Page 15 of Dash to Me
“Out of your league? Yeah, I think it’s the other way around.”
I take her hand in mine. “And now?”
“Terrified. This changes everything about our dynamic. What if changes things for you and my brother?”
I kiss her knuckles. “Baby, your brother doesn’t seem to care, and what if we look back in twenty years and laugh about this moment?”
“You see yourself with me in twenty years?”
She has no idea how long I’ve been waiting for my chance. And I’m damn sure not going to give up on us so quick. Doubts or not. “I see myself gray and old with you, Ev. Always have. Even if it ended up just as friends.”
An announcement by the DJ for the cake cutting cuts our moment short. “We should get back.”
She nods, and I help her up from the bench. Before we head inside, I pull her close for a moment, breathing her in. “This isn’t over, okay? Promise me we’ll finish this conversation.”
“I promise,” she whispers against my chest. “But right now, duty calls.”
We slip back into the reception hall just as Ryan and Jenna take their positions by the wedding cake. I find my place near them, fulfilling my best man responsibilities. The photographer motions for the perfect shot as they grasp the knife together.
The crowd counts down. “Three! Two! One!”
They slice through the bottom tier—the one we rescued hours earlier—and the room erupts in applause. I catch Ev’s eye across the room and can’t help but smile. If not for our mad dash, this moment wouldn’t exist.
After the cake is served, I give my speech. I tell stories about Ryan growing up, about his and Jenna’s love story, raising my glass to toast their future. My eyes find Ev as I speak about recognizing true love when you see it, and I wonder if anyone notices the undercurrent in my words.
The reception shifts into full party mode. The dance floor fills, the open bar keeps busy, and I circulate through thecrowd, making small talk with relatives and old friends. But my awareness of Ev never fades—I track her movements across the room. When I finally get a moment, I grab two glasses of water and find her chatting with one of the bridesmaids.
“Mind if I steal her for a minute?” I ask, offering Ev the water.
The bridesmaid gives us a knowing look. “Not at all.”
I lead Ev to a quiet corner. “Having fun?”
“Actually, yes. But I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She takes a sip of water, her lipstick leaving a faint mark on the glass. “Twenty years is a long time.”
“Not long enough if it’s with the right person.”
She studies my face. “Are you sure about this? About us? Because once we step over this line?—”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” I set my glass down on a nearby table. “Look, I know the timing is complicated. I know there’s your job offer in Chicago and mine possibly here. I know there are a thousand reasons why this could be difficult. But I also know that I’ve wanted this—wanted you—for longer than I’ve been willing to admit, even to myself.”
Her eyes soften. “That night in the snowstorm... I waited for you to call.”
“I should have. God, I should have.” I run a hand through my hair, messing up what little styling I’d managed earlier. “I convinced myself you were just being nice, that it didn’t mean anything to you.”
“It meant everything.”
The DJ announces the last dance of the night. Without asking, I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor. This time, we don’t hide at the edges. I pull her close as the slow song begins, one hand at the small of her back, the other clasping hers against my chest.
“We have terrible timing,” she murmurs, her head resting against my shoulder.
“Or perfect timing,” I counter. “Maybe we needed all those years, all those missed chances, to be ready for this moment.”
She lifts her head to look at me. “What about Chicago?”
“We’ll figure it out. I’m not letting you slip away again.”
The song ends too soon again, and the lights come up. Around us, guests begin gathering their belongings, saying goodbyes, hugging the newlyweds.
