Chapter 2
Jason
During dinner, Mia and I get so wrapped up in our conversation it’s as if nobody else is there.
My mom would scold me for not being more social, but there’s no way I’m giving up precious time with Mia to talk to Gary, who’s done nothing but complain, or Chuck, who keeps touching the woman next to him.
She’s touching him too. And they’re both drunk. They’re definitely hooking up tonight.
‘Have you heard of this band?’ Mia asks as we listen to them warming up.
‘I don’t know. I didn’t see their name.’
‘I think it’s Vandyl. It was on the sign when we walked in.’
‘Vandyl? That’s my cousin’s band.’ I stand up so I can see the front of the ballroom where they’re setting up. Austin’s there with his guitar. ‘Yeah, that’s them.’ I sit back down. ‘I didn’t know he was playing tonight.’
‘Your cousin’s in the band?’ She gets up. ‘Which one is your cousin?’
‘The guy with all the muscles. He’s obsessed with working out. He also works construction so he basically works out all the time.’
‘He’s really hot.’
‘Hey!’ I take her hand and tug on her to sit down. ‘We’re on a date. And he has a girlfriend.’
She sits down, smiling at me. ‘You’re even hotter.’ She kisses me, a quick kiss, but I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t sure how far we were taking this pretend date.
Seriously, what is going on here? Is this a real date? Because if it is, that’s not going to be the only kiss of the night. I already want to kiss her again—a real kiss, not a quick one like she just gave me.
‘I think I’m done,’ she says, pushing her plate away. ‘I’m saving room for cake.’
‘Champagne?’ the waiter says, stopping by with a tray of champagne. ‘It’s for the toast.’
Mia and I take one, but Gary waves the waiter away, telling him he hates champagne. He’s a real downer. I wish he was sitting somewhere else.
Noah’s brother gets on the microphone and makes a toast, followed by one from Lacey’s sister.
Then Lacey gets up and speaks, with Noah by her side. ‘We just want to thank all of you for celebrating with us tonight. We hope you’re having a great time and will stick around for the band.’
Noah takes the microphone from her. ‘I just want to make one last toast.’ He holds up his glass of champagne. ‘To love, and to finding the person who makes you feel as amazing as I feel right now.’ He swigs his champagne, then kisses his bride.
‘To love,’ I say to Mia, holding up my glass.
‘To love.’ She smiles as we clink our glasses.
I don’t know if it’s because of all the drinks I’ve had or because I’ve been wanting to do this all night, but whatever the reason, I can’t help myself. I lean over and kiss Mia.
I feel her set her glass on the table, but she doesn’t pull away. I cup my hand around the side of her face, becoming completely immersed in the kiss, loving the feel of her soft lips and the way she keeps moving closer to me.
‘Get a room,’ Gary says.
Mia pulls back, just slightly, and smiles at me.
This girl is so damn perfect. She’s everything I’ve been looking for. She’s smart, sexy, easy to talk to, and we have so much in common. She’s as passionate about teaching and helping kids as I am. She even likes baseball.
‘What the hell?’ Gary says, looking over at Chuck and his new lady friend as they make out at the table. ‘You gonna eat her damn face?’ Gary gets up. ‘I’ve had enough of this shit. I’m leaving.’
He stumbles away from the table.
‘I hope he’s staying here,’ Mia says. ‘He’s way too drunk to drive.’ She looks back at me. ‘What about you? You’re not driving home tonight, are you?’
‘No, I got a room. I’ll drive back in the morning.’
‘Me too. I didn’t want to be driving back this late, and I knew I’d be having a drink or two.’ She looks at her empty champagne glass. ‘Or three.’
‘I thought you were staying with a friend.’
She shakes her head. ‘I just said that so Chuck would stop bothering me.’
We’re both staying at the hotel, meaning our evening wouldn’t have to end after the reception. I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing.
‘They’re really good,’ Mia says as the band plays.
‘Yeah, they played for my mom’s birthday last year. Everyone loved them. My brother Nick’s thinking of having them play for his wedding. Well, the reception, not the wedding.’
‘When’s the wedding?’
‘In May. Maybe you could come. This could be our thing. Being each other’s wedding dates.’
‘I’d be open to that.’ She sways to the music. ‘I love this song.’
‘Let’s dance.’
We get up and I take her hand as we walk to the dance floor.
It’s full of couples, some so drunk they’re falling on each other.
I feel kind of drunk myself, not falling-over drunk, but drunk enough to do stuff I typically wouldn’t do.
Like inviting Mia to Nick’s wedding? That was a bold move, especially since I don’t know how tonight’s going to end or if we’ll see each other again.
Mia said she was open to the idea, but she’s had a lot to drink.
Her response could’ve been the alcohol talking.
‘I’m having a really good time tonight,’ she says, looking up at me as we dance. We’re not really dancing, but more like swaying side-to-side. It’s a slow song and there isn’t much room to move with all the people around us.
