Page 97 of Take Me to the Wedding

“What’s that?”

“You.”

She kissed me as the sun was setting past the backstop on this fine summer evening. Maybe tonight we’d hang out and watch the stars. Or scour the internet for new apartments. Or just hang out and read or watch TV. The possibilities were endless, because our future together was just beginning.

* * *

Samantha

Four months later

“Wanna dance?” Caleb smiled at me as he tossed his napkin onto the elegant white-tablecloth-covered table.

“Of course.” It was New Year’s Eve—our last one in Milwaukee. This spring, I was going to start working full time in Oak Bluff, after having gotten Wynn’s blessing, of course. After all, she loved it there too—Beth and Steven had essentially adopted both of us.

Besides, Caleb and I were going to start house hunting soon, and I was already planning on finding one with a cute bedroom just for Wynn. Just so that she knew beyond a doubt—and I felt certain that she did—that she would always be welcome, no matter where she was or how old or in what stage of life.

Caleb led me onto the dance floor, which was crowded with couples of all ages dressed up in their New Year’s Eve finery.

As we danced a couples’ dance, he checked his watch, seeming a little nervous. It was sweet to bring me here, to this fancy place that cost a fortune, so that he could redeem himself at midnight, he’d said. I would’ve been happy with a pizza and a movie, but he’d insisted. I knew he wanted to make certain that we didn’t miss that midnight kiss.

I think it was on his bucket list for us to have a fun New Year’s Eve.

He’d been anxious all through dinner, repeatedly checking his watch, tapping his fingers on the table, tugging on his tie. Granted, he didn’t often wear a tie, so putting one on was a big deal.

It had crossed my mind that he might have something bigger in mind than a kiss at midnight, but that started making mereallynervous, and I didn’t want to lose the enjoyment of this moment. So I tried not to think of it, even as my heart started a heavy, rapid thud in my chest.

Then “It Had to Be You” started playing. The Harry Connick Jr. version, just like inWhen Harry Met Sally.

“Let’s dance,” he said, his voice full of anticipation.

“It’s nearly midnight,” I noted. When we were finally on the dance floor, I said, “I think Harry and Sally danced to this song.”

“They didn’t dance. They fought to this song. And then the countdown was over, so they missed the midnight kiss too.”

“Well, we’re definitely not going to.” I smiled, half because I couldn’t have been happier and half because I wanted to reassure him of that. I decided that even if he was planning to ask me The Question, he probably wouldn’t do it during the dance at midnight.

Would he?

For a little while, we danced cheek to cheek. My heart was overwhelmed with joy. I didn’t care about fancy dinners, and I had no stress about missing a midnight kiss. After all, I could have kisses from him whenever I wanted them. I had Caleb. And he was all I wanted.

He pulled back a little to look at me. He looked so broad-shouldered, so intensely handsome, that I would’ve gladly skipped midnight and gone home with him right then. “Do you remember that once you asked me how a person knows someone’s the right person?”

Uh oh. “I think at the time I was asking how you knewLillywas the One.”

Things were starting to add up in my mind. The fancy evening out, his insistence that we dance right then and there, and now this sketchy attempt at reminding me of relationships. Something big felt about to happen.

As I pressed my cheek against his, he said, “Okay, forget the Lilly part, but I remember how I answered. I said that your true love is someone who gets you. Who has your back no matter what. Who you miss when you’re not with them, because you find yourself wanting to tell them all the little things that happen throughout your day. Who’s kind and smart and fun.”

It had taken zero time for tears to gather. When I drew back, I found that Caleb was looking directly into my eyes. His expression was hopeful. Expectant. And full of love. “That about says it all,” I said, my voice cracking.

“Not all,” he said.

The music stopped. “Ten, nine,” began a loud chanting chorus around us.

“That’s you, Samantha. You’re the One.”

My vision blurred as the tears leaked down my cheeks. The noise around us muted, and suddenly Caleb was slipping out of my hands.

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