Page 134 of Merry Me
From him. From us. From our future.
I wasn’t going to let a man on the edge of a photo frame undo what we’d built in the quiet hours and breathless moments and kisses that meant something more than promises whispered too late.
Paige stood tall in the center of the group, radiant and glowing and brave in her own way. And I was proud of her. For making peace in the way she needed to.
But I didn’t need that anymore.
My peace had come in other forms. In the steady hum of Easton’s voice. In the soft weight of his palm. In the way he looked at me like I was something he’d never stop waiting for.
So I smiled, really smiled, and I looked forward. Toward the lens. Toward the light.
And let them take the picture without me looking back.
CHAPTER 25
NATALIE
Later, after the speeches were done and Paige got frosting on her nose and Levi kissed it off without hesitation, the two of them obviously trying to secure a spot as the cutest couple around…the DJ dimmed the lights.
The mood in the room shifted.
Gone was the high-energy buzz of clinking glasses and cake-cutting chaos. In its place was something softer. More serene. The fireplace crackled, throwing shadows up the stone like they were dancing to their own secret beat. The music changed. Something smooth and swoony.
I made a quick exit to the edge of the room and sank into one of the velvet chairs lining the wall. My heels—gorgeous, strappy little devils—had officially declared war on my feet. They made me look hot…but they also were trying to kill me. So, I tugged one off with a muffled groan, then the other, tossing both under the chair with zero remorse.
“Don’t move,” Easton murmured beside me, brushing a kiss to my temple before heading off toward the bar. “I’m getting us champagne.”
I smiled as I watched his gorgeous ass walk away, my feet already sighing in relief.
Then I pulled out my phone. Time to give my girls an update.
Me: If I get pulled into one more photo, I’m faking a sprained ankle and crawling out the back window.
Riley: Please do. Bonus points if you scream “MY TIME HERE IS DONE” on the way out.
Casey: Wait…you’re still taking pictures?? There’s cake. There’s a hot man. What are you doing?
Me: First of all, the cake is gone. MeMaw took the last slice and said, “I birthed the bride’s mother—I’ve earned this frosting.” Second of all…the man is currently fetching me more champagne like the good boy he is.
Riley: STOP! Did you decide on that satin dress? The one that makes men forget their middle names…
Me: Confirmed. It’s doing 80% of the flirting for me right now.
Casey: And the other 20% is what? Your soulful glances across the dance floor?
Me: Obviously. Also I may have just winked. WHO AM I?
Casey: YOU’RE THE MAIN CHARACTER, BABY.
Riley: Go get him. Grab his hand. Pull a full Jane Austen moment. We expect a dramatic slow dance and at least one moment of tension so thick you could cut it with MeMaw’s salad fork.
Me: Funny you mention that. MeMaw did threaten someone with a salad fork earlier. Her waiter tried to grab her soup before the bowl was empty.
Me: Also, Easton’s walking over right now.
Me: And…I think it’s time for me to say the four letter word.
Me: And I don’t mean “fuck”.
