announce us.Lori and I shared a few suggestions, but we decided we were going to wing it.
The first pair were ushered in, then the next, then it was time for our entrance.
I bounced in place, letting the music run through my veins.This was my moment, and I knew everyone would be waiting to see what Wyatt had in store this time.
My name echoed through the hall, and I turned to Lori.
“Ready?”she asked.
“I was born for this.”I downed the rest of the cocktail and let out awhoop,even though I think I burned my esophagus.
“That’s what my husband said right before he tripped over the fog machine at our wedding.”
“You had a fog machine!No way.”
“Come on.”Lori grabbed my arm, and we burst through those doors with the cool confidence only a pink drink with too much vodka could provide.
Lori spun once for flair, and I pointed finger guns, firing like I was trying to win a prize at a carnival.Lori dropped low, twerking, and I threw myself on the floor, worming my way across the dance floor as she then pretended to ride me like a horse.Her arm lassoed above her.
I pushed to my feet, my eyes immediately finding Rose across the dozen-plus tables.She shook her head, laughing, that familiar look on her face that told anyone who looked her way that she knew exactly what she had signed up for, and she loved every second of it.
My heart warmed, and the desire to make her happy in all the ways I was capable overpowered every ounce of me.
The rest of the bridal party came out, and we all formed a line for the bride and groom to run through.As soon as the theatrics were done, I went right to Rose.
“How’d I do?”I asked, plopping on the seat beside her.
She leaned in, kissing me as if we hadn’t just come out the other side of a nightmare separation.“Best entrance to date.”
“To date?”I exclaimed.“Even better than the Will and Carlton dance to Apache?”
She tilted her head and tapped her lip.“That was pretty epic.”
“Or what about when we recreated the Dirty Dancing lift, and you nearly took out the DJ booth?”
“Only because you almost dropped me,” she exclaimed and swatted my hand.“I wouldn’t call that epic as much as I would call it a near-death experience.”
“Details,” I said, waving it off.“The people loved it.”
“They loved that I survived.”
I slipped my arm around her waist and leaned into her.“I’m happy you survived, too.I’d never be able to forgive myself if you got hurt.”
She turned toward me, a slight smile touching her lips.“You didn’t, though.You managed to save me.”
