Page 113 of Implode

“Thank you for accepting me,” she says softly.

“Thank you for giving me space to realize it is you that I want. I’m never letting you go.”

“Good. Because I play for keeps. And we both know how good I am at gambling.”

I laugh over the memory of her in Vegas. She definitely knows how to work a table. “You are worth the risk, baby.”

“I’ll be reminding you of that when I’m driving you nuts with all the stupid shit I’ll most likely do."

Placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, I tickle her sides. “No doubt.”

29

NIC

I finish spinning my girl for the bridal party dance and take my seat at the linen-covered table that faces the guest tables.

“Drink some more water,” I remind Claire. “I don’t want you lightheaded again.”

“So bossy.”

“You like it.”

She leans into me. “No, I like your cock inside me, and in order for that to happen, I need to accept the less thrilling parts of you. Which means I have to learn to deal with your jealousy, possessiveness, and poor understanding of how I like to drive.”

I want to kiss the smirk right off her lips and pull her away just to show her how much my cock worships her, but the DJ’s voice cuts through the crowd, silencing everyone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to the father of the bride, who is going to say a few words to his daughter and son-in-law.”

Everyone claps as he makes his way to the center of the dance floor and turns his attention toward Angie. The DJ hands him the microphone and smacks hands with him in an encouraging gesture.

“For those of you who don't know me, I am Angie’s dad. I have made a lot of mistakes in my lifetime, Angie, but marrying your mother was not one of them. She embodied everything good in this world, and I am so glad that you were able to get to know her for as long as you did before she passed. You and your brother, James, enthralled her and were her pride and joy. Your mother wrote this letter the day before she took her last breath. She wrote a letter for you and one for James. James has his letter buried with him. I have been holding onto yours until the day you married the man of your dreams. I made a promise to your mother that I would ensure that you would not settle for anything less than what you deserved. And I am honored to say that I held up my vow to her.”

Angie’s dad clears his throat and takes a sip of his water, obviously trying to cover the fact that he wants to cry. I look over at my girl and she has tears cascading down her cheeks. I touch her thigh and hand her a napkin. We just finished up dinner, and while the cake is getting cut, we are doing the speeches that we prepared.

“I’m going to read the letter as my speech, because your mom always had a way with words and because it was one of her last requests that I am honored to fulfill. ‘Dearest Angela, from the first moment I realized I was pregnant with you, I would dream about all of your future milestones. Your first word, your first step, your first boo-boo. I would think about how happy I would be to watch you graduate. I knew without any doubt that you would make me proud—just for being you. I would dream about the day you would say vows to the man you love. I watched you grow. You were always so feisty as a toddler. My little sweet and sour girl. I know life is not going to be easy for you after I go. I know you are going to struggle. And while I have bargained with God to give me more time here, I know that it is inevitable that I am going to miss some of your milestones. Just know that I am with you—even if not in the physical sense. Know that I love you, am proud of you, and rejoice in the day that you fall head over heels and marry the guy of your dreams.’”

Boxes of tissues are passed around, and the sound of noses blowing fills up the space.

“I think I’m next,” Claire chokes out, emotion flooding through her body.

“You’ll do great. Just breathe.”

When Claire’s name is announced to speak next, I help pull out her chair and squeeze her hand in encouragement.

“Hi. I’m Claire,” she says with a wave. “I met Angie when I moved from the East Coast to attend River Valley University. We were two different people who were both looking for fresh starts. Angie, I knew early on that we were going to be best friends. You always try to see the good in people, and it is through your perseverance that you taught me so many things. You taught me that life is too short. When we put off things for tomorrow, we are really gambling with time. You taught me to hug those I love, to be bold with how I use my words, and that challenges in life are just learning opportunities. I miss cohabitating with you, but I get why things have changed. Enter Graham. From the moment we first met, I knew you had your eyes set on my best friend. I get why we didn’t get along at our first encounter. Or the second. Or the third.” The guests laugh over her exaggerated way of saying the words slowly. “Maybe we are too much alike. Once I saw how protective and kind you were toward Angie, I knew that I was going to eventually have to say goodbye to the notion of seeing her as just mine. While I typically don’t like to share, I will make this exception for you. You bring a joy to her life and a stability that she needs to flourish and grow. Thank you for being there for her when she needed someone who wasn’t afraid of the hard work it took to get her to today. I get that she can be difficult and challenging and stubborn—”

“Hey!” Angie speaks up, making a face at Claire.

“We both know it’s true, Angie. It’s part of your charm.” Angie breaks out into a smile and Claire continues with her speech. “Anyhoo, if anyone is up for this task, it is you, Graham. You have breathed life into my friend, and I will forever be thankful to you. However, if you do her wrong—in any way—I will cut you, watch you bleed out, and then bury your body.” Claire waits for the eruption of laughter to stop and then she raises up her glass of sparkling water that she is white knuckling, probably from performance anxiety. “Cheers to the married couple. May your lives be full of belly laughs, crazy stories, and endless milestones. I love you both and wish you nothing but happiness.”

“Hear, hear!” the guests filling the ballroom chant.

“Next up is the brother of the groom, Nic Hoffman,” the DJ announces.

I wait until Claire is back at the table. I pull out her chair for her to sit and run a hand over her bare shoulder. “You did amazing, baby.”

“Thank you,” she exhales. “Just glad it’s over.”

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