Page 81 of Faking it with the Green Beret

She nodded and faked a smile. To keep from breaking into tears, she diverted her gaze to watch Nate and Cecilia dance. The pair stared adoringly into each other’s eyes, reminding her of what she couldn’t have. Not when something as innocent as a dance move had her on the verge of a full-blown panic attack.

ChapterForty-Three

UNFORGETTABLE – Nat King Cole

After cuttingthe cake and lots more dancing, including every line dance Elizabeth had ever learned, the party wound down. The DJ interrupted the music and called all the couples to the dance floor for the anniversary dance.

“What’s that?” John asked.

“It’s a newer tradition to replace the bouquet and garter toss. All the couples start the dance, and it’s whittled down until the pair together longest are left and give marital advice. It’s sweet.”

“I don’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed that I don’t get to watch these women fight for the bouquet.” He held out a hand. “Come on. We’re a couple.”

The dance floor quickly filled up and John held her close as “Everything I Do” played. Maybe it was the alcohol that had lowered her body’s instinct to view him as a threat, but she relaxed as he effortlessly took small steps to keep from bumping into other people.

“Any couples that have been together less than a year, take a seat,” the DJ prompted.

“Dang,” John sighed and nodded back toward their table.

The crowd quickly thinned as the DJ sent couples of less than two, five, ten, and twenty years off by the end of the second song. A handful of couples danced and John crooned along to “Unforgettable.”

After the song concluded, only Nate’s and Cecilia’s grandparents remained with fifty-plus years of marriage. The DJ asked them to share their best marital tips.

“Considering how things started with all those women, don’t ever call her the wrong name,” Nate’s grandfather started, eliciting laughter throughout the room.

“He never did that, though he did have lots of girlfriends before me. He still makes me laugh, and typically listens to me. He occasionally needs a reminder.” Nate’s grandmother looked at her husband, who gave a sheepish shrug. “Good communication is a key to success.”

“I’ll remember that, Gram,” Nate said.

“Don’t criticize her cooking unless you’re willing to fix dinner yourself,” Cecilia’s grandfather added.

“Or order takeout,” a woman in a sequined gown more appropriate for a red-carpet event called out from a nearby table. The former contestants seated with her laughed, and the newlyweds whispered to each other before Cecilia’s grandmother shared her advice.

Then the bride and groom took turns dancing with their grandparents before the floor opened up to others again.

* * *

After the last dance,Katie and a young boy passed out sparklers to guests who formed a path leading from the tent to a limo SUV. John and the other groomsmen lit the sparklers as fireworks shot into the air and gave the guests a show.

A cameraman filmed Nate and Cecilia as they passed between the two lines of guests.

“That’s something you don’t see at every wedding.” John watched the wedding couple kiss with fireworks exploding in the background.

Elizabeth could clearly see Nate and Cecilia’s faces. The two had their own fireworks going off between them. Nate paused before opening the door. “Promise me no crying in the limo.”

Cecilia gave a delightful laugh. “Definitely no crying.” She kissed Nate again.

The fireworks died out as the limo pulled away. Elizabeth trailed at John’s side as he walked around, lighting more sparklers for the kids and gathering the spent ones in a bucket. Bridesmaids passed out shimmering drawstring bags. John set the bucket down and opened his bag. He held up two cookies shaped and decorated like rosebuds. The first red iced cookie had “She said Yes” written on it, and the second cookie had “They said I Do” in white icing.

“Which do you want?” John held them out.

Elizabeth accepted the “I Do” cookie.

John took a bite of the other, his gaze fixed on her face. He picked up the bucket and completed his pass, collecting sparklers and saying goodbye to Katie and the groomsmen.

Most of the guests had already headed to their cars. However, a large group she guessed was associated withSay Yes to the Rosecongregated near a limousine passenger bus.

“John, are you riding back with us?” Shelby’s blonde sidekick asked.

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