“Blair is the agent I’ve been telling you about,” Sophia says.
“She’s with TWA?” My father’s gaze darts over to me before returning to her. “I’ve heard about all the changes happening. Hopefully, it’s all going well.”
“Wyatt’s been a fantastic partner. We wouldn’t be in such good shape without him.” Blair looks my way, waiting for me to respond, but I don’t.
“Is that so?” My father’s eyes drift down to her hand resting on my arm, but Sophia interrupts before he can share whatever it is he thinks he sees here.
“You might remember her. She and Wyatt went to high school together.”
“I used to work at the country club. It was a long time ago. You probably don’t remember me.”
“Blair?” He laughs, and I prepare for the impact. “Wyatt, is this the girl that had you so distracted you were going to throw away your entire future?”
Blair’s mouth drops open, and the blood rushes through my ears, drowning out all the surrounding sounds.
“I was a distraction?” A look of confusion passes over her face.
“Dad!” Sophia yells at the same time my mom reaches to pull him away from the conversation, but not before we all hear him say, “I thought he was bringing that Bethany woman.”
“I better go find Jake,” I say, grabbing Blair’s hand so she’ll follow me to the exit. “We’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
Sophia nods, a look of understanding crossing her face.
Once we’re away from the others, I stop and hang my head. I should have expected this. Taking a deep breath, I turn to face her.
“Who’s Bethany?”
“What? Nobody. She’s a colleague from New York. Just a family friend.”
“I ruined your life.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
She crosses her arms in front of her. “Right. Just someone who almost convinced you to throw away your entire future.”
I place my hands on her arms and bend down a little to meet her eye to eye.
“I need you to hear me when I tell you this. You are the only person who gave a shit about what I wanted. You were not a distraction. You were a savior. You made me believe in myself. Every time you walked into a room, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t breathe. Everything about you is beautiful. Your smile, your laugh. You make everything in my life brighter. I’m drawn to you in ways I can’t fully explain. Even now, after all these years, that feeling hasn’t faded.”
Blair doesn’t respond, and for a minute, I fear she’s going to walk away. After holding my eyes for another beat, she nods.
“Ok.”
My best friend is officially getting married. I’m excited for Jake, and he’s certainly spared no expense. I see Blair seated on the groom’s side in the second row. She looks beautiful, and it makes me think about the day this will be us celebrating. I want it all with her. She catches me staring and I hope that look means she’s having the same thoughts. We belong together.
The start time was delayed a bit, so now Jake and Lauren are rushing through the vows so the fireworks will still sync up with “I now pronounce you…” I want to roll my eyes, but something about seeing my best friend overwhelmed with happiness has me sentimental.
After the ceremony, I find Blair at the front family and friends’ table. I sit down and grab her hands in mine.
“Everything ok?”
“Yeah. Had a little scare before the ceremony and some drama during pictures, but all’s well now.” I lean over to kiss her and I can’t keep my hands off her legs, running them over her skin and dress. “And I missed you.”
She smiles but it feels like she’s holding back. Before I can question it she laces her fingers between mine.
“Is that why the ceremony started late?”
“Yeah. She refused to walk down the aisle until Jake had her grandfather’s handkerchief in his lapel pocket. He forgot to bring it, so Jake’s cousin had to run to his house.”
