After fifteen years of almost, letting go of Sky is no longer an option.
Ever.
Somewhere beyond the edge of the moment a sound breaks through. A low ripple of laughter. Then a whistle.
Sky freezes.
“Subtle.” She brushes her thumb along my lip before glancing past my shoulder. “So this is how we’re doing it now.”
The reception hall rushes back into focus. Guests have turned in our direction. Glasses raised. Grins spreading across faces looking far more amused than shocked.
“Well,” Irving’s voice is thick with wicked amusement, “about damn time you two stopped pretending.”
A smattering of laughter moves through the dancers.
Sky searches my face, equal parts stunned and delighted. “You realize, you made us the main event.”
“Fifteen years.” I keep her close enough to notice the quick rhythm of her breathing. “Marisol and Julian will understand. The moment was long overdue.”
As if summoned by the thought, Julian and Marisol appear through the crowd.
His hand lands on my shoulder with a solid thump. “Finally.”
“Oh thank God.” Marisol steps beside him and her whole face lights up when she looks at Sky. “You two finally pulled your heads out of your asses.”
Sky lets out a breathless laugh, pink spreading across her cheeks. “We weren’t planning to make it a whole…moment. At your wedding. I’m so sorry.”
“Sky, half the people in this room have been waiting for this since law school.” Marisol takes her hands. “No thunder stolen. If anything, you gave everyone the ending we’ve all been hoping for.”
Julian nods beside her, pointing between us. “Honestly, this might be the most predictable surprise in the history of weddings.”
Sky glances at me again, relief and disbelief flickering across her face.
Behind her Irving appears looking smug. Or, a man preparing to deliver commentary to a jury.
“For the record,” he raises his flute, “I’ll remind Zach I encouraged this exact development including the red-eye rendezvous.”
Sky closes her eyes briefly. “Please don’t tell me…”
“Oh, I absolutely will.” Irving tilts his head with unmistakable satisfaction. “I figured seven hours alone on a jet with one Skylar Morgan and he’dfinallystop pretending.”
“You said what?” Julian looks from Irving to me, eyebrows climbing.
Irving lifts one shoulder. “Please. I’ve been watching you two circle each other since Contracts.” He raises one finger for emphasis. “Without my push, you’d still be in purgatory. My adjoining bedroom wall spent the last three nights confirming my theory.”
“Please stop talking.” Sky groans and hides her face briefly against my shoulder.
Irving only looks more pleased with himself. “I’m not even halfway through my victory lap.”
“No, you leave them alone.” Marisol bumps his arm aside. “They figured it out. That’s the most important part.”
Sky squints at me. “For fuck’s sake. Apparently we’ve been very predictable.”
I take her hand. “Only to people who know us best.”
The band strikes up something upbeat and Julian grabs Marisol’s hand. “Dance floor.”
Within seconds the reception transforms into a full celebration. Chairs scrape back. Couples gather in clusters. The twins spin across the floor. Tween hurricanes in pale-blue dresses.
