Page 111 of Olivia's Only Pretending
I stepped closer to him. “Iknow. It’s perfect.”
“We took our photos out here,” he said proudly. “Em and Gabe even did their first look out here by the arch.”
“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire started pulsing through the speakers, filling the garden. Victor grinned immediately, reaching his hands for mine.
“Victor, Olivia, get out here,” Katie shouted from the middle of the bridal group, which was forming a big huddle on the dancefloor.
Terrence had his hands on her waist as she swayed to the beat.
Victor and I jogged over, hand in hand. Luis and his wife, Rachel, were dancing, hands in the air. I caught him giving Victor a nod of approval. Victor spun me into the center of the dance floor. Sweaty and happy, we danced.
The night unfurled before us with a fiery pink sunset overhead, twinkle lights shining.
A slow song by Tim McGraw came on next. Victor pulled me close, his warmth wrapping around me on this crisp evening. His hand was on my lower back, the other interlaced with mine. I looked up to find him grinning down at me. It made me grin right back. Joy bubbled in my veins like fizzy champagne.
“I love being the one you dance to the slow songs with,” Victor said, his voice a sweet rasp in my ear.
Goose bumps trailed down my neck.
The wordlovewas on the tip of my tongue. “Well …” I licked my lips, taking a beat, asking myself to be brave. “I love …you, Victor.” A lock on my heart fell open.
He pulled his head back quick as lightning. His eyes widened on mine, almost like he was wanting to check if he’d heard me right.
“I’m so in love with you,” I said through a giddy, relieved laugh. “I’ve thought it so many times now. I had to say it.”
“I’ve never known how to be anythingbutin love with you, Liv,” Victor said, stopping us in the middle of the dance floor. People danced around us. “I’ve thought it a thousand times, but I’ve wanted to wait until you were ready. I didn’t want to scare you. But I’m sure you, and everyone, can tell,I love you.”
My heart was bursting. I grabbed his suit jacket, pulling his mouth inches from mine. “I’m not scared. I’m sure of us. I’ve never felt as sure of anything in my life as I am of you and me.”
He planted his lips on mine, soft, tender. The music swelled around us. He lifted me up, with my feet dangling in the air for a moment. My body was pressed against his. His chest was warm and solid under me. He dropped my feet back to the ground, pulling apart from our kiss for a second, to look at me like he still couldn’t believe he got to hold me in his arms like this.
“What are you thinking?” I asked, the two of us starting to sway to the music again.
He shook his head. “I’m just … happy.”
I nestled my head against his chest, a breeze ruffling through the garden, through my hair. “Me too.”
It was as simple as that. I’d finally stopped pretending. Stopped fighting it. Let my guard down. Let my feelings out. Let him in. And let myself be vulnerably, wondrously, bravelyhappy.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
It was the first day of the fall semester, and it was my first class of the day. The classroom was already full of students as I walked in, with my ankle boots clicking through the room with each step. Over the past two years, I had developed a few popular classes that studied ancient history through the eyes of different forms of literature. This class was the original class that started the others: the romance class.
I greeted the room.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Rhodes.”
Setting my things down on the podium at the front of the lecture hall, I leafed through my paperwork and welcomed everyone to the class, having my student assistant hand out the syllabus.
I took the first five minutes of class to go over the syllabus, making note of the students in the front row who took notes eagerly, and the students in the back row who looked half awake. One guy was slumping so low, I could barely see him, and he had a hat tight over the top half of his face.Definitely hidingsomething,I thought to myself, my lips pursed.Probably a hangover.
“Any questions about the syllabus before we move on?” I asked the class, leaning against the podium. I didn’t even look up from my paperwork, studying my notes.
“I have a question.” A voice echoed through the lecture hall, vibrating against the walls. A voice I’d recognize anywhere.
I glanced up, searching the students to find the guy who was slumped in the back wasVictor,now sitting straight up, his arms crossed behind his head.
