Page 155 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

“Second least favorite? I got an upgrade?”

“Dominik is making me nuts. You look like you’re about to puke.”

“I might,” I admit.

“Well, if you’re going to do it, do it now. Not when you’re standing in front of all those people.” He walks over to me, circling like he’s inspecting me. “You clean up pretty good.”

“Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself, Dad.”

He scoffs. Something he does every time I call him Dad. Which is probably why I do it so frequently. A lot of things have changed in our dynamic, but one thing has not—I still get under his skin like no one else. And I still enjoy doing it just as much.

Once he finishes circling me, he stops in front, smoothing down my lapels before patting me on the shoulders roughly. “Look, I don’t want to get all sappy. I already did that with Milly, and I don’t have it in me to do it twice. But I want you to know that I love you.”

His words are so unexpected that it takes me a minute to really register what he’s said.

“Well, don’t look so shocked, son,” he adds.

But Iamshocked. “I’m just … wow. You totally—I didn’t—wow.”

“It’s a good thing you’re not giving any speeches tonight,” he says. “You suck at them. And you shouldn’t be so surprised by family telling you they love you.”

I stare down at my shoes. They’re so shiny I can see the recessed lights reflected near my toes. But there’s a scuff on the left one, and I bend, trying to buff it out with my fingertip. It only makes smudges. One tear falls with a tiny splat on the shoe, and I rub that around. It works better.

“What are you doing?” Coach asks.

“My shoe is dirty.” I stand, sliding my sweaty palms down my pants and sniffling.

Coach is frowning at me. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

I shake my head. “I only just now realized that I don’t know the last time my dad told me that.”

Now, he’s the one looking upset. Or like he might puke. But what Coach does is pull me into a hug. Not for too long. Because he may like me better than he did, and he may love me, but I still bug him more than anyone else.

“Thank you for trusting me with your daughter, sir.”

He nods. Sniffs. Wipes one eye. “Thank you for helping her fly.”

The deejay started playing slow songs in a steady stream about twenty minutes ago, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with putting a stop to Tucker’s twerking. It seems to be his only move, and the man sure has endurance. But it’s hard to twerk to “Unchained Melodies.”

Something I’m grateful for.

Mills snuggles closer, yawning into my neck. “Is it time to go yet? I think I’m weddinged out.”

I glance around the room, a historic theater turned reception hall in the older part of Harvest Hollow. There are more than a few couples swaying like we are, plus a few still seated at tables around the room. But it’s mostly just a few stragglers—our closest friends. We decided not to do a big send-off, so we can go any time before midnight, which is how long we rented the space.

A lot of the guys are still here, though a few of the couples left an hour or two ago. Morgan is flirting shamelessly with Wyatt, who is doing his best impression of those British guards who aren’t allowed to react to anything. I think that’swhyshe’s flirting with him—Amelia’s best friend likes a challenge.

Parker and Logan are making out in a corner behind a large potted plant, which hides nothing. Summer and Alec are having some kind of intense conversation, with Nathan glowering next to her.Thatlooks fun.

Coach is saying goodbye to his brother and Becky—two people I didn’t particularly want to invite. But both Mills and her dad wanted to make peace. Things are tentative, but they’re here. It helps that Becky sincerely apologized to Amelia. And she isn’t dating Drew any longer.

It's wild to think about the two of them. What they did was awful. But if they hadn’t done it, I might not be here.

“How about after this song?” I suggest, giving Amelia’s earlobe a tiny bite.

She giggles, then yawns again. “Okay. Can I make a request?”

“Anything.” I trail my lips along her neck.

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