Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Miles
Miles stepped to the edge of the party and scanned Lily and Nate’s wedding reception.
It was a little weird, wearing a designer suit in a place reserved for flip-flops and bathing suits, but Montressa had risen to the occasion.
Edison bulbs lit the lodge’s porch and fanned out over the lakeside ledge, casting everyone in a sepia-toned glow.
He hoped the photographer took a photo from this spot, just outside of the party, looking in at the celebration.
He wanted the dreamy image on his bookshelf, where he could pick it up years later and instantly remember this night, when everything was perfect.
Lily and Nate stood on the porch, in the center near the stairs leading into the lodge.
Sam and Laurie sat under the eaves, listening to Miles’s father tell Dorothea his favorite story about Nate and Miles.
At age ten, they’d built their own pirate raft during an extended playdate and decided to take it out for a spin.
They forgot flotation vests, and when the raft sank in the middle of the lake, Miles’s father had taken a canoe out and made them swim back to Montressa’s dock.
He’d paddled along beside them to keep the boys safe.
“It totally backfired.” Sam’s bellowing laugh echoed through the party. “The boys became obsessed with swimming across the lake and spent the rest of the summer trying to get there. Mark grew biceps paddling after them.”
Miles chuckled at the memory of his father’s toned arms. That winter, his father had done a hundred push-ups a day to keep those biceps.
At another table near the porch, Hayes and Anna Catherine were finally eating dinner after indulging every guest’s request for a selfie.
Paulson sat next to them, flying a spoon around as if it were an airplane.
Lennox’s bright eyes tracked the spoon right into her mouth and she clapped.
Across the table, Victoria cooed and snapped their picture with one of the thirty vintage cameras she and Paulson had bought, loaded with film.
They’d set one at every table and were planning to make a photo album for Lily and Nate.
At Victoria’s feet, Casper happily chewed on the large bone Miles had given him. Without the bone, Casper would’ve stolen a plate of hors d’oeuvres by now and started a Sandlot style chase through the reception, demolishing the wedding cake and anything else in his path.
That save alone made Miles congratulate himself for being the ultimate best man.
He kept it to himself that at only a few months old, Tabasco already behaved better than Casper.
Of course, she hadn’t come to the reception.
He’d checked his nanny cam app a few minutes ago to find her snuggled in her crate in the Red House, curled in a ball.
At first it seemed ridiculous to buy a nanny cam for his dog, but after experiencing anxiety the first couple of times they’d left her alone, Avery declared it worth it if it reassured him and he didn’t spend the whole time checking it.
Avery should’ve been easy to spot in the crowd in her slinky dress. She looked almost as gorgeous as she’d looked naked in his bed that morning. He’d hovered over her, placing kisses along her jaw, murmuring, “I already let the dog out,” as he continued down her body.
If he stood in one place long enough, he’d find her.
In September, she’d rented her own apartment in New York, only to spend most nights at his place.
Two mornings a week, they walked to the Fashion Institute of Technology for her textile class.
He left her there and continued on to NYU.
Their sidewalk commute conversations were his favorite part of his day.
Saturday mornings were exactly what he’d always wanted.
Waking up beside his girlfriend, making blueberry pancakes, and planning their day together.
One Saturday, they’d explored Central Park with Tabasco and wound up at Anna Catherine and Hayes’s brownstone where, over midnight grilled cheese sandwiches, Avery had confessed she’d had a poster of Hayes on her wall in middle school.
Another, they’d shopped in Brooklyn and met Hazel and Symona for dinner.
Last Saturday, they’d bought Miles a new sofa.
Avery insisted he put the nest sofa in storage because she had “ideas” for it.
He couldn’t wait to see what that meant.
Every night, he felt grateful for Avery’s head nestled into his shoulder.
Miles was happy, and no longer lonely. Out of gratitude, he touched his heart.
A few seconds later, Avery appeared beside him, her brow furrowed.
“I took a few photos from back there so I can paint this scene for Lily and Nate.” She covered the hand on his chest with her own. “Is everything okay?”
