Page 73 of How Sweet It Is

My heart tightens in my chest, and I glance at Claire. Things between us certainly are complicated. Everyone’s calling her Amelia, after all. But my feelings for her have grown over the past few weeks. Have they grown into something real?

I look back at Tobias as he keeps talking. “You taught me that it’s okay to let go, to lean in, to trust that someone’s not going to leave just because life gets hard. You are my joy. My peace. My chaos. My calm. And I vow to never stop being the man whomakes you laugh, who holds your hand through the mess, and who shows up, even when I’m grumpy.”

Another round of chuckles spread through the crowd. We all know Tobias’s resting face is grumpy.

“I promise to protect what we have, to grow with you, and to never, ever doubt the power of two pennies and a prayer. You brought light into my life, Kiki. And I will spend every day making sure you never forget just how brightly you shine.”

My throat is tight as I watch them kiss. Even Micah is wiping at his eyes behind his long hair. Savannah’s clutching Noah’s hand like she might float away otherwise. Claire… She’s frozen, blinking fast. But her eyes are fixed on Kiki like she’s memorizing her.

I look at the photographer, some peppy woman with a giant camera and zero chill who’s circling the ceremony like it’s the Met Gala. I spot her lens shift toward Claire, probably capturing the emotion in the crowd.

I turn Claire’s face toward me. She cannot be in any of the photos. Not when there’s a chance one will get leaked online. She told me that creep is under house arrest, but I don’t trust him or his men.

The crowd claps as Tobias and Kiki kiss, sealing the moment, and Skyler bounces in her chair like she’s just won a prize.

Everyone stands. The feeling in my chest swells.

I lean toward Claire, keeping my voice low. “You okay?”

She nods but doesn’t say anything and just swipes quickly at one cheek.

I angle myself slightly in front of her when the photographer swings her lens back toward the guests, subtly stepping into the frame. Claire gives me a small, grateful look.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur.

And for the first time, I realize I want to keep having her. Not for a night. Not for a joke. For real.

Forever suddenly doesn’t feel so scary.

It feels possible.

The ceremony’sbarely over before the photographer’s rallying the troops like she’s leading a battlefield charge.

“Okay! Let’s get thewhole familyfirst!”

She claps like we’re a kindergarten class and starts pointing people into place with the confidence of someone who has wrangled toddlers and uncles with beer bellies before.

“Bride’s family on this side, groom’s family on that side, partners next to your dates. Let’sgo, people!”

Claire’s hand tightens around her clutch like it’s a weapon.

I lean in. “Thinking of bolting?”

“Thinking of hiding in the bathroom,” she mutters. “If I hide behind Skyler’s fort, think no one will notice me?”

“You underestimate how pretty you look today,” I say with a grin.

She narrows her eyes at me. “That’s not helping.”

I slip my hand around her waist, guiding her backward a step as the photographer ushers people into frame. “All right. Let the magician work.”

“Magician?”

“I’m going to make you disappear,” I whisper, scanning the shrubbery for a hiding spot. I walk her over to a hedge. “Now duck.”

“What?”

“Now!”

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