Page 95 of The Winning Ticket

“I know tonight has been all about your sister, but I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how proud I am of you,” Dad says, and I stare at him silently.

“Thank you, Dad,” I reply when I finally find my voice again.

“I know we don’t get a chance to talk much, and that is mostly my fault, but I am glad you are back and have found yourself again. I was worried about you when you were away. And seeing you just now with Jake… I can tell he means a lot to you, and I just wanted you to know that I’ve always liked that boy for you.”

I am trying to figure out how to respond to that. It’s possibly the most words my father has ever said to me at one time, and I’m pretty sure my eyebrows have become lost in my hairline.

He laughs when I continue to gape at him and squeezes me. “I see I’ve surprised you. I do notice things, Bri. I hope we can spend more time together now that you’re closer. Maybe you can come fishing with Morgan and me the next time we go out?”

I regard him closely for another moment before nodding. “I’d really love that, Dad.”

The song ends, and my father steers me towards Jake before making his way to the bar, where he joins Chris’s two mothers, who greet him happily. I stare after him, still lost for words, before allowing myself to once again enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in Jake’s comforting embrace.

44

LET'S DO THIS

JAKE

Several hours later, all but Morgan and Chris’s closest friends have admitted defeat and called it a night, but we are still dancing away to the best of the 90‘s R&B tracks. I’ve long since abandoned my tie and jacket, and the girls have ditched their shoes. Morgan devised a way to get her dress up off the floor so she could dance freely without tripping over the long train. Knowing it’s called a train tells me that I have spent far too much time talking about this wedding over the last few months.

“Okay, I’m starting to wilt,” Bri says with a slight slur and leans against my chest.

We’ve been dancing together all night, and I tighten my arms around her, not ready to leave her again.

“Yeah? Are you ready for bed?” I ask, cupping her cheek as she smiles at me.

“Definitely. Can you take me home? Can you stay with me?” Her voice cracks a little, and my heart skips a beat.

Home. Wherever this woman is, that’s my home, and hearing her call the apartment our home does something to my insides. I am ready to tell her and everyone else how I feel.

“Yeah, let’s go home.”

We say our goodbyes, and Morgan hugs her sister tightly, whispering something in her ear that makes Bri freeze momentarily before nodding at her. When it’s my turn, Morgan gets teary.

“I know I made it difficult for you guys, but after watching you two together tonight, you are perfect for each other. Thank you so much for falling in love with my sister,” she whispers, and I squeeze her a little tighter before stepping back.

Reaching down, I clasp Bri’s hand in mine. We head for the doors, and I arrange for an Uber to take us home.

Once we’re inside the apartment, silence falls over us, and I wonder who will break it first while Bri checks on Maddie, shooting me uncertain looks every few seconds.

She moves closer to where I’m standing at the end of the kitchen bench, shuffling my feet a little.

“Can you help me out here?” Bri asks finally, turning her back to me and pointing at her elaborate hairstyle.

“What do you need me to do?” I ask, eyeing it warily.

“Take out the two hundred hairpins that are buried in there.”

“Two hundred?!” I step closer and start inspecting it.

“I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m pretty sure that’s how many she shoved in there.”

I let out a puff of air. “Okay, let’s do this.” I lead her towards the couch, sitting down and guiding her to sit on the floor between my legs.

“Tonight was perfect,” she whispers, and I can hear the happiness in her voice.

I gently start removing the pins, trying my best not to take any strands of hair with them. “Yeah, they looked so happy.”

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