She must’ve noticed his hand on his heart and worried he was having a panic attack. But the wave rushing over him now was love.
“I’m fine.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m just standing here wondering why I feared feeling this complete.”
Avery held up three fingers, his cue to employ the 3-3-3 rule. Identify three objects. Identify three sounds. Move three body parts. The distraction of the exercise helped calm his anxiety.
“Pepper, I’m going to do it, but I want you to know I’m okay. I came over here to watch the party and had a realization. My hand is on my heart because my life feels right. I’m happy. Promise.”
Avery teared up, and her smile lit up the night.
“Cake, your green eyes.” He brushed his thumb across her temple and closed the space between them. “This dress shows off that freckle I like to kiss. The one beside your breast. I’ve been staring at it all night.”
Someone at the party clinked the side of a glass with a knife, prompting Nate and Lily to kiss.
“Laughter, glasses clinking, the jingle of your charm bracelet.” He tugged a charm and shook it.
With his free arm, Miles pulled her closer. He kissed her softly, the way people kissed in a public place: mindfully and demurely. He rested his forehead on hers and looked into her gorgeous green eyes.
“When we get home,” he whispered, “I’m planning on moving more than three body parts.
For starters, I’m going to lift your hands above your head and hold them against the wall the way you like.
At some point, this dress is coming off.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but you bought this for me to take off, right? ”
She gave him a coy smirk and ran her hands down the silky fabric. The dress shifted enough for him to see beyond the freckle.
Miles licked his lips.
“I bought it in April,” she said, “with the sole purpose of making you jealous.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck and her low, raspy purr tickled his ear.
“Is it working, Magrum? Are you jealous?”
Miles subtly ran a thumb under a strap and swallowed. Avery raised an eyebrow and waited for an answer.
“Completely jealous. I’ve always wanted a dress like this.” He winked. “On my floor.”
“The best man needs to behave.” She lightly smacked his chest and fixed his tie. “Later, you can misbehave all you want.”
He’d always assumed playful flirting waned once you fell into a life with someone. Avery showed him the freedom of being more playful within the safety of a relationship. Miles gently brushed her smile with his lips. A sweet gentle kiss passed between them.
“I love you, Pepper.”
“And I love you too.” Avery leaned her head against his shoulder, and they stared out at the party.
Lily and Nate stood alone on the porch, sharing a conversation and every so often, a kiss. Wes quietly took a photo of them. Miles imagined himself there one day with Avery and squeezed her closer.
For a second he thought about asking her if she wanted a wedding like this one. But this was Lily and Nate’s big day. And he had a speech to give in a few minutes. They had plenty of time to figure out their future, which felt less scary and more natural every minute.
Avery squeezed his hip. “What a magical moment in a magical place.”
A server carrying a tray of champagne stopped in front of them. Paulson, Victoria, Hayes, and Anna Catherine stepped on either side of Miles and Avery, each grabbing a glass.
“Looks like it’s time to cut the cake,” Paulson said.
Miles glanced at Avery and pulled out his notes. “I’ve got a speech to give.”
Her warm, loving smile said I’m right here if you need me.
“You got this.” Paulson patted his shoulder.
“Now go break a leg,” Anna said. “Make everyone cry.”
Miles threaded his fingers through Avery’s, and they walked toward Montressa’s front steps while Lily and Nate tasted their wedding cake. Glasses clinked back where his friends all stood.
“Speech!” yelled Hayes.
Miles climbed the porch steps, smiled at Lily and Nate, winked at Avery, and took a deep breath.
“Hello everyone, I’m Miles, the best man, and I grew up with Lily and Nate.
I don’t need to tell you how special they are.
Thank you for coming today. I think we can all agree Lily looks stunning, as we all knew she would.
She’s the only one of us who could ever convince Nate to trade his L.L.
Bean tuxedo for the real thing. For those of you who don’t know, an L.L.
Bean tuxedo is a multi-pocketed khaki fishing vest and matching cargo shorts.
