Page 141 of Meet Me in the Valley
An upbeat song kicks in, and everyone instinctively pairs off.
“Get over here, Mouse,” Donovan rasps, wrapping his arms around Audrey’s waist as she squeals and melts into him.
“You’re with me, Belle,” Jackson drawls, crooking a finger at Isabel. She and I share a knowing look before she places her hand in his and lets him lead her to the center of the floor.
Wyatt even brought a date tonight, much to our surprise. Caroline. An elementary school teacher with the sweetest French bob I only wish I could pull off. He looks totally smitten, leaning in to whisper something that makes her giggle. They’re disgustingly cute.
“Don’t leave me hanging, Tia. I know you’ve got the moves,” Kerry grins, grabbing both my hands and pulling me toward the group.
I throw my head back and laugh when he shamelessly shimmies his ass against me, making a scene.
For a moment, surrounded by laughter and joy that lives in snapshots, my stomach falls slightly. Because even in all this magic, my heart longs for Logan.
Audrey and Isabel dance their way over, instantly picking up on the shift in my mood. Without a word, they loop their arms around me, pulling me in as we sway to the music and belt out the lyrics into the open sky.
We dance for what seems like forever until my feet protest from these heels and the champagne bubbles tickle my throat and make my head swim. It’s a perfect buzz.
I glance down at my watch. Five minutes to midnight.
The band makes an announcement, rallying the crowd to get ready for the countdown. Servers weave through the dance floor with trays of champagne, handing out fresh glasses to anyone within reach.
Maybe I can sneak away and call Logan. The ache to hear his voice pulls tight in my chest, quickening my pulse.
I turn toward Audrey, who’s draped around Donovan’s neck, and tap her arm.
“Hey, I’m gonna call Logan real quick. My phone’s inside.”
“Okay, babe. Hurry back, though! I wanna kiss you at midnight,” she croons, her eyes a little glazed from all the champagne, grinning like she means it.
“Not before I kiss you first, Mouse,” Donovan adds, catching her bottom lip gently between his teeth.
It’s playful, intimate, and it hits me like a punch to the gut. And a little to the vagina.
God, I miss my man.
As I make my way inside, I dodge the trays of bubbly, cutting myself off before I end up completely off my face. I find my clutch tucked safely away in Donovan’s dad’s office and pull out my phone to call Logan.
Three minutes to midnight.
He picks up on the second ring.
“Hey, T.” He’s breathless, like he’s been running.
“Hey, Lo. Are you okay?”
“I’m great. Just … missing you.”
I hug myself with my free arm, closing my eyes for a second and letting his voice wrap around me. It’s warm and grounding and exactly what I needed.
“I miss you so much,” I whisper. “I wish you were here.”
It hits harder than I expected. The tears come fast, right behind the words, but I blink them back. It’s been a whirlwind of a day, and somehow I haven’t spoken to Logan once until now. I don’t even know what his plans were tonight. Normally we’d find a bar or crash a co-worker’s party.
Still, I know one thing for sure: there’s no one else he’s kissing at midnight.
“I wish I was there too, baby,” he says softly. “I bet you look absolutely stunning tonight, turning heads left and right.”
I laugh, already walking back toward the sound of the crowd outside. Donovan promised some over-the-top firework show as soon as the clock hits midnight.
