Chapter 8
REMI
The venue is beautifully decorated. There’s a timeless rustic feel with the dark wood and splashes of greenery. “Wow,” Remi says as she takes in the large wedding arch adorned with sage and peach flowers at the front of the barn. “This is beautiful.”
They’re only sitting for a couple minutes when the ceremony starts.
Dakota walks down the aisle, looking amazing in her white pantsuit.
She tears up at her first look at Casey who is stunning in her flowing A-line wedding dress.
Remi squeezes Paige’s hand tighter. She truly is so happy for her friend.
Love is a special thing. She knows it for herself—with her history with Anna—and maybe she’ll experience it again one day. A part of her hopes she will, even if she doubts it on her darkest days.
The vows are short, but sweet. Remi absentmindedly strokes Paige’s knee with her thumb. She leans into Remi’s side so their shoulders are pressed together. Remi hates how easily she can get used to this, especially since she knows it won’t last much longer.
After the officiant announces them as Dakota and Casey Greene, the brides slowly make their way back up the aisle. Dakota catches Remi’s eye and looks once to Paige, then makes an impressed and approving face. Remi grins and playfully rolls her eyes.
“That was so nice,” Paige says as they follow the crowd of guests outdoors to snack on hors d’oeuvres while they wait for the barn to be reset for the reception.
“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Remi agrees. “Ooh, these are cute.” There’s a table set up with two signature cocktails for guests to enjoy before the bar indoor opens. “Which one would you like?”
“Mm, I think I’ll take a mojito.”
“Good choice.” Remi hands Paige the drink and takes a mason jar of peach vodka for herself.
They sip on their drinks and chat about the ceremony.
The barn doors are pushed open, and they’re all invited inside just as they empty their glasses.
Paige and Remi are assigned to a table toward the back.
They sit alongside one of Casey’s coworkers, her husband, and three friends from a kickball league Dakota and Casey played on.
Remi’s never considered herself well versed in small talk, but Paige blows her away. She navigates conversations with ease, finding common ground with every person at the table. It’s not long before Paige has everyone laughing, and it feels like the seven of them are all old friends.
Paige catches Remi’s eye, and the bright sparkle in her iris makes Remi want to kiss her. Just as she’s about to lean in, Whitney asks Paige her advice on why she gets so many bubbles in her muffins every time she bakes. Paige gives Remi one last secret smile and turns to answer.
There were three dinner options to pre-choose from while RSVPing. Remi originally went with the chicken Marsala with sautéed vegetables and added the filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes for Paige.
“Would you want to …?” Paige asks, not even needing to finish the question.
“Split them?” Remi grins. “You read my mind.”
Paige and Remi can’t stop touching, not during dinner and not during the speeches. From Remi’s hand on Paige’s knee to their thighs pressed together while they eat. Their eyes catch more than once with a million questions passing between them.
They agreed kissing is on the table tonight, but after their moment was interrupted earlier, Remi’s nervous. She wants it to be special. Something Paige can look back on fondly like Remi’s first kiss was.
Anna and Remi were training at the soccer fields near Anna’s parents’ house.
They were so lost in scrimmaging they didn’t notice the way the sky darkened with storm clouds until they unleashed.
Anna and Remi were drenched in seconds. They abandoned their game and sprinted to Remi’s car, falling inside in a fit of giggles.
They weren’t dating yet, only flirting relentlessly and dancing around their feelings.
But sitting in the backseat of Remi’s car, breathless from the sprint, windows fogging as rain pounded against the roof, they both leaned in. The kiss was electric.
Remi wants that kind of memory for Paige.
She deserves the kiss of her dreams.
The music changes from a string of upbeat songs to Alex Warren. Remi squeezes Paige’s leg. “Would you like to dance?”
“I’d love to.”
Remi stands, and Paige tucks her hand in Remi’s.
Leading them to an empty spot on the dance floor, Remi gets in position by placing her right hand behind Paige’s left shoulder.
Paige wraps her arm atop Remi’s. They clasp their free hands, and Remi starts them off with small basic steps.
Paige follows effortlessly as Remi glides them left, then right.
“Would you be okay with some turns?” Remi asks.
“Hit me with your best moves.” Paige winks.
“Oh, Princess, don’t know what you’re asking for.” Smirking, Remi subtly guides their bodies into a quarter turn. Paige moves with practiced grace, her hips swaying easily in rhythm.
