Page 75 of The Best Man
He twirls me around, and I laugh. It’s one of the many moves we learned at our ballroom dancing class. Bets and Duncan got us into it and now we’re kind of hooked.
“So, Molly Grace Randall, is this the best day of your life, or what? Obviously, right next to the day we met.”
“Obviously. And, yes, it’s incredible.” I smile.
“Wait, do I hear a but in there? Damn it. I guess I should have listened to Nick, and we should have released lanterns. I just figured that this crowd and fire wouldn’t mix.”
I laugh. “You made the right call, Handsome. It’s just that, I don’t know. You’re doing all of this for me. You’re giving up your idea of forever, just so I can have mine. But what am I giving up?”
He holds me close and tips up my chin. “Nothing, Molls. Because it’s not about giving things up. Look what I’m getting—you. And that’s more important than any piece of paper I’ve ever signed or any piece of jewelry I’ve ever owned.”
How could I possibly love this man anymore? I don’t know, but I know I need to show him how much I adore him. I dance us a little closer to Dunc’s deejay setup, and my friend hands me the mic.
The music stops, and all eyes are on us—me and the man I love.
“Ev,” I begin. “Don’t get too excited, Handsome. I’m not about to propose or anything.” Our friends laugh and so does Ev. “I just want to say, in front of our family and friends, that I am committed to you, that I love you, and that I can’t imagine being not-married to anyone else.”
He reaches for my hand, and, what I think is a tender moment, turns out to be Ev stealing my mic.
“Molly Grace, I just want to say, in front of our family and friends, that I adore you, and I’ll never steal your purse and attempt to cross state lines.”
I laugh, knowing Trick and Duncan and Nick must have filled him in on the whole Kyle debacle.
“Everett Marc, I promise to always squeeze the toothpaste tube from the bottom,” I say, leaning in to wrap my arms around his waist.
“Molls, I swear I’ll always leave the toilet seat up, but only because I’ll forget.”
“Ev, I promise to help you find things, especially when you’re standing right in front of them.”
Ev leans into the mic, but Nic swipes it from his hand. Oh, Lord. All hell’s about to break loose. “I just want to take a moment to say that I am ordained by the church of the Internet, so…”
And, of course, Dunc pipes in. “Jesus, Nicky. Have some goddamn respect for their boundaries.”
Simon shakes his head and takes the mic from Dunc’s hand, and I lean back into Ev’s embrace, just content to enjoy the show.
“All kidding aside, I hope you two are every bit as happy as Elaine and I—”
Before he can finish that sentence, Gav comes from out of nowhere (or, more likely, the bar), takes the mic and says, “Molly, Ev, I hope your non-marriage turns out a hell of a lot better than my real marriage.”
Yea. So, that effectively ends the toasting portion of our non-wedding. And I, for one, can’t wait to hear that story.
