“This is too much,” Carter said. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I thinkthank youis traditional,” Devin said.
“Thank you,” Carter repeated automatically, looking up to meet my eyes. “Thank you,” he said again, sincerely this time, so much happening on his face that I couldn’t read all of it. “I amnotabout to burst into tears over dinner. I won’t.”
He wiped at his eyes, sniffed, and then tucked the key safely into the pocket of theverytight jeans I loved looking at him in. I was agreatinfluence. Carter looked hotter than ever right now.
I kissed his cheek as I sat back down, and he took my hand under the table, squeezing my fingers and then threading them with his own.
“I haveneverseen you look like that,” Kieran said, awe in his voice, staring openly at Carter.
Carter’s already pink cheeks darkened a few shades.
“I love Aiden,” he said softly. “I like that he wants to keep hanging out with me.”
“Okay, this is actually kinda cute,” Devin said, helping himself to a serving of roast pumpkin. “Stop it, you’re making me want a boyfriend.”
I laughed. “Oh, your daywillcome.”
“Leave Aiden and Carter alone,” Mom said. “They’re very sweet together and they’re allowed to be. I haven’t seeneitherof them this happy before.”
“I haven’t been this happy before,” I said, squeezing Carter’s fingers under the table.
This was pretty much as good as it got.
Epilogue
Carter
Two years later…
“Took your dad long enough,” Aiden said, passing me a flute of champagne and sitting down next to me again, looking out at the reception crowd. “But he sure does know how to throw a party.”
“Think that might be why they eventually got around to it,” I said, sipping my drink, letting the bubbles burst on my tongue.
Aiden still looked incredible in a suit. I didn’t get to see it much, and that made occasions when itdidhappen all the more special.
Seeing it at my dad’s wedding—on the day he’d married the man he loved, who made him so obviously happy it was infectious—was a real treat. I could hardly stop looking at him.
Not least of all because of the weight of the question sticking in the base of my throat.
“You looked great as his best man, too,” Aiden said. “I was so proud of you.”
“Even when I teared up in front of everyone?” I asked.
I was over the embarrassment of that. Mostly.
“Especiallywhen you teared up in front of everyone. Men who aren’t afraid to be in touch with their feelings are hot,” Aiden said.
He still liked me. Against all odds, no matter how many times I thought he had to get sick of me eventually, Aiden was still here. I went to bed curled up beside him and woke up next to him morning after morning, and he told me he loved me every day of my life.
I was starting to think maybe he really was sticking around.
Iwantedhim to. That much, I knew for sure.
“Dance with me,” I said, knocking back the rest of my glass and standing, offering him my hand.
Aiden’s eyes lit up. Heloveddancing with me.
