Page 23 of From Fake Dates to Forever Goals

“Are you all right?” he asks, seeming concerned that I left the dance floor in a hurry.

“I’m fine. I’ve just never danced like that before,” I say, feeling my body calm down.

I’ve never felt that kind of energy with anyone before, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I know I’m having a great time with Sebastian.

The night ends, and he drives me home. I feel the urge to pull him in close and kiss him, but I know it wouldn’t be the right thing to do. Instead, I decide to spark up a conversation as I smoothly exit the car.

“I wanted to ask you a favor,” I begin.

“Anything,” Sebastian replies willingly.

“Would you join me at my friend’s wedding this Friday?”

Sebastian smiles.

“As your plus one?” he asks.

“As my boyfriend,” I correct him.

“In that case, I would love to,” he replies.

I peck him softly on the cheek, telling him, “I had a wonderful time.”

“So did I.”

Thursday afternoon, Annie and I go shopping with her future mother-in-law. I notice immediately how much she dotes on Annie. I know Annie is lucky to be marrying a man who loves her dearly, but knowing that he has a caring family makes it even better.

Annie picks out a champagne silk gown for me that looks like it will cling to my body and leave little to the imagination. I catch myself before I make a face, not wanting to ruin Annie’s excitement. So, I try it on and immediately see her eyes well up with tears.

“You look beautiful!” she says excitedly.

I smile, smoothing out the dress and actually enjoying how it feels on my frame.

“It’s a nice dress,” I tell her.

“Just know, I want to wear something similar at your wedding,” she teases.

“Don’t hold your breath,” I chuckle, taking off the gown in the changing room. There are no wedding plans in my immediate future.

“What happened with that Sebastian guy?”

“I’mglad you asked,” I say, gently folding the dress over my arm and heading out. “He’s actually accompanying me to your wedding.”

Annie raises an eyebrow.

“As a friend?” she asks.

“That’s a secret,” I say, hushing her.

“A someone-more-than-just-a-friend secret?”

I laugh, and she smiles knowingly.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” Annie says.

I head back home after a full day of shopping. I’ve run out of dry shampoo and am in desperate need of a hair wash.

The twenty minutes in the shower are well spent, allowing me to clear my head and gather my thoughts. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and it’s still not over.

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