“Wasn’t it a beautiful wedding?” Mrs. Taylor, Leo’s mom, came up behind me, slipping her arm around my waist and leaning her head on my shoulder. “You know, there were times I thought these two would never get their shit together and make it work, but . . . love wins.”
I smirked. “Trust you to sum it up so poetically, Mrs. T.”
She laughed. “Well, you know it’s true. You’ve been watching them all these years, too.”
“You’re right. And yes, it was a lovely wedding. Still is.” I stood near the table where I had been assigned to sit with Zelda, Tuck and Leo’s brothers, Simon and Danny, along with Simon’s wife, Justine. “You all did a great job putting it together.”
“Ellie Iverson was a big help. She plans events, so Quinn left almost everything in her hands.”
I nodded. “I’ve met her a few times.” Turning a little, I gave Mrs. Taylor a hug. “Big year for you, huh? Married off two sons, and now you’re going to be a grandmother.” Simon and Justine were expecting a baby in the fall.
“I know.” She sighed. “Time goes by so quickly. It seems just yesterday, Simon, Danny and Leo were all little guys, running in the yard, and Quinn and Nate were coming in and out of our house like they lived there.” She sniffled a little, and I knew she was thinking of Nate and of his parents, who had quietly slipped away after the ceremony.
“He was here today. I’m sure of it.” I thought of the chair Leo and Quinn had left empty for their friend. I had expected to feel sad whenever I glanced that way during the ceremony, but in truth, I didn’t. I had the sense that if I’d turned my head quick enough, I might have caught sight of Nate, sitting there with a huge grin as he watched his two friends realize their dream.
“He was,” Mrs. Taylor agreed. “So now what about you, Gia? A girl as pretty and smart as you should find herself a good man.” She waved her hand. “Look at these hot football players here. Most of them are single. Take your pick, honey. Don’t let any grass grow.”
I laughed, but I was relieved when Simon called to his mother, asking her to come talk to someone a few tables away. I’d managed to keep my relationship with Tate private up to now, but I didn’t want to lie to Leo’s mom. Tate had rubbed off on me, I thought with a smile. His honesty policy was contagious.
I’d stolen glances at him during the ceremony, meeting his eyes while our friends had spoken words of love and forever. For the first time in more years than I could remember, I was able to imagine myself saying those same words . . . to Tate. We weren’t perfect, and we still had some growing and learning ahead of us, but I had the gut-deep feeling that we were going to make it together. We’d paid our dues.
I hadn’t completely forgotten about Matt, but maybe I never would. Thinking about him didn’t hurt the way it had before, though. I chose to remember the good times, the rare days when Matt had shown me a glimpse of the man he might have been. I understood that his fate had been his choice; the decision I’d made to save myself had been the right one. If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have been where I was today, able to be part of a healthy relationship and eager to embrace the future.
Across the tented room, Tate was sitting at a table with Tuck and a bunch of other guys who were undoubtedly football players. I thought I recognized some of them as Tate, Leo and Matt’s teammates from Carolina, while one of them was Corey Iverson, Ellie’s husband, who I’d met at Quinn and Leo’s engagement party. Tate seemed to know him pretty well; now that I thought about it, I had a vague memory of Tate mentioning hanging out with him when he and Danny had driven down to see Leo way back during that winter we’d first met—for the second time.
As though he felt my eyes on him, Tate turned his head, meeting my gaze. He gave me a quick wink, and I caught the flutter of his fingers as he waved covertly.
Something deep inside me shifted in that moment. Something that I’d known for a long time, something that maybe I’d always known but had been afraid to acknowledge.
This man . . . he was strong and steadfast, faithful and unendingly honest . . . he was filled with nothing but love for me and belief in me, and he demonstrated that every single day. He’d reminded me what it was like to live, and then he’d waited for me when I’d run away to find wholeness. He was every dream I’d ever had and yet so real and solid that I knew he’d never let me fall.
He was mine.
Without really thinking about it, I pushed off the chair I’d been leaning against and began making my way across the room. I wove around groups of people who were standing together chatting, ducked between waiters carrying trays filled with food and pushed through the crowded dance floor. When I passed Zelda, she touched my arm and began to say something, but when I shook her off and kept moving, she only smiled and called after me.
“About time, gorgeous!”
I didn’t stop until I reached the table where Tate was sitting. He was leaned back in his chair, but his attention was on Corey, who was trying to be heard over the music. Corey noticed me before Tate did; his eyes widened a little, and he gave a jerk of his chin, telling Tate to turn around.
Frowning in confusion, Tate shifted so that he faced me, surprise etched on his face. Before he could speak, I held out my hand.
“Dance with me?”
He stared up into my eyes, and in his, I saw the love that had never wavered.
