“Do I look okay?” 

My gaze travels up from the floor where I’m tying the laces of my dress shoes to where she stands in front of me. It takes in fuck-me heels, long tan legs, and thighs that grip me so tight when I’m in between them. Eventually I encounter the end of a lavender dress that hugs all her curves, showing off her shoulders. Which is fitting, since her shoulders are one of my favorite parts of her body.

A sexy, sophisticated woman stands in front of me. How different she looks here than she’d looked for prom, nervously wringing her hands in front of her. The parallels in our life before and our life now are sometimes crazy in how they mirror. I feel almost like we’re doing the same relationship, just as adults now. To be truthful, I’m in awe of her and how she carries herself.

“You look absolutely amazing.” I stand up, buttoning my shirt as I walk over to where she waits for me. “I like this hair.” I playfully grab hold of a curl, pulling on it, watching as it springs back into place. It’s tousled and looks like we’ve spent the afternoon in bed together. Her eyes are rimmed in kohl, and I love the way it makes the green pop.

“You don’t look so bad yourself there, Slade.” With those hands I love to feel on my body, she smooths my shirt over my chest, helping me to take care of the wrinkles. “Whose wedding is this again?” 

She asks the question as she walks over to the dresser in the hotel we’re staying in. Watching her getting to the other side of the room is a pleasure. Her ass shakes as she balances on those heels, and I’m not ashamed to say my eyes are glued. Looking at me in the mirror, she gives me a smirk.

“Like what you see?”

“All the time, sweetness, all the time.”

I watch, enthralled with the way she’s putting on her jewelry. Everything about this moment is so intimate, everything I’ve ever wanted with her. “To answer your question, my college roommate, Caleb.”

“Oh yeah, the one who taught you how college life should be,” she teases as she puts her earrings in.

“I wouldn’t say that.” I grin back at her. “Probably taught him one or two things myself.”

“What does he do now?” She continues the conversation as she puts perfume on and goes to grab her purse.

Following in her wake, I roll my sleeves up. Even though it’s a wedding, fall in Alabama is still hot as hell. “He’s a cop, part of a specialized patrol here that deals with illegal moonshine.”

“Is it that big of a problem here?”

I’d wondered the same thing when I started college at Alabama and met his dad, who is also a member of the task force. “It is, but at the same time, he’s just a regular member of Laurel Springs PD, too. It just depends on what they have going on.”

“Well, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” She does a little shimmy/twirl for me, holding down the sides of her dress.

“You’ll be the most gorgeous woman there.”

“Shouldn’t that be the bride?” She smiles widely as I take her into my arms, kissing her softly, gently, not wanting to ruin her makeup. 

“Doesn’t matter where we are, you’ll always be the most beautiful person in the room. I love you.” We don’t say it often, both of us seeming to be too scared maybe, but when we do say it, it means more than ever.

“Love you too, Slade. Love you too.”

“Savage!” I hear a small voice whisper-yell at me as Malone and I walk into the church where the wedding is taking place.

Glancing to my left, I see Caleb’s sister, Kelsea, in a white dress. Taller than the last time I saw her, she’s obviously hit a growth spurt and looking much older than her almost twelve-years. “Kels, you look beautiful.” I lean down, kissing her on the cheek.

“Thanks! You look so much different when you don’t have dirt all over ya.”

I shake my head; she’s never been scared to say what comes to her mind. “Thanks, I think, where’s your brother?” 

“He’s in the sanctuary mingling with the guests. You know he doesn’t wait very well.”

“So true.” I reach back, grabbing Malone’s hand. “Kels, meet my girlfriend, Malone.” I introduce the two and watch as Kelsea waves shyly. 

“I really like your hair.”

Malone smiles and waves back. “I really like yours too. How long did you have to sit to get those flowers put in it?”

Kelsea rolls her eyes. “Too long, but Caleb promised he’d take me to see Savage play next year if I was good.”

“Well I’m glad I could be of service. See you around, kiddo.”

“See ya. Hit one out of the park for me on your next at bat.”

“Will do.”

Pulling Malone behind me, we make our way into the sanctuary, where I immediately spot Caleb. In situations like this, I’m never sure of etiquette. I hate to take the attention off the people who deserve it the most, but I’m their friend most of all and don’t want them to think I’m above being at their important day. I raise my hand up in a wave before directing Malone to where I think we should sit. Just as we’re about to make it, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

Turning, I smile at my friend. 

