I squint my eyes. “Isn’t that…?”
“Yep, my sister and best friend are not able to stay away from each other.”
One moment, he smiles, the next, his face scrunches up. “Let’s leave before I witness something that will make me throw up.”
We pass more guests on the way back to the hotel who engage us in small talk. But Ian notices I am getting tired, so he excuses us quickly.
Tomorrow will be the vow renewal and anniversary party, and I want to be well rested for the event.
After I shower, I climb into bed, glancing at the door. Longing spreads through my chest, wishing for his presence. As if I conjured him, he comes inside, joining me in bed.
In his arms, everything is right—my cocoon of safety and love.
“Do you think they’ll be all right?” I ask, draped on his front as he plays with strands of my hair.
“They love each other. That’s more powerful than anything else.”
I trace my finger over his sharp nose, then along his defined cheekbones.
“You’re so beautiful, Ian. Do you know that? The night we met, you completely fascinated me. Forgot my own name.”
“The same for me.” His brows furrow as if replaying the events of that night. “I saw you and needed to know you. Never experienced something like that. Football was all I had in my mind and then you took center stage. I’m sorry I behaved like a dick when I saw you again.”
“I was so mad. I honestly thought you forgot about me. I felt insignificant,” my voice shakes at the end.
Palming my face, he kisses my forehead. “No, I was just hurt, confused, and then the big revelation happened,” he sighs.
I place my cheek in my palm, confessing, “I thought so often about you, but I was so hell bent on not dating an athlete, I sabotaged myself. I guess the universe had to put you literally next door to get my head out of the gutter. What would you have done if I had contacted you?”
His fingers move up and down my back absentmindedly. “You’d be wearing my ring by now, and I’d definitely be on another team. Yet, San Diego is what brought us back together.”
I close my eyes for a moment to push through the onslaught of emotions.
He kisses the tip of my nose. “It’s just a hiccup, one chapter in the book of our lives.”
The next morning,it’s a rush of getting ready.
I wear a green satin maxi dress with a cowl neck and Ian comes in, looking incredible in his suit. I rummage through my luggage and offer him a green pocket square.
“I knew something was missing.” He arranges it in his pocket with utter care. I move to his side.
“We look…” My chest inflates with this uncontainable love and genuine pride. “Like we’re a couple.”
“Because we are. An unconventional one, but still one.”
I giggle. Sounds like us.
Downstairs, we walk through an arch of flowers that leads to a red carpet, delineating the two rows. Taking our seats, I notice, in front of us, the ceremony table decked out with flowers. An officiant waits there.
Amelie and Levi sit next to us, a reverent murmur echoing all around us.
As their parents move to the archway, Ian and Amelie share a look that brims with familial love and memories.
It’s an intimate ceremony as Amanda and Rufus renew their vows.
I steal a glance at Ian. I vividly imagine saying those two simple words to him that make the biggest impact on your life.
He winks at me and as our eyes lock, it’s like we both think the same.
