I snickered. “You’re not kidding. They’ve been stalking me for months.”
A cheerful tune started playing over the intercom and Caitlyn stood on a chair, her back to the crowd, as she hefted up her bouquet. She glanced over her shoulder with a wink and let it fly.
It flew over the heads of the clamoring women, too high for them to snag, and hit Bryson in the chest before bouncing right into my arms.
His eyes widened. “Uh…”
Iola and Lula screeched and clapped. Chris glared at us from across the room.
With a smug grin, I held it up, proclaiming victory to theroom, which elicited laughter, more clapping, and some grumbling from the other bridesmaids.
I looked into Bryson’s eyes and knew this was exactly right.
“I guess we’re next,” I said.
“Next?” He sounded bewildered.
“Too early for marriage talk? I get it. We’re a new couple?—”
He grabbed my face and kissed me hard. A sharp whistle cut through the space around us. When he drew back, he was staring at me like he wasn’t sure he could believe what he saw.
“Are you sure? I told you I’d wait. My brother?—”
“Your brother has nothing to do with it,” I said. “I’m ready.”
“You’re ready for what exactly?” he asked carefully.
“For you, Bry!” I set the bouquet on the table behind me and grabbed his lapels to draw him close. “For love. For everything.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and crushed me against his chest. He didn’t kiss me, just held me so tightly I could hardly breathe.
“I love you,” he whispered into my ear. “Fuck, Sy. Do you really mean it? You’re ready for something real?”
“I mean it.” I tipped my head up, meeting his gaze. “We’ve been dating all along. I just wasn’t ready to see it, but now that I have, I’m not letting you go.”
“Good, because I’m not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 26
Bryson
I walkedinto Silas’s place for the first time since our first date. His cat, Morticia, wound around my ankles with a plaintive meow. The other one hid under the sofa, peeking out with wary eyes.
“Thanks for coming back to my place,” Silas said. “I’ve been so busy the cats probably think I’ve abandoned them.”
“No problem.” I wet my lips. “I guess I should get to know them better, right?”
Silas glanced back at me with a smile. “Yeah. Are you ready to be a cat daddy?”
I laughed. “Um…”
“Let me guess. More of a dog person? That’s it. The relationship is off!”
My heart stuttered, even though I knew he was kidding. Silas’s grin slipped. “Sorry. Bad joke. Too soon.”
I let out an unsteady chuckle. “No. I mean, it’s just new. I’m trying to wrap my head around the idea that you’re my…”
“Boyfriend?” Silas set down bowlsof food for the cats, who darted into the kitchen. He returned to me and slipped his arms around my neck. “I kind of thought I’d be the one to struggle with the label.”