“Glad you could make it man, thanks for coming.” Caleb offers me his hand in a shake, before we hug. 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. We may not get to hang out as much as we should, but you’re one of my most valued friends and there’s no way I’d miss a woman puttin’ a ring on it.”

He raises his ringless left hand. “Still got a few more minutes,” he says before he faces Malone. “Who might you be?”

I put my arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close. “This is Malone.”

His eyebrows go up to his hairline, and I get the feeling he’s having a hard time using his words. “The Malone?”

“Yes.” I punch him in the shoulder. “Don’t you have something to do, like go get married?”

He turns his full attention to Malone. “It’s a pleasure to see the two of you together and to finally meet you.”

“I’m sure you thought I was a wicked witch.” She gives me a look. “Especially if you met him right after he left home.”

“We all make mistakes, and trust me, I’m not the one to judge at all. I’m just glad to see the two of you here, at least looking happy.”

“We are,” she answers, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“Caleb! We’re getting ready to start,” his dad yells for him. Waving at Mason, we say our goodbyes and take our seats.

“He seems like a nice guy,” Malone whispers as we get situated to watch the wedding.

“He is,” I agree. “We both needed something in our lives, and I kinda think we both found it,” I speak quietly, kissing her on the temple.

She grips my hand in hers. “Ya know what? Maybe you did.”

“Thank you,” I whisper to Slater as he hands me a tissue. 

Weddings always make me cry, and the way Caleb just looked at his bride as she came down the aisle was enough to melt even the coldest of hearts. I’m pretty sure I caught him wiping away tears as one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen walked down the aisle. 

“Are you okay?” His amusement is evident in his voice.

“Weddings.” I wipe my nose delicately. “Always make me cry.”

“They used to not.” He pulls me closer to his side, burying his hand under my hair to rub my neck.

“Regret’s a shitty thing,” I whisper, holding his free hand with everything I have, entwining our fingers together tightly.

“But it’s not the end of the world Mal.” He leans in, whispering as they say their vows to one another. “Life is what we make it, regret is how far we take it. We still have a whole life to live. So what if it takes us a few more years than we wanted it to? We can still have everything we’ve ever wanted.”

“Can we?” 

“I promise you we can.” He captures my lips with his right as Caleb and his bride are pronounced man and wife.

“Are they always this wild?” 

The reception is going full-blast and we’re having a good time drinking with Caleb’s group of family. The guy beside me, who I think was introduced to me as Caleb’s father, laughs loudly. 

“This is a bit tame. We’re a bunch of law enforcement officers who rarely get a chance to let loose. When we can, we do, and soon the kids are going home, so right about then is probably when you’ll see it get way out of control.”

“Then I guess I better catch up.” I hold my glass of wine up and toast his beer glass before I take a large gulp.

What feels like hours later, Slater and I are dancing with a large group of people when someone gets on the microphone, stopping the music. 

“I need all the unmarried ladies over here!”

I’m being pushed in the direction of the flow of bodies, slightly shaking my head. “No, I’m good.”

“No you’re not, c’mon.” a smaller hand grabs mine. 

Looking down, I see Kelsea pulling me over with her. Glancing back at Slater, he’s laughing, taking a drink off the bottle of beer he’s holding. “Kelsea, I don’t know if this is a good idea or not.”

“This is a great idea,” she assures me. Exactly what I need, assurance from a pre-teen. 

Standing in this group of women, waiting for Ruby to throw her bouquet, I have a moment of clarity. There’s no maybe about it. This is where I’m meant to be, with Slater, doing life, no matter how hard or unsure of it I am. Why else would I have come back to Willow’s Gap at the same time he did, why else would we have been tested? For everything there is a reason and for every reason there is a season – I think I’ve heard that saying somewhere – and if I haven’t? Fuck it, I just made it up. 

There are shrieks and squeals around me, so I start to pay attention, and without even realizing it, I reach for the bouquet that’s been thrown toward me. Jumping up slightly, I grab it out of the air, holding it up like a trophy as everyone around me congratulates me for a job well done.

Ruby walks over, smiling as she gives me a hug. “Congratulations, Malone! When it’s your turn be sure to invite me.”

“My turn?

“When you and Slater get married, be sure to invite us!”

I’m dazed as I nod that I will. Later on as we drive to the hotel, me holding the bouquet and the garter he caught, I start to think that maybe there’s a bigger plan here for us. 

And as we head back to the hotel, before we drive to Birmingham in the morning, I admit to myself that being with him, doesn’t completely scare me to death.