White chairs line the beach. Soft ocean waves roll behind the altar. Flowers sway gently in the breeze. Guests settle into their seats as the music begins, and for a moment, everything goes still.
Then I see him.
Jackson stands near the edge of the ceremony space, dressed in a dark suit. His dark hair is neatly combed. His green eyes scan the crowd until they land on me.
And stop.
The corner of his mouth lifts slightly, and my heart flips in my chest.
God, he looks unfairly good.
I force myself to focus on my clipboard, checking off final details, but I can feel his eyes on me, and when I look up again, he’s still watching.
The ceremony begins.
Valerie walks down the aisle looking radiant, with Paul waiting stiffly at the altar.
The officiant starts speaking. Guests watch, but every few minutes my gaze drifts back to Jackson, and every time he’s looking right at me.
Like I’m the one walking down the aisle.
Like I’m the bride.
Warmth spreads through my chest, and suddenly, the thought of leaving tomorrow hurts more than I expected.
The ceremony ends with applause and cheers.
I immediately shift into work mode.
“Cocktail hour starts now,” I tell the catering staff.
Guests move toward the reception area while I double-check the tables. Everything flows perfectly. Exactly the way it should.
By the time the reception begins, music fills the ballroom, and guests start dancing. I slip toward the edge of the room, taking a quick breath.
Jackson appears beside me. “You snuck out on me this morning.”
I look up at him. “I didn’t want to wake you. I had to be up super early.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
I smile, bumping my shoulder against his, my eyes scanning the party.
“You did great today,” he says.
“You’ve been watching?”
“All day.”
Something soft unfolds in my chest. “Well… someone had to make sure everything didn’t fall apart.”
He studies me for a moment. Then his voice drops slightly. “Save me a dance.”
My stomach flips. “Okay.”
His lips curve. “Good.”
And just like that, he disappears back into the crowd.
