Chapter 51 – Eden
EDEN
The centerpiece at the next table over is three inches to the left of where it should be.
My fingers twitch. I’m dying to go fix it. It would only take a minute to do, even if nobody would notice the asymmetry but me.
“Don’t even think about it,” Luke says.
“What are you talking about?”
“Whatever tiny detail you’re about to go fix. You can stop.” He squeezes my hand. “The wedding’s over. The food’s served, the cake’s sliced, and everyone’s dancing. There’s nothing left that you have to do. Now eat your cake and let yourself enjoy the night.”
“But it’s going to bug me,” I mutter.
“What is?”
I point. “That centerpiece.”
He turns around in his chair to look. “What about it?”
“It’s off center.”
“Don’t worry.” Luke leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “I got it.”
I watch as he moves to the table and adjusts the centerpiece two more inches to the left.
“Wrong direction,” I moan, standing to do it myself. Before I can touch it, Luke has my hand and he’s leading me out to the dance floor. Beau and Brinley stand in the middle, enthusiastically dancing to “Mamma Mia.” Brinley beckons me over to join them, and I can’t say no to the bride.
Seeing us, the rest of our friends navigate to the dance floor.
Ryan and Pippa perform over-the-top crazy moves while Nate twirls Cat in circles.
James obviously isn’t a dancer, but he shuffles gamely between two feet while Maura sways to the music.
They stop to wave at my mom, who’s holding a dozing baby Hazel at the family table.
Mom’s so entranced by the baby, she doesn’t even look up.
My heart warms. Mom took the day off yesterday to make sure she’d have the energy to make it through the whole reception. I was sure she’d be exhausted before Beau and Brinley sliced the cake, but she doesn’t look a bit tired. We’re lucky that today’s one of her good days.
Two tables over, Roger and Tricia Windsor sit with their coats still half-on, the way people do when they’re not sure they’re allowed to stay.
They came. They watched their daughter get married, clapped in all the right places, and told Beau’s mother the barn was “very unique.” It isn’t much.
But when Luke crossed the room earlier to bring his mother a slice of cake, she touched his wrist and said something that made him go still, and he came back to me with his eyes bright and didn’t say a word about it.
I didn’t ask. Some repairs happen one sentence at a time.
The music switches to a slow song. Everyone pairs off and Luke pulls me against him, one hand holding mine, the other low on my back. I lean into his shoulder, turning my head to the side to bask in his heat and look around at the crowd.
A few feet away, I spot Reed dancing with one of Beau’s Italian cousins. Even though she barely speaks English, she’s still laughing at whatever he’s whispering in her ear. I roll my eyes. The way Reed charms women, he’s going to run into a problem he can’t wriggle his way out of one day.
Brinley and Beau dance slower than everyone, his forehead pressed against hers. They look like they’re in their own world. They leave for a three-week honeymoon in Italy tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see the pictures of them acting absolutely, insanely in love.
Luke keeps me on the dance floor for another half hour, while the guests slowly start to thin. The older relatives go first, onto a shuttle bus back to the nearest hotel. Once the crowd is down to just our friends and a few closer family members, I pull away from Luke.
“I really should help them clean up,” I say.
He smiles. “I can be patient if I have to, Eden. But I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can take you home.” He drops a kiss on my knuckles that makes me flush red.
I can’t wait to get him alone, either. There’s so much more I want to experience with him, and I know we’re just getting started.
My fantasies get bumped to the back of my head when I take stock of the barn.
I need to let the florist know she can start taking down the arrangements.
Then I have to double check that the guest book gets packed up for Brinley, and make sure the cake gets wrapped up, and take down the paper lanterns outside in case it rains…
After a quick switch from my heels back into my flats, I get to work, buzzing across the venue as we start dismantling the wedding space. The furniture can be packed up by tomorrow, but almost everything else needs to be cleared for safety reasons.
I’m helping the servers collect empty glasses near the back of the barn when I hear Ryan’s voice—too loud, too earnest, unmistakably Ryan. I turn in time to see him on one knee in front of Pippa on the dance floor, and I’m pretty sure I can guess what he said.
Pippa’s face cycles through shock, joy, and absolute horror in the span of two seconds.
“Stop it, Ryan!” she shrieks. “You can’t propose on someone else’s wedding day!”
Ryan’s face falls. He starts to stand, but Pippa stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Of course I’ll marry you, you gorgeous idiot,” she sobs, tears rolling down her face.
Grinning, Ryan stands and picks Pippa up, whirling her around in the center of the dance floor. The servers all stop picking up dirty dishes to clap for them.
I press my hand to my mouth, feeling overwhelmed with happiness. Every single one of us made it here. Every couple in this room fought for it, hid it, nearly lost it, and made it.
“I’m glad you said yes, Pips,” Beau says. “It was going to be really awkward if you didn’t after I told Ryan he should ask now.”
“Yeah,” Brinley adds, pulling Pippa into a hug. “He’s been carrying that ring in his pocket for two months now. It was time.”
“Nate’s been so anxious he would lose the ring,” Cat says.
“I haven’t even seen it yet!” Pippa laughs.
Ryan smacks himself on the forehead and pulls out a jewelry box. The girls all gasp when he reveals a gorgeous art deco ring with a cherry red ruby in the center. Pippa starts crying all over again as Ryan slides it onto her finger.
The DJ’s shift is technically over now, but he leaves the speakers up to collect tomorrow.
Pippa plugs her phone in so Beau and Brinley can keep dancing.
Cat and Nate wish everyone good night before returning to their cottage, sleeping baby Sylvie in Cat’s arms. James and Maura slipped out a while ago, only stopping to say goodbye to the happy couple.
Pippa and Ryan are nuzzling at their table while she gazes down at her ring. The bride and groom are still swaying together, oblivious to the movements of the clean-up crew around them. Of all the weddings I’ve planned, I’ve never seen a couple happier than them.
As I’m grabbing a ladder to take down the lanterns, Luke touches my arm.
“Hey,” he murmurs. “I’m sure the cleaning crew can handle the rest. You deserve a break.”
I frown. “But the centerpieces are still out, and the cake—”
“Eden,” he says quietly. He doesn’t argue, just stops me long enough to think rationally. I’ve been working all day after barely sleeping, and still I’m running myself ragged. I’m confident in the clean-up crew I’ve hired, and the night is basically over.
There’s no good reason for me to keep working and we both know it.
“Fine,” I sigh. “I’m done.”
“Good.” Luke grins, and that’s all the warning I get before he sweeps me up into his arms. I yelp, grabbing onto him to keep from falling. At their table, Ryan and Pippa wolf-whistle at us.
“Enjoy your night, darlings!” Pippa calls. “You two look damn good.”
I laugh against Luke’s neck as he carries me out of the barn into the cool summer night.
The stars twinkle above us, reminding me of the night we laid out on the field together months ago.
Back then, I was so scared to want him, because I knew I’d have to let him go.
We set a limit on our relationship, an end date we thought would keep us safe.
Now, I know it’s better to take the risk than play it safe. Our future together is as limitless as the night sky, spilling endlessly into the horizon.