Page 112 of Friendshipped
Trevor
Lexi loves me?
She loves me!
She texted TJ to call things off because she’s in love with me. Only now I have acted like I was a different guy and she confessed her feelings for me to me not knowing it was me. Are you following all that? Because I just barely am.
I can only hope when she realizes I’m TJ, and sees why I went to the lengths of getting on the app, my motives will overshadow any feeling she has of being duped.
I don’t even have time to process all my concerns because she’s walking toward me with a look of fierce determination in her eyes.
The dress is admittedly over the top, but she makes me forget the feathers and the peacock print in a heartbeat because the look in her eyes is one I’ve only imagined being on the receiving end of. She looks like a woman on a mission. And as crazy as this is, I’m her mission.
“Thank you for waiting,” Lexi says as she approaches the table.
I stand and pull out her chair.
“I didn’t expect you to have much time to spare today,” I assure her.
“Well, I’m mostly all yours now,” she says.
All mine. She will be after today if I have anything to say about it.
She dips her head a little, that shyness she falls into captures my heart as if everything between us is new. She’s all I want.
“I’ve got to dance with Joseph, give my speech, and then I’m free for the rest of the night.”
Joseph is the groomsman who’s paired with Lexi in the wedding party. I’d pay the guy a Benjamin to take his place, but I’ve been patient this long. I can wait another half-hour. Barely. Now that I know we’re standing on the precipice of everything I’ve ever wanted with Lexi, a half-hour feels infinite.
The DJ announces Mr. and Mrs. Lucci and Felicia and Gregg come onto the dance floor. We all clap and watch them dance. I let my hand drift to the back of Lexi’s chair which is turned slightly so she can see her sister more clearly.
My fingers brush lightly across Lexi’s back. Her shoulders are fully exposed in this dress since the bodice has spaghetti straps. I watch a trail of goosebumps rise on her skin everywhere my fingers have drifted. I want to leave my hand on her, giving her small caresses, but I know the revelation of our feelings has to go at her pace, so I show the restraint of a man dedicating his life to the priesthood.
After the first dance, Lexi’s dad blesses the food and we are all served steak and potatoes with green beans by high school students from Bordeaux High. We eat and then everyone toasts the couple. Felicia and Gregg take the dance floor while the wedding party joins them to kick off the dancing.
My eyes follow Lexi’s every move. The whole time she’s dancing, she constantly looks over Joseph’s shoulders or past his chest depending on which way they are facing. Her eyes seek mine at every turn. I can barely believe this is happening.
Finally, the wedding party clears the dance floor. Lexi walks over to our table and our eyes meet.
“May I have this dance?” I ask her.
My heart has lodged in my throat.
I ask myself if I could have imagined her texts to TJ. This all feels so surreal.
“I’d love a dance,” Lexi says, looking up at me with an expression I’ve never seen on her face before.
I’ve observed her face my whole life. I’ve known her happy, sad, angry, confused, and every emotion between. I’ve never seen this look. It’s desire, want, and something more.
Love.
Lexi loves me and it’s written all over her beautiful face.
I place my hand on the small of her back and lead her out to the dance floor. We take a spot toward the middle of the crowd. A fast song is wrapping up and Adele’sMake You Feel My Lovestarts playing as I draw Lexi into my arms.
We’re surrounded by family and friends, but all I feel is her.
She leans into me and we sway together. I brush the fingers of my hand holding hers across her knuckles and she looks up at me. I bend low so our cheeks can touch. Lexi turns toward me and brushes the lightest ghost of a kiss across my jawline. It’s almost imperceptible, yet my entire body and soul feels the impact of her kiss. That kiss is like the drop of a flag at Nascar.
