Page 96 of Just One Moment

“Why, because you don’t have a date?”Dexearns himself an elbow to the ribs fromPatrick.

“No.Becausewe’re waiting forJohanna.”

“Neverrush a woman,” my mom chimes in.

“Oh, believe me,Iknow.Lottiemight as well be sixteen with her attitude recently.Ilove her, butI’mglad she’s with her mom tonight.Ineed a stiff drink.”

“Pat, don’t you dare speak about my darling niece like that.”Florencethrows him a warning glare.

We’rewaiting at the steps of the venue, freezing our asses off as we wait forQuinnandJohannato arrive.

Whilemy family bickers beside me,I’mready to crawl outof my skin.Regretat thinking this was a good idea has been festering sinceIwoke up.It’sunlikelyI’lleven have to interact withJennaorRalph,Ijust hate the idea of havingQuinnin her vicinity.

Tiresrolling on gravel pull my attention to the long road leading up to the small orchard where the ceremony is being hosted.Itstarted snowing onThanksgivingevening and hasn’t stopped for the last two days.Theground is draped in white and thickens before our eyes as large snowflakes float down from the sky.

Thecab pulls up in front of us andJohannais the first to step out.Shelooks lovely in a deep blue, knee-length dress and tweed coat.Patrickis quick to approach her and escort her up the steps.

Whena delicate ankle laced in gold leather peeks out from the car my heart rate rises.ThenQuinnreveals herself, andIstop breathing altogether.She’sethereal, draped in a shimmering yellow dress that shifts against her curves like liquid gold.Adivine beauty poets would struggle to describe.Halfher hair is tied up while the other half runs over her shoulders in a mess of chocolate and honey curls.

“Quinn,”Ibreathe.

Myhand falls to my chest, as if to keep my heart from falling out.

MyQuinn.

I’mat the bottom of the stairs before my brain even registersI’vewalked toward her.

“Hey, you.”There’sa sweet shyness in her voice.

“Areyou real?”Myeyes skim up and down the length of her body, cataloging each detail.

“Youdon’t look too bad yourself.”Sheadjusts the lapels of my suit jacket and then grips the edges to pull me closer. “It’snot fair that you look this handsome.”

“It’snot fairIhave to share you with all these people tonight.”Itake hold of the thick coat she has folded over her arm and wrap it around her shoulders.“That’sbetter.You’refor my eyes only.”

“Ohh, possessive.”Shegiggles and then loops her arm through mine. “C’mon.Let’sget this over with.”

Theceremony wenton without a hitch andIfelt nothing asIwatched the womanIthoughtI’dspend the rest of my life with share vows with another man.

WhenRalphandJennawere officially announced husband and wife the only thing that crossed my mind was thatIhopeIget to stand at the end of an altar withQuinnone day.Ifshe wanted to elope or have the grandest wedding of the century,I’dgive it to her.

Theday has dragged, but it hasn’t been awful, not withQuinnby my side.

We’renow sitting around our table as we watchPatrickandJohannasway among the other couples.DespiteBooth’sgrumblings, he’s slowly leadingMomacross the dance floor, careful of her leg.EvenFlorenceconvincesDexto join her and they laugh loudly as they tread on each other’s toes.

Mysiblings would be shocked to the core at my next question, butIdon’t want her to miss out. “Dancewith me, honey?”

Surprisepaints her face, and she glances out to the black-and-white checked dance floor before turning back to me.

“Nothere,” she whispers.

Idon’t get the chance to ask her what she means beforeshe’s dragging me to my feet, grabbing our coats, and guiding us through the crowd until we’re out in the chilly night air.

“Here.”

Thethrum of the music is loud enough to reach us and the light from the party reveals the paved courtyard beneath our feet.

Ihold my hand out, desperate to have her in my arms.I’mtugging her into me the second our fingers make contact and seal our fronts together.

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