“NO, NOT ONE MORE!” I giggle as Sienna tugs at my hand. “My feet hurt.”

“Your feet can’t hurt!” Danielle exclaims. “It’s my wedding reception.”

“We’ve been at this for hours,” I say, the wine sending me a little off balance.

“You’re a lightweight,” Macie laughs. “Come to Boston with Danielle this summer. We’ll show you how it’s done. Right, Danielle?”

“Let’s take her to Shenanigans! Do they still have that jukebox in the corner? The one with all the old school stuff we love?”

Macie’s eyes light up. “They do! Will and I were there a couple of months ago with Crew and Jules. I think I spent a week’s check on it.”

Alison grabs me by the arm and twirls me around, wine sloshing from her glass, as a new song begins to play. When we realize it’s a slow one, a chorus of “Ah’s” can be heard.

The dance floor begins to empty. The music softens, the beats turning smooth and easy, and I see Graham coming my way. His hands in his pockets, his tie now undone, his jacket missing, he looks like I’ve always hoped to see him look.

Relaxed. Carefree. Happy.

I throw my arms around his shoulders as he pulls me into him, holding me tight against his body. He smells delightfully like sandalwood and soap as I lay my head near his heart.

“Have you had fun tonight?” he asks softly.

“You know what? I have,” I admit. “It’s been a lot of fun actually.”

He kisses the top of my head and I squeeze him. Maybe it’s not the best thing in the world to let myself get so close to him, but it feels right. It makes me happy. So I choose to do it and have faith that if things go the way they’re planned, or if they don’t work out, I’ll survive.

We move in a circle, entwined in each other’s arms. We’ve danced many other dances tonight, but as Boyz II Men croon at the late hour, our bodies loosened by wine and whiskey, this one is different. Our guards are down and all I can do is smile against his chest.

“Well, well, well,” Lincoln says as he and Danielle sidle up next to us. “Look what we have here.”

“Go away, Linc,” Graham laughs.

“That’s no way for the Best Man to talk to the groom,” Lincoln jokes.

Danielle gives him a stern look. “You are a troublemaker.”

“Which is why you love me, babe.” He smacks a kiss to her lips. “Well, G. I’m married off, Barrett is engaged. Since Ford doesn’t have a girl, that means you’re next.”

“Lincoln Landry!” Danielle chastises him. “Don’t put Graham on the spot like that.”

“Danielle Landry,” Lincoln starts then stops. “God, I love the sound of that.”

“You’re a beautiful bride,” I tell Dani. “Congratulations again.”

She grins at me. “Thank you.”

Lincoln whisks her away in some spinning dip move that makes everyone laugh and move out of the way. Graham’s chest rumbles as he, too, can’t deny his amusement.

“You know,” he says, “I’ve always thought Lincoln to be the most immature out of us all.”

“You might be right.”

“I hate to admit it, but I think I might be wrong.”

When I pull away and look up at his face, he’s still watching his brother. His brows are pulled tight.

“Lincoln is really no different than me,” Graham notes.

“I beg to differ. He’s silly. Goofy. You’re Mr. Control Freak. Serious.”

“True.” Graham looks down at me again and spins me in a circle. “But look at him.” He uses his chin to motion towards the groom. “He’s the happiest guy here. He’s the one out of all of us that risked everything in his life to get the one thing he wanted.”

I think about that. I’ve heard Lincoln’s story and how he had to pick between the sport he loved and the girl he loved more. It’s a classic fairytale, a romance for the ages.

“Did he need a boost of confidence? Sure,” Graham says. “But he pulled the trigger. He made a very mature decision.”

“So what are you saying?” I ask.

“I’m saying that ridiculous brother of mine was capable, when the time came, to figure out what he wanted in life. He did it faster than any of the rest of us, no matter what public office we were in, what job title we had, or medals were around our neck.” He chuckles. “I can’t believe I’m giving kudos to Lincoln for something serious.”

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him lightly. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell.”

“Won’t tell what?” Camilla and her father dance their way to us. “I love gossip.”

“They don’t call you Swink for nothing,” Graham says, shaking his head.

“Mind your own business, Camilla.” Mr. Landry tosses me a wink. “May I cut in?”

Graham’s grip cinches down on me.

“I’m your father, Graham,” Mr. Landry laughs. “Here. Dance with your sister.”

Camilla takes her brother’s hand, against his silent objection, and guides him away from their father and I. Mr. Landry takes my hand in his and gently places his other respectfully on my hip.

His forehead is lined in a way that showcases years of worry, hard work, and late nights. But it’s the lines around his eyes and mouth that paint a different picture. They tell the story of love and laughter, of ballgames and Monopoly. They speak of tea parties and car washes and early morning breakfasts.

“I want you to know,” he says in a voice an octave lower than Graham’s, “that I never get involved in my children’s private lives.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I don’t say anything. I just let him move me along to the music.

“Graham has always been a peculiar child. When he was born, he didn’t cry. The nurses had to tickle his feet to force him to cry to dry his lungs.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh.” He smiles down at me. “He’s always been an old soul, one of those kids that seems to be wise beyond their years. He didn’t want to play ball with Lincoln or go chasing girls with Barrett. He wanted to go to the office with me. I remember one Christmas, he asked for a calculator,” he chuckles.

“In the last few weeks, I’ve seen such a change in him,” Mr. Landry continues. “I always wondered what would happen if he really fell in love. Would he pull away from the business? Would he channel some of the passion that drives him into something else? I see that some with Barrett. Now that he has Alison and Huxley, I don’t expect him to be in politics very long. Same for Lincoln. I think we can all see the changes Danielle has made in him.”

“Certainly,” I agree.

“My curiosity has been satiated when it comes to Graham. I now know what happens to Graham when he falls in love.”

“Mr. Landry,” I stammer, my anxiety beginning to soar. “I’m not sure what he’s told you, but I don’t think he’s in love with me.”

His chuckle is loud and hearty as he shakes his head. “Maybe not. I surely can’t speak for my son. But I can tell you that I know a thing or two about my boys, and Graham is well on his way, sweetheart.”

My cheeks flush and I look away. I’m not sure he’s right, but I can’t stop the little bud of hope that blossoms in my belly.

“Graham’s work over these past few weeks has only gotten better. It’s funny, in a way, to see him a bit strewn about. But it makes his mother and me happy to see him living outside of his office for once. And that, Mallory, is because of you.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want to ask that you give my boy some patience. Lord knows he’s probably in over his head,” he chuckles. “But if I know one of my sons, I know Graham. And I know Graham will come around.”

The music ends and a faster number replaces it. Graham is to my side in a second flat.

“Here you go,” his father says, taking my hand and placing it through his son’s elbow. He leans in and whispers something to Graham. I don’t know what he says, only that it makes Graham smile. They nod, a silent exchange of some unnamed emotion, and Mr. Landry disappears into the sea of people.

Graham looks at me, his eyes shimmering. “You ready to go?”

“Absolutely.”