Page 94 of Second Chance Vacation

“Savannah’s idea. And let’s be real, I’m not exactly great at telling her no.”

Savannah wraps her arms around Wes’s middle, and despite the event shifting, he looks calmer than I’ve seen him in weeks. Unsure of if it is due to the wedding finally happening or that he’s no longer sitting on a secret, I turn to Wes. “What do you need us to do?”

“Just…here.”

Wes hands me a box holding two wedding bands, one thick and silver and the other dainty and diamond encrusted. I shove the ring box in my pocket, along with my hand, rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet.

Two, what I’m assuming to be employees, walk by with an elaborately decorated arch, placing it in the middle of the space framed in tables. Guests are asked to find their seats, but Gen and I are requested to stay up by the couple. I didn’t anticipate Wes and Savannah’s wedding to be so impromptu, but as I look around at the love in this room, I am reminded that that’s really all you need.

Friends, family, and someone to love.

A twinge pulls in my chest at that reminder.

The wedding service commences as the officiant announces them, Mr. and Mrs. Buckley. Savannah’s eyes are misty, as are Wes’s, as he pulls her into his arms, planting an arguably inappropriate kiss on her lips. We cheer, the room goes wild, and a false smile falls on my lips.

I am so happy for them, but as I look to the maid of honor, whose eyes are already on mine, my stomach sinks to the floor.

As quickly as the arch is there, it is gone again, leaving the dance floor from before open and ready for use.

“Now—for the happy couple’s first dance…” Sage speaks into the microphone as the officiant hands it off, a look of pure glee on her face.

Wes leads Savannah to the center of the dance floor, a look of absolute adoration on his face. His grin is quite possibly the happiest I’ve ever seen my best friend, and I am so happy about it.

“Go—” Sage bumps my arm, pushing me toward the dance floor.

“What? No.”

“Savannah specifically asked that you and Gen dance with them.”

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

I shake my head as Wes’s eyes flick to me. Without dissolving the smile from his face, he nods at me as Sage pushes me out onto the dance floor. My front meets Gen’s in an instant as I instinctively reach up and grab her arm in an effort to prevent her fall.

“Hey—” I say with a sigh as she finds her footing again.

“Hey.”

Gen smiles, and I can’t help the jump my stomach does. Without a word, she places her hand in my own and the other on my shoulder. Without a second thought, my hand snakes up to rest on her lower back, the soft touch of the velvet grounding me despite the sour stomach I have.

“Jackson—” Gen whispers, forcing my eyes to meet hers.

I try to play it cool, attempting to seem as chill as possible. Unsure if my thoughts are written on my face, I tilt my head down, diverting my gaze from hers. As if she can read my thoughts, Gen snakes her hand from my shoulder to tilt my chin back to meet her eyes, forcing me to look at her. The angry, timid Gen from the other day is gone, and I’m unsure of what I’m looking at.

“Jackson…” Gen repeats herself.

“Gen, I’m so—”

“Jackson!” she raises her voice, but not in an angry way.

“What?”

Despite my efforts to keep my anxiety at bay, my attitude seeps through my demeanor, she doesn’t react. Actually, she does the opposite of what I expect.

The corners of her lips turn up slightly before pulling into the smile I've grown to love endlessly over the years. Before I realize it, my hand on the small of her back is pulling her closer to me, bringing her flush with my front.

Gen’s grin, infectious as it is, has my head spinning, and I need desperately to know what put it there.

“What are you thinking about?” I lean down, pressing my lips to the shell of her ear, whispering against her skin.

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