Page 53 of Our Big White Lie
“Okay. Well. I didn’t want them because I’ve always known I’d want you as my maid of honor when I got married becausewho else in the world would I want for that? I can’t even pretend to put someone else in that spot. Not even for…” I gestured back at the hotel. “But I was stupid for ever thinking I’d want you as my maid of honor because that would mean I’m marrying somebody besides you.”
Tori’s chin quivered. “Really?”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. “I love you, Tori. I always have. Everyone always says you should marry your best friend, and…” I gestured at her. “Here you are.”
She stared at me, disbelief etched all over her tear-streaked face.
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know how I didn’t figure it out. Or how I didn’t catch a clue when you were willing to do all of”—I gestured at the venue—“this just to make my mom happy. And all the crap you’ve taken from your family because of us? Even when you weren’t getting anything out of it?” I exhaled and shook my head. “If I hadn’t already been in love with you, I would be now.”
“You… You were? Even before…?”
I nodded slowly, my own composure threatening to crack. “I didn’t know it until recently. I don’t know why. I just… I don’t know. If we hadn’t done this, then God only knows how long it would’ve taken me to figure it out, but I know it now.” I pushed back the lump in my throat. “I love you, Tori. For real.”
Her lips parted as she held my gaze, her eyes searching mine as if she didn’t quite believe me.
And then, just like she had in our kitchen that night not long ago, she moved in. One second we were staring at each other. The next…
Oh God.
In the kitchen, Tori’s kiss had stopped my world on a dime. Tonight, the soft touch of her lips put everything back into motion again. This wasn’t practice this time. It wasn’t a tentativerehearsal of something we had to do for cameras or wedding guests. It was…
It was everything.
Warm. Gentle. Passionate. No one had ever kissed me like Tori did right then, and no kiss had ever made my knees this weak. I held on to her both for balance and because Icould. Because her arms were around my neck, and sliding my hands around her waist was the most natural and perfect and sexy thing in the world.
How had I ever thought I belonged with any other woman than Tori? Because right now, no other woman existed but her. She was my whole world, and my God, she was kissing me like I was her whole world too. Just the thought of that had me ready to break down crying with relief and love and a million other emotions I couldn’t name.
It was Tori who finally broke the kiss, but she didn’t let me go. She touched her forehead to mine and stroked my cheek. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” I whispered. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize…”
Tori laughed softly. “Everyone’s been saying forever we’d be the perfect couple. Guess we were just the last to know.”
I laughed too and pulled her back in. This kiss was gentler and less loaded with all those emotions crashing in, but it was still intense and perfect.
Seriously—how did we go this long without crossing this line?
As I let her go, I said, “To tell you the truth, I didn’t think you were interested in me. You never flirted with me or anything, so…”
“You never flirted with me either.”
I straightened. “I… oh. I guess I…” Then I snorted and rolled my eyes. “All those times I’ve told my friends, ‘She’s flirting with you, dumbass’, and now look at us.”
Tori laughed, which was beautiful anyway, but such a relief after she’d been a wreck just minutes ago. “Good thing everyone already thinks we’re together, or we’d never hear the end of it.”
“We’re never going to hear the end of it anyway,” I said dryly. “They’ve been all ‘I told you so’ ever since we said we were dating.”
“True. Bullet dodged, I guess.” She paused. “So what do we do?” She motioned toward the hotel. “This isn’t a legal marriage, but it’s still a wedding, you know?” Her forehead creased. “We haven’t even dated yet.”
“No, but we’ve lived together.” I shrugged. “We’ve been in each other’s lives all this time…”
She chewed her lip. Then she laughed quietly. “My brother asked me a long time ago what exactly would be different if we were dating. Like what would change.” She snickered. “I asked him if he wanted me to spell that out, and he was like, eww, no, I don’t want to know.” Exhaling, Tori took my hand. “But now that I think about it… I mean, what would change?”
I considered it. Of course friendships and relationships were on different levels, but they were on a lot of the same ones too. “I think sex is about the only thing we haven’t done.”
Her blush was adorable. So was that shy smile. “I think you’re right.” She drew me back in. “We could, um…” She gulped. “We don’t have to rush into that part, but I’m… not opposed to it.”
The delicious frisson rippling up my spine almost made me gasp. “I’m not either. Something to look forward to, isn’t it?”
