This,her eyes seem to say.I want this.
Me too,I think back.Me too.
The reception ischaos in the best possible way.
The Hensley House interior has been transformed into something magical, fairy lights strung everywhere, flowers on every surface, tables arranged around a dance floor that’s already filling up. The Salty Pearl is handling the catering, and Tally’s dessert display looks like edible art.
I’m standing near the bar, watching the room, when a voice cuts through the noise.
“There he is! The best man who gave the worst toast!”
I turn to find Lucky Susan bearing down on me, Harold, trailing behind her looking vaguely terrified. She’s wearing a dress covered in tropical flowers, and there’s a massive diamond ring on her left hand.
“I thought my toast was pretty good,” I say.
“It was adequate.” She waves a hand dismissively. “But never mind that. Harold has something to show you.”
Harold holds up his left hand, displaying a wedding band. “She finally said yes. After forty-three years of measking.”
“He proposed properly this time,” Susan adds. “On one knee and everything. He cried.”
“Congratulations,” I say, genuinely happy for them. “When’s the wedding?”
“Last Tuesday. Courthouse. We didn’t want to wait.” Susan beams at her husband. “Forty-three years together and he finally made an honest woman of me.”
They wander off toward the dance floor, Harold’s hand on the small of Susan’s back, and I think about all the ways love can find you. First chances, second chances, forty-third chances if that’s what it takes.
“They’re cute.”
I turn to find Delilah beside me, champagne glass in hand, that soft green dress making her eyes look impossibly bright.
“Susan threatened to file a complaint with the fire department if Harold didn’t propose,” I say. “I think Dean talked her down.”
“That tracks.” She takes a sip of her champagne, watching the dance floor. “The flowers look good.”
“The flowers are incredible.” I step closer. “You did all this in three days?”
“I had help. Mom, mostly. And the book club, when they weren’t crying about thewedding.” She pauses. “Eleanor and I worked together all week. It was…good. Really good.”
“I’m glad.”
“Me too.” She looks up at me, something vulnerable in her expression. “I stayed, Levi. I actually stayed.”
“I noticed.”
“Three whole days.” A small laugh escapes her. “Might be a personal record.”
“Then let’s make it four.” I take the champagne glass from her hand, set it on the nearest table. “And then five. And then the rest of our lives.”
Her breath catches. “Levi...”
“Wait.” I take her hand. “There’s something I need to do first.”
The makeshift stage is just a raised platform near the windows, nothing fancy, but it’s got good acoustics and a view of the ocean through the glass. Dean set it up because Jo wanted live music, and Jo gets what Jo wants. That’s just how things work now.
I pick up my guitar, the same one I’ve had since I was seventeen, and adjust the microphone.
“Hey, everyone.”
