Don’t get me wrong, Tyler and I had been married four months, and I was still hopelessly in love with him. I wouldn’t change getting married that night in Vegas for the world.
But still, there was this ache. Not guilt, exactly—though my family had piled that on thick—but a longing for everything we’d skipped. The dress. The aisle. The look on his face when he saw me for the first time.
Maybe it was too much champagne. Maybe it was just me getting swept up in the day. But it was there.
Jordan and Kate were deep into their first dance, so wrapped up in each other that the rest of the world could have caught fire and they wouldn’t have noticed. The soft sound of the band playing their song floated out over the dance floor.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Tyler heading back from the bar, two glasses of champagne in hand. He slowed halfway when he caught me watching the newlyweds, his eyes flicking to the dance floor, then back to me. I knew that look. It was the one he got when he’d just worked something out.
By the time he reached me, the easy grin was back in place, but there was something else in his expression, something quieter. He handed me my glass and dropped into the chair beside me, his hand finding the back of my neck gently.
“It’s been a good day, huh?” he said, nodding towards Kate and Jordan.
“Perfect.” I sighed trying to keep it light. People had now started to filter onto the dance floor to join the bride and groom. His eyes caught mine for a second then he held out his hand.
“Dance with me?” he asked, standing now. ??I uncrossed my legs, grinning, set down my champagne and let him lead me to the spot lit dancefloor. He placed one hand on the small of my back and held my hand in the other pulling me close enough so that I could hear his heart beating.
I rested my head on his shoulder and sank into him breathing in his scent for what felt like an age. “What are you thinking, O?” he murmured into my hair.
?“Hmm?” I answered tilting my head up to look at him.
?“I can feel that brain of yours working in overdrive. Something's making it tick.” He brushed his thumb against my chin.
?“It’s nothing, honestly.” That was a cop out, we both knew it. ??
“O, I know you inside out,” he smiled softly. “I’ve been watching you all day. I can see what all this means to you.”
I let out a small laugh. “It’s been beautiful Tyler but I already have all I need.”
He didn’t look away from me. “We could do this, you know?”
?I laughed. “We already did, remember? Vegas? Tequila? Legally binding hangover…” I answered.
He smiled and leant in to touch his forehead against mine. “I know that.” He kissed the bridge of my nose. “But we can still do the whole thing—the dress, your dad giving you away, the big Irish party”
My heart squeezed. “You’d want that?”
?His smile curved in a way that always undid me. “I want whatever makes you happy Mrs Reed.”
His suggestion lingered in my mind for a while, louder than the music, heavier than the warm night air. And suddenly, I was picturing more than just the vineyard around us. I was picturing him in a suit at the end of an aisle, my family in the front row, his hand shaking as he reached for mine.
I’d told myself Vegas was perfect, and it was. But now, I wasn’t so sure that was our whole story.
Chapter 53
Orla
We wavedthe Taylors off on their honeymoon the next morning, with no doubt in my mind that they were off to make more disgustingly adorable babies. We said our goodbyes to everyone—Kate, Jordan, Gwen, Tom, all of whom looked particularly worse for wear following the chaos and fun of the night before. Tyler and I had a flight to catch, too; California for Christmas. His brother was joining us, along with his uncle Eddie and his wife, Sarah. I was equal parts nervous and excited to finally meet Tyler’s family, even his mother despite everything he’d told me so far.
The day after the wedding blurred in a haze of goodbyes, too much champagne at brunch, and frantic packing. Saying goodbye to Gwen and Kate stung more than I’d expected. For the first time in months, I’d felt like part of a circle again with women who had my back and I really missed them. I knew I’d catch Kate on the tour circuit when she travelled but with her having her own family now, I didn’t like to tug her away from her blissful bubble.
When Tyler laced his fingers through mine at the airport, tugging me toward our gate with that boyish grin, I remembered why I was here. Us and the madness we’d built.
We’d told them, stupidly, casually, about our plans to have a proper wedding, and I swear Kate nearly combusted on the spot. Jordan however, looked like a man experiencing World War Two-level flashbacks of Pinterest boards and seating plans he’d only just survived.
Before we flew out, I’d called Dad from the hotel balcony, fizzing with terrified excitement. The second I told him, “We’re doing a proper wedding,” he went quiet. Breaking the silence, he let out a choked little laugh that just about undid me.
He was thrilled. Fully, overwhelmingly thrilled and I couldn’t wait to make a start on the planning whilst I was in California.