“Not bad,” Paige teases.
“Why, thank you.” Remi laughs. “Now, are you ready?”
“For?”
Remi eases their bodies apart, taking both of Paige’s hands in hers, then tugs Paige toward her.
She doesn’t hesitate to spin, neither of them letting go, so Paige finishes the move with her side pressed to Remi’s chest, Remi’s arms wrapped around her.
The intoxicating scent of Paige’s floral perfume hits her, and she holds Paige’s body tighter to hers.
She could spend the rest of the night with Paige like this, tucked against her.
Paige tilts her chin up to meet Remi’s eyes.
Remi holds her gaze, the corner of her mouth quirks up as she winks, then leads Paige forward to spin back to their starting position.
She turns their bodies so they’re facing in opposite directions and lifts their arms up and over their heads.
They let go at the same time. Their hands slowly slide against one another’s arms. Paige’s skin is soft and warm under Remi’s fingertips.
Their hands find one another at the end.
Remi spins Paige again and allows the momentum to carry her body into a turn. Twirling Paige once more, she lifts their arms to wrap Paige’s hands around her neck. Remi grips her hips and presses her leg between Paige’s. She lets out a small gasp that Remi feels in her core.
The sun has set, and the barn is lit by row after row of twinkling lights. The hazy glow highlights the soft features of Paige’s face. She is so breathtakingly beautiful and looks almost ethereal in this lighting. Remi forgets there are other people on the dance floor with them.
“Oh, my god, Remi. I didn’t know you knew how to dance.” Paige’s chest rises and falls faster than it did at the start of the song.
A self-satisfied grin finds its way to Remi’s lips despite her best efforts. “I didn’t know you could either.”
“How’d you learn?” she asks.
“Elena is Colombian. She taught us how to dance merengue, bachata, and salsa back in high school.”
“Us?”
Remi swallows, not meaning to slip up and mention an Anna memory to her. Especially not with the tension buzzing between them. “Our friend group,” she says instead.
Paige nods.
“What about you?” Remi asks.
“I went swing dancing in college.”
“Oh, that always looked like fun.”
“It was a blast.” Paige pulls back to face Remi. “Now the question is, Remi.”
She raises her eyebrows in anticipation. “Hm?”
“I’m impressed so far, but”—Paige leans in to whisper against her ear—“can you finish strong?”
The words ignite a fire in Remi. She leads them into a series of turns that has Paige giggling—the sound light and melodious.
It spreads warmth from Remi’s chest down to her toes.
Remi twirls once more before the song winds down.
Remi eases Paige back out and replicates the first move, only this time, when Paige lands with her side pressed to Remi’s, she dips her.
Remi holds Paige parallel to the ground, her body hovering over hers. Paige stares into Remi’s eyes, her lips slightly parted. Remi holds her until her muscles burn, showing off a little, before slowly pulling Paige up.
They stand there, frozen. Paige catches Remi’s eye, then her gaze drifts down to Remi’s mouth, and that does it.
This is their moment.
Remi leans in.
Her mouth hovers an inch from Paige’s, allowing her time to pull back.
When she doesn’t, Remi closes the distance between them.
Paige’s lips are pillowy soft and so full—they feel better than Remi could’ve imagined.
The kiss is gentle at first, Remi not wanting to take it too far in case Paige isn’t comfortable.
But then Paige is the one who deepens it. She fists the material of Remi’s shirt, sending a throbbing pulse to her center. Remi lets out the softest moan and grips Paige by the back of the head, desperate for more.
More of Paige.
More of this feeling.
More of the electricity burning through her veins.
Just more.
Everything else fades away, and all she knows is Paige and the heat that floods her as Paige’s lips press to hers. Then someone accidentally bumps Remi’s shoulder and she stumbles forward, catching Paige before they fall.
“Whoa, shit, sorry.”
“Dang, Remi. You already knocked me off my feet,” Paige says. “You don’t need to do it literally.”
Remi laughs and cups her cheek. “Oh, yeah?”
Paige bites her lip. “Mhm.”
Warmth blooms in her chest.
All of Remi’s focus was on making this kiss special for Paige, she never once considered what it could mean to her. And wow. Staring into Paige’s eyes, her pulse racing, she knows that was a kiss she’ll remember for the rest of her life.