The band started playing again, and Remi and Sophie walked hand in hand to the dancefloor.

“It was a lovely ceremony.”

“Oui, chér,” he said, as he dipped her and then brought her back up. “And you look beautiful.” Red bloomed over her face, as she smiled. “What is it?”

“I’m still not used to anyone giving me compliments.”

“Ah. Should I praise your perfect breasts? Or perhaps your luscious pussy that gives me so much pleasure?” He twirled out onto the parquet, then brought her back to his chest, and she laid her hand on his shoulder. “Non, I know what I love best, Sophie.”

“What?”

“You. All of you.”

“I love you, too.”

Remi leaned down, and Sophie tilted up, as they closed the distance to caress each other.

“Can I cut in?”

“Not the best timing, Ethan.”

“Michelle said she wants to talk to you, Remi. She’s taking a break...” He pointed to a spot. “...over there.”

“Thanks.”

He strolled across the dancefloor, under the flickering lights of the disco balls, to the back of the room.

“Hey! Let’s go outside. I could use some fresh air.”

“After you.”

They walked into the garden behind the building. Going to a bench in front of a concrete fountain, Michelle sat and gestured for him to join her.

“Thanks for coming, Remi.”

“As if I’d miss your wedding?”

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean. Our break up. It was really hard. I thought I was in love with you, convinced of it.”

“But…”

“Then I met Ethan. He swept me off my feet, and I felt this unstoppable connection to him. I couldn’t fight it. After a while, I didn’t want to. Ethan told me the universe brought us together. Sound familiar? There’s this thing with shifters, the Legendary Hunger.” He nodded. “Once Ethan explained what was happening to us, I understood that it was the same type of thing that struck you with Sophie. There was nothing to forgive you for. You hadn’t dumped me. Not really, not intentionally. It was out of your hands.”

“You’re right. I had no control over it, Michelle.”

“I know. You tried to tell me, but I couldn’t comprehend it at the time. I was so shocked and hurt. But I get it now, since whatever that is, that force, joined Ethan and me in a way I’ve never felt before. My feelings for you seemed to melt until they were completely gone.”

“I’m glad you understand. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know that now. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, Remi, and I can see how much you and Sophie love each other. You’re both practically glowing. Well, she is. But you’re not quite as broody as you used to be.” Remi snorted at her description of how he’d been when they were together. “I guess I’m saying it all worked out the way it was supposed to.”

“Oui. It did. I still love you, Michelle. Differently than before, but I do.”

“I know, and I love you, too. It’s why I wanted you to come to the wedding.”

“Friends forever, then?”

“You’d better mean that! My babies are gonna need a godparent, and I want it to be you. Uncle Remi. How does that sound?”

“You’re already working on having kids?”

She nodded with a smile.

“I didn’t think I’d have children, but Ethan comes from a large family, and we want that, too. His mother is practically tracking my ovulation cycle.”

They shared a laugh together, and Remi said, “I can’t wait to meet your kids. I’ll love them as if they were my own. You know that.”

He wrapped an arm around her, and when she leaned into him, he placed a kiss in her hair. She sat up and smacked his arm.

“Hey! Don’t mess it up! It took an hour to style it!”

Remi chuckled, stood, and reached for her hand.

Over the speakers, a voice said, “It’s time for the bride and groom’s first dance as man and wife.”

“They’re playing your song. Wait. Is that the Zydeco Bounce?”

Shaking her head with pursed lips, Michelle said, “I couldn’t talk Ethan out of that. He wouldn’t budge.”

Once they were back inside, Ethan jogged over and took Michelle to the dancefloor, and Remi found Sophie sitting at their table, sipping from her wine glass.

“Have a nice chat?”

“Oui. C’est tout,” he said as he sat, looking out at the crowd. Many of them were tipsy, most laughing, with Michelle in the center of it all with Ethan. “Would you like to dance?”

“No, I’m having fun watching them have such a great time. Ethan’s mother is a hoot! While y’all were out back, she took Ethan by his ear and told him that she expected a special delivery nine months from tonight and to make it twins.”

Remi snorted and asked, “What’d he say to that?”

She fell into peals of laughter.

“That he’d try his best.”

Sophie scooted a tumbler filled with amber liquid over to him and said, “I got you a whiskey... neat.”

Remi drew her near to kiss her the way he’d intended to earlier.

A moment before their lips touched, he murmured, “Parfait, mon amor. Mon éternité.”