As the opening notes of their song floated across the dance floor, Jazz rested her head against Nathan’s shoulder.

“I put in a request with the DJ,” Nathan said right before David Archuleta sang the first words of her favorite song—their song. Could this be a coincidence, or was it further proof of Nathan’s intentions? A fresh family of butterflies took up residence in her chest. With each little wing beat, Jazz’s heartbeat sped quicker, quicker…

“Our song,” she whispered, even though she wanted to shout for joy. “You remembered.”

“How could I ever forget?” He leaned down to kiss her forehead, soft and serene like the wings of her butterflies. “That dance changed my world for the better.”

“Mine, too.” She looked into his eyes, which seemed to be dancing right along with them. The little flashes of light reflecting in his irises buzzed with anticipation.

Nathan rested his forehead against hers, holding Jazz close and guiding her to the music. He hummed the melody into her ear. She remembered how nervous he’d been during their dance at prom, how shy he’d been about expressing his feelings. Could the same thing be happening now? And if so, what should she do? Let him take his time, or help him out?

“You look incredible tonight.” His mouth widened in a smile before he leaned in to kiss her softly. When he pulled away, he kept his face close. Their breaths mingled. Her heart raced.

“It was a sweet ceremony. I liked that they wrote their own vows,” she said, if only to keep herself focused on the moment and not on the endless possibilities for their own wedding and future.

Nathan kissed her again and placed her hand on his heart. It raced like hers. Maybe he did need her help.

“I’m really enjoying myself. Thank you for bringing me.”

“Mmm,” Nathan hummed more, dancing with her in what seemed a blissful silence.

But wait. The song was ending. Shouldn’t he…

A new song played, fast and upbeat, definitely not the backdrop to a proposal.

Panic gripped at Jazz’s heart. Had Nathan lost his nerve, or had she misread the situation?

The room spun as a chorus of clinks and cheers rose from the wedding guests. The bride and groom kissed, putting on a good show for all their friends and family.

She dropped her hands from Nathan’s chest, then crossed them over her own.

“Jazz, is something wrong?” Nathan’s voice sounded as if it were a million miles away.

She was such a love-sick fool. How could she have gotten things so, so wrong? And why was she making a scene, albeit a small one, when she could have put on a brave face to avoid having a conversation she now dreaded?

Nathan reached for her hand, but she broke away from him, willing her tears to wait until she was safely outside, away from the people having a good time. She couldn’t talk to him here. Not now.

The only thing she’d ever been sure about in her life was that she and Nathan Reed belonged together, but he obviously hadn’t made up his mind about her, about their future. They’d been dating two years, friends for almost fifteen. How much more time did he need to know whether he wanted to choose her for his forever?

She knew what she wanted. She’d always known.

Him.

She wanted his ring on her finger. Not in a year or two. Now.

That was why she was so certain tonight would be the night. That in the middle of their song he would drop to one knee and propose.

Only he hadn’t.

The dance had been only a dance for him.

Unlike her.

The years of waiting for him, yearning for him, loving him crashed into her. Memories of the frustration, the hurt, and the tears. She didn’t want to go through that again. Putting off what she wanted until Nathan caught up to her.

So what was she waiting around for? Why was she constantly putting her dreams on hold to support his when he didn’t even love her enough to commit?

Stupid, stupid Jazz.

Needing distance, she burst through the swinging glass doors of the reception hall and gulped in deep, healing breaths of air. With each lungful, the fear and sadness left her body. Anger rose to take their place.

She glanced at the doors. Her heart sunk deeper.

Nathan hadn’t followed her out of the building. Did he even love her at all?

Marching around the building and toward the parking lot, she tried to think of what she would do next—what she could do. She’d left her clutch next to her dessert plate, which meant there would be no calling for help.

“Jazz! Jazz!” Nathan’s shouts wrapped around the building, his voice growing closer with each repetition.

But Jazz didn’t stop. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation right here in the middle of the busy venue for all to see.

“Jazz, wait!” Nathan cried.

She turned to see him running toward her. She had a choice to make, and neither option was one she wanted to face. This evening was supposed to be their big moment. It was supposed to be the start of forever—and now it might well be the end.

If Nathan was this clueless about what she wanted, what she’d expected tonight, then perhaps having it out here and now was for the best.

Still, her chest burned. Every single little butterfly dropped dead as the hope for the future that had once filled her heart left with a desperate whoosh.

Nathan reached her, gasping for air, his cheeks red from the exertion. “I thought you’d gone to the bathroom. I thought you’d be right back so we could talk. What happened in there?”

This was it. She could make her embarrassing confession or she could turn away, bury the feelings deep down, and try to forget she’d ever known Nathan Reed. Looking into his familiar eyes, she would never forgive herself if she didn’t share her heartbreak with him.

They had shared everything in life until this point—she couldn’t stop now. Didn’t want to stop.

“I thought you were going to propose.”

He blinked hard as if he’d just been blinded by a too bright sun. “Propose? Why would you think that?”

And there it was. Proof they saw their relationship completely different.

Tears stung her eyes, making Nathan blur before her. She couldn’t see well enough to make out his expression. Maybe that was for the best.

“Jazz, talk to me,” he said, not betraying any single emotion while here Jazz stood wearing her giant heart on the strap of her sleeveless gown.

Jazz blinked to clear her vision. She needed to rein in her emotions, to stop the tears from spilling. But what she needed and what she got were two very different things.

“Our anniversary is coming up. You went on and on about how the bride and groom were like us. You asked the DJ to play our song,” she cried, turning away from him, because looking at Nathan hurt too much. “It’s been two years, Nathan. Two years! How long do I have to wait for you to make up your mind about us?”

“Jazz, stop this.” His voice quavered as if his emotions couldn’t be contained. “I love you. You know I do.”

“But do you want to marry me?” The words burst from her like water from a crumbling dam. She knew she’d built tonight up based on her dreams, but she needed to know if Nathan shared the same one.

He wrapped her in a hug, and she was so broken she let him. Pulling back to look at her, he wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumbs as he held her face.

“I love you, Jasmine Michaels. Only you.”

All he’d needed to say was yes. His unwillingness to voice the word was his answer. She swallowed around the lump in throat. “But you don’t want to marry me.”

He sighed. “It’s not personal. I don’t want to marry anybody.”

“How could it not be personal?” The words came out shrill, but her emotions were unraveling. The future she’d imagined didn’t match his. “I’m your girlfriend. We’ve known each other since we were little kids, and you’ve never mentioned how you feel about marriage? What? Did you just think it would never come up?”

“I thought you know how I felt. My parents…”

Her sadness gained strength, turning to rage. Nathan had knowingly stolen the most important things from her—the years, her dreams, her poor, broken heart. She broke out of his arms and yelled, “Who gives a flying flip about your parents? They’re not us, Nathan. What we have is real. Or at least I thought it was.”

“Jazz, don’t do this.”

“I don’t need to. You already have.”

Without looking back, she returned to the reception hall for her purse. At least now she knew that she’d be pursuing her dreams alone.