“Dance?” He glanced around. “Are you sure?”
I knew what he was asking me, and I wanted to make sure my answer was clear.
“Why the hell not? Shouldn’t a woman be able to ask her boyfriend to dance whenever she wants?”
Tate’s hand closed around my fingers, and he stood up, his body so close to mine that I could feel the heat of him radiating over every inch of me.
“Her boyfriend, huh?” His voice was low and husky.
“The man she loves,” I amended. “The man she never wants to be without ever again. The man she wants to be hers, forever and ever. The man who she wants the whole world to know belongs to her, and only her.” I stood on my toes and wrapped my arms around Tate’s neck. “Mine, and only mine, always.”
Tate lifted me so that my face was level with his. “Always,” he breathed. “Only yours.”
He carried me to the dance floor just like that, heedless of the murmurs and hoots around us. When he’d found a spot for us, he let me slide down his body until my feet touched the floor, although I had a feeling I was going to feel as though I was floating for a very long time.
He took my hand in his and slid his other arm around my waist, pressing me close. We swayed gently to the rhythm of the music, but our gaze never broke.
“Gia,” Tate murmured. “I want your forever. I want to make it real and official. We don’t have to make any grand announcement or have a big blow-out like this one, but I want you to wear my ring, share my name and live with me in the house we both make our home.”
Not long ago, the idea of all of that had been terrifying to me, but just now, I couldn’t remember why. I knew that this was what I wanted, with this man who was mine.
“I might have a few conditions,” I whispered, just to tease a little. “What if I want you to take my name?”
“Done,” he replied instantly. “I’ll tell the front office to change my jersey on Monday.”
Warmth flooded me. He really meant it. This man . . .
“I was only joking. I’d never ask you to do that. I’ll be happy to be a Capri-Durham. But that’s not my only condition.”
He frowned warily. “Name them.”
“Well, it’s the townhouse. You’re talking about how many bedrooms we’ll have, and how they can be guest rooms or offices or whatever. We need six bedrooms. At least.”
“Okay . . .” Tate cocked his head, his fingers drawing tantalizing circles on my lower back and making me shiver with need. “Why six?”
I shrugged. “I want at least four babies, and I believe kids should have their own rooms, if it’s at all possible. Then there’s one guest room, and one bedroom for us. Six.”
The hugest grin I’d ever seen spread over Tate’s face, and his irresistible dimple appeared in full force. “Four babies, huh? Wow. Think I’m man enough to make that happen?”
I lifted one eyebrow. “I don’t have any doubts at all. And just thinking about the fun we’ll have making those babies is getting me a little hot and bothered.”
Tate gave a strangled groan, and I could feel his hard length against me as we danced. “I wonder how fast we could get back to the hotel?”
I sighed, resting my head against his chest. “I happen to know there’s a private spot not far away from here, if you’re up for an adventure. And if you’re willing to trust me. What do you say?”
He squeezed my hand. “I trust you with all of me, and I’m always up for an adventure. Lead the way.”
Giggling like kids who were getting away with something, Tate and I slipped out of the tent. I stopped to take off my shoes, and Tate insisted on carrying them for me, making me laugh all the more at the sight of my delicate silver sandals dangling from his large finger.
“Look.” Tate tugged on my hand, halting us for a moment. Several yards away, walking toward the ocean, Leo and Quinn were hand-in-hand. In the moonlight, I could just make out the flower in her hand.
“They’re saying good-bye to Nate,” I whispered. “Quinn told me that she and Leo had decided to do it this way, just the two of them.”
“Then let’s not bother them. Are we close to where you’re taking me? Can we sneak past without them seeing us?”
I pointed down the beach. “Just beyond this dune, there’s a staircase that leads from the street to the sand. Underneath the stairs, it’s very dark and private. I have it on good authority that it’s the perfect trysting spot. If we’re very quiet, I don’t think Leo and Quinn will even notice us, if we wait a minute until they’re closer to the surf.”
Tate wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close until I was plastered against him. “I’m a patient man.”
We stood in silence, watching our friends walk to the edge of the water.
“They’re so happy today,” I whispered. “I’m glad. They deserve every bit of it.”
“They do,” Tate agreed. “So do we. Happiness and love aren’t earned, but sometimes, we need to get past all the crap so we never forget the gift we have. So that we never take it for granted.”
He nudged my chin up until I was looking into his eyes again. He lowered his lips to mine, but just before he kissed me senseless, he murmured against my skin.
“This is the beginning of a long happily-ever-after—the one we’ll build every day, you and me. I love you, Gia.”
The ocean pounded, a salty breeze teased over our skin, and the moon was bright. All of our tomorrows lay before us, bright with the promise of love and forever . . . together.