Page 93 of Single All the Way

“Who are you dressed as?” I asked, laughing at her poofed out, side-parted hair that hung to the side and her powder-blue, off-the-shoulders, giant-ruffled tea-length dress.

“Eighties prom couple, of course!” she said, tugging Max closer so I could appreciate his full suit with a matching powder-blue bow tie.

“You two look amazing,” I said.

“So do you!” Harper snuggled into her fiancé’s side as Max put his arm around her.

Anna, Olivia, and Maeve joined us as the band ended a song, making it easier to hear for a few seconds.

“Hey, newlyweds!” Anna said. “Happy New Year!” She wore an off-the-shoulders striped shirt and frizzed, tall eighties hair.

“Hello, rock n’ roll girls,” Ben said.

“Look at you guys,” I said, taking in the other two costumes. “You make better Bangles than the Bangles themselves.”

“Don’t they?” Harper said. “Confession: I had to Google what they looked like.”

“Such a young thing,” Olivia said, side-hugging her.

“And yes, we’re jealous,” Maeve added.

“Where’s your fourth?” I asked.

“Magnolia’s floating around, seeing to details,” Anna said. “She’s the true rock star tonight.”

“This place looks incredible,” I said.

The entire ballroom was a neon explosion.

“Anna, Ava, and Magnolia knocked it out of the park,” Olivia agreed. She leaned in closer. “You two werefashionablylate.” She directed the comment to me and raised a suggestive brow toward Ben.

Chance had pulled Ben aside and shook his hand, probably congratulating him.

“Yes, why were you late?” Maeve asked, trying to keep a smile off her face. “Hmm?”

Laughing again, I said, “Let’s see, we got done at the courthouse just before they closed at four. Then we had to take the whole brood home. The kids were hyper, so we fed them dinner and tried to get them calmed down before leaving them with Berty all night. Then we had to check in to our room here and unpack and change into our costumes?—”

“They’re amazing, by the way,” Anna said.

“Thanks. And here we are.” I brushed my fake blond hair back over my shoulder, feeling a slight flush on my cheeks when I thought about the way we’d consummated our marriage with an earth-shattering quickie on the bathroom counter of our room.

We’d get down to the business of our official wedding night later. I’d make certain of it, not that I’d have to convince Ben. The only thing I’d had to convince him of was getting our costumes on and coming down to the party for a few hours before continuing naked time.

Our courthouse wedding had been a few days later than we’d hoped because the kids had passed around a cold in the days following Christmas, but the weeklong wait made it all the sweeter. I could say that now that it was over and we were married.

“Well, congratulations,” Maeve said, hugging me. “I’m so happy for you, Em.”

“Thank you.” I felt lighter than air.

Anna and Olivia hugged me next. When the band started playing a Wham song, the girls dragged me out on the dance floor. I handed off my drink to my gorgeous husband, who pressed a kiss to my lips as I went. We spent the next dozen songs dancing to the admittedly good band.

Eventually, ready to take a break, I glanced around to find my husband. I left the others on the dance floor and made my way to Ben, who was still with his dad friends, only a few of whom were single now.

“Hey,” I said as I sidled up to him.

“Hey, sexiest woman alive.” Ben faced me, pulled me into him, and kissed me solidly, thoroughly, plunging his tongue into my mouth as if we’d been apart for two weeks instead of maybe an hour.

I didn’t mind a bit.

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