Or if you’re classy or it’s cold out, cargo pants.
It’s a Cooper Family staple. Even Casper has one. ”
Everyone laughed. Casper stood and carried his bone over to the steps and sat at Miles’s feet. He lifted his nose to Miles and wagged his tail, and for the first time in as long as Miles could remember, Casper didn’t seem annoyed with him.
“I’m sorry, Casper, I know you think you’re the star, but we’re here for Lily and Nate.” More laughter. He waited for everyone to settle.
“When you grow up in a small town where everyone knows each other, everyone’s lives weave together until the town becomes one giant family.
We work together, grieve together, and celebrate together.
So we rejoice when two of our own fall in love.
Some of you showed up early to fix flowers or construct wedding arches.
Some of you closed your businesses because the only place you wanted to be today was here at Montressa, celebrating the love between our Nate and our Lily.
“Falling in love is a mysterious process. Like many things we don’t fully understand, people often try to make sense of it.
There’s love at first sight, fate, kismet, stars aligning.
Call it whatever you want. In the end, it’s pretty simple.
Our soul realizes there is something about this person that feels different. And that inspires us to make a choice.
“A couple of months ago, something Nate said resonated with me. He said sometimes he thought I woke up one day and decided to be alone. At first, I denied it, but as I thought about it, I understood the truth. It wasn’t the alone part.
I know a lot about being alone and being lonely.
It was the ‘decided’ part that got me. To truly fall in love requires a choice. ”
Miles scanned the crowd. The guests were hanging on his every word. Hayes winked at him; a subtle sign Miles was on the right track.
“One Christmas Eve a couple years ago, Lily and Nate ran into one another at the Portland Jetport, Lily on her way home from France for the holidays and Nate returning from our annual fishing trip in Virgin Gorda. This is the part of my toast where I take credit for their entire relationship because, thanks to me, Nate had unlocked ‘golden-boy mode’. His bleach-blond hair and bronzed skin stood out in Maine in December. That sun-kissed glow gave Nate confidence and Lily goose bumps. His rippled forearms from playing all that hockey didn’t hurt either.
“Lily accepted his offer of a ride home and asked to stop at her favorite donut place. She’d missed a good old-fashioned Maine donut after a year abroad.
And there in the Holy Donut, Nate made his move.
When Lily couldn’t decide which flavor she had missed most, Nate bought one of every flavor and insisted they do a taste test. According to Lily, they grabbed neighboring donuts and their pinkies brushed.
The donuts weren’t the only thing that was glazed.
They stared into one another’s glazy eyes and made the same choice.
“Sometimes, love tells us it’s time. We choose to open our hearts and be vulnerable. We choose to say what we mean, even if it’s hard.”
Miles felt a tickle that might lead to fully choking up, so he paused and scanned the reception.
Dorothea wiped away a tear. Miles’s father wrapped an arm around her, pulled her close, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Miles cleared his throat to stave off his emotion at seeing his father happy again.
“And if we’re Nate, we decide to take the chance Lily will pledge her heart to the guy with the sun-kissed glow, the one who tries all the donuts and gives his love freely. Thankfully, she did.
“Lily and Nate, thank you for including us in your big day. I think I speak for all of us. It is an honor to share your love. May you have a long, healthy, and happy life in love together. Cheers!”
After everyone lowered their glasses, they clapped, whistled and whooped. During Lily and Nate’s first dance, Miles leaned into Avery’s ear.
“Ready to dance with me?”
She shook her head. “Oh Miles, I won’t make you do that. I know you don’t dance.”
“What if I told you I learned?” he asked. “For you?”
“You did?” Avery’s jaw dropped to the floor as her hand rose to her heart.
“Hayes and Anna Catherine made me watch Hitch.” He smirked. “They were a little disappointed when I identified with the Kevin James character. I do a mean Sprinkler. They intervened and gave me lessons. And I kinda like dancing now.”
He threaded his fingers in hers. “Come on, Pepper. Let’s go have some fun.”