‘I am too,’ I tell her. ‘I kind of don’t want tonight to end.’
‘Maybe it doesn’t have to.’
I wait for her to say more. I know what I want, but I’m not going to say it. I want her to tell me what she’s thinking.
‘Jason, would you maybe want to . . .’ She looks away.
‘Would I want to what?’
‘I never do this.’ She lays her head on my shoulder like she doesn’t want me seeing her face when she says whatever she’s about to say.
‘Do what?’
‘I can’t believe I’m doing this. I told myself I never would. It always seemed like a bad idea, but for some reason with you, it doesn’t.’
‘Mia, what is it? Just tell me.’
She looks up at me. ‘Would you spend the night with me? I’m not saying we have to—’
‘Yes.’ I smile at her. ‘I’d love to. And I’m not expecting anything, if you’re worried about that. I just want more time with you.’
‘Excuse my interruption,’ a waiter says, coming up to us with a tray of shot glasses. ‘These are from the bride and groom.’
‘No thanks,’ I tell him.
‘I’ll have one,’ Mia says, taking a shot glass.
‘Then I guess I’ll join you.’ I take a shot and down it, then set the glass on the tray.
‘Have all you want,’ the waiter says. ‘They’re free.’
Mia and I take another one.
‘Okay, maybe that was a bad idea,’ Mia says as the waiter leaves. ‘Those shots went straight to my head. The room’s starting to spin.’
I don’t feel the room spinning, but I definitely feel drunker than I did a few minutes ago.
‘Let’s go sit down,’ I say, putting my arm around her as I lead her away from the dance floor. The music just ended. The band must be taking a break.
‘Jason!’ I hear someone yell.
Turning back, I see Austin coming up to me, a big grin on his face. ‘I thought that was you. What are you doing here?’
‘I’m friends with the groom.’ I look at Mia. ‘You okay, or you want to go sit down?’
‘I’m okay.’ She smiles at Austin. ‘I like the band. You guys are really good.’
‘Thanks! I’m Austin, Jason’s cousin. You must be Kasey.’
‘No, this is Mia,’ I rush to say. Kasey was a girl I dated last month, but it didn’t work out. ‘I’m not seeing Kasey anymore.’
‘Oh, shit, sorry,’ Austin says.
‘Jason and I just met,’ Mia says, smiling at me.
‘She was seated next to me at the table.’
‘Austin!’ one of the band guys yells.
‘Yeah, I’m coming!’ Austin yells back. ‘I gotta go,’ he says to us. ‘But hey, hope it works out.’ He takes off.
‘Sorry about that,’ I say to Mia. ‘He didn’t know about Kasey.’
‘Let’s go sit down.’ She takes my hand. ‘I need some water.’
We get to the table and see that Chuck and that woman are gone.
‘Looks like we’ve got the table to ourselves,’ I say, picking up the water pitcher and filling Mia’s glass.
‘Thanks,’ she says, taking a sip of water. ‘I probably should’ve passed on the shots.’
‘Yeah, me too. I’m feeling pretty drunk right now.’
Mia turns to me. ‘Was it serious? You and that girl?’
‘Kasey?’ I chuckle. ‘No, not at all. We only went out a few times. She’s a teacher at the middle school. We chaperoned some school dances and got to be friends.’
‘So you’re definitely single,’ Mia says.
‘Hopefully not for much longer.’ I turn to Mia and look in her eyes. ‘I really like this girl I just met.’
‘I really like this guy I just met.’
I slide my hand though her silky hair and gently pull her toward me.
I hear her let out a soft breath before I press my lips to hers.
The moment I do, I no longer hear the band playing or people talking or dishes clanking.
All my focus is on Mia and how good it feels to kiss her.
I can only imagine how good it would feel to do more, but like I told her, I’m not expecting that.
I’d be happy just holding her in my arms all night.
‘Let’s go,’ I whisper over her lips.
She nods and slowly backs away.
As we leave the ballroom, we speed up our pace, like we can’t wait a second longer to be alone together.
‘Where’s your room?’ Mia asks as we go down the hallway.
‘First floor, just past the lobby.’
‘Let’s go to yours. Mine’s on the fifth floor and the elevator’s painfully slow.’
‘Are you in a hurry?’ I ask, giving her a smile.
She just looks at me, but I know that look. I take her hand and walk faster.
‘Wait.’ We stop and she reaches down to take off her heels. ‘Okay, let’s go.’ She takes off running.
I almost trip trying to keep up with her. We’re both laughing, probably because we’re drunk. I wish I’d skipped the shots. If I had, I’d be sobered up by now.
‘Hold on,’ I say, pulling on Mia’s hand as I stop at my room. ‘This is mine.’
‘Oh!’ She starts laughing again, which makes me laugh.
‘You have the best laugh,’ I say as we go into the room. ‘And beautiful eyes.’ I pull her into my arms. ‘And an amazing smile.’
She looks up at me. ‘I really like you, Jason.’