Page 71 of Moving Forward

“I didn’t realize how adorable you two are together,” Erin says, breaking into our bubble. Her chin rests in her hands as she watches us intently. “I’ve been supporting this since I found out about you two, but I’m not going to lie, I think I just became your number one fan.”

Cain pulls away from me and stabs the cake. “The jerseys are fifty dollars.”

Erin claps. “And you have him joking!”

“Who’s joking?” Conner asks, kissing Erin’s cheek and sitting down beside her.

Erin points to Cain. “He can smile too. Max is a cure for stoicism.”

“Or it could be fishing,” Conner points out glumly. “According to you, fishing cures all.”

Erin nods excitedly. “They went fishing last night,” she explains to me.

“They did?” I ask, looking at Cain. He winks in response.

“We were forced,” Conner tells me.

“They needed male bonding time.” Erin pauses to take a bite. Around a mouthful she says, “Did you know they were best friends in school?”

“No, I didn’t,” I answer.

Erin nods, clearly pleased with this information. “They were practically inseparable. Cain always went to Conner’s wrestling tournaments and Conner to Cain’s baseball games. They cut class together a lot. Sometimes I wondered who was really dating Cain, me or Conner.”

Conner doesn’t seem all that bothered by Erin talking about her relationship with Cain. He doesn’t even blink. “Correction: Cain skipped. I only followed him to keep him out of trouble.”

“And you did that so well,” Cain adds.

“I totally saved you more times than I can count. Remember that one time in the portable bathroom?”

“Right,” Cain grimaces. “Probably best not to trudge that one up.” He lets me have the last bite of cake and then wraps his arm around my waist. “Dance with me?”

I nod and let him lead me by the hand to the dance floor. My mom winks at me from where she’s slow dancing with my dad. Happy for you she mouths, as I lace my arms around Cain’s neck. I mouth back me too and lay my head against Cain’s chest.

He wraps his arms around my back, pulling me even closer. He buries his face in the crook of my neck, his breath tickling my skin. We drift side to side, but our movement is so minimal, that it’s more like we’re hugging than dancing. Being in his arms, underneath the stars with my friends and family all around us, is how I want to spend every day for the rest of my life. I never thought it was possible to feel this way again.

His lips brush along my neck, not kissing, but singing softly. I sigh and fall further into him. No, I was wrong. Nothing can be better than this. But I have a feeling I'm wrong, and every day will be better than the day before. Just when I think I’ve met the moment that can’t be topped, we’ll have a new one.

That makes me smile. A huge, whole, excruciatingly happy smile.

Cain pulls back and tilts his head. “What’s that for?”

“You,” I admit. I bring a hand up to his chin and run my fingers along his scruff. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me too. You have no idea how much.” He leans his forehead against mine. “Come home with me tonight, Peaches.”

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