Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Milo watched as Axel turned to his bride and kissed her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Around them, everyone clapped—happy and smiling—and even though he was definitely happy for his friends, the bigger emotion at the moment was envy.
They had each other, they were together, and they were going to get to stay together.
Even when they had first met, they were both living in the same place, sort of.
They were at least in the same state. Not that it had made it easier for them on every level, but it was one less obstacle, that was for sure.
Nora turned and smiled at him, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. On his other side, Jayce clapped him on the shoulder.
“It’s good to see Axel looking so happy.”
Milo nodded. “It is. I never thought he’d settle down. I don’t think he ever let himself think about it. He was resigned to being alone. I always hated that for him.”
“The right woman makes you reconsider things. Look at me and Kelsey.” Jayce turned to his wife and smiled. “Work used to be my entire life, and I had put down roots in Raleigh and thought everything was fine. But having her in my life showed me how much more there is.”
“And that’s great for you guys, but I don’t think it’s the same for Axel and Maisie. They come from completely different worlds, and they just instantly clicked. You and Kelsey clicked years ago.”
“True. Every couple’s story is different. Even Walker and Harlow are pretty opposite and they’re still going strong.”
“To be fair, Walker and Harlow are both workaholics,” he mused. “They’re working on their new resort and I swear they’re going for some sort of hospitality domination.”
They both laughed at that as the newlyweds walked up the aisle.
“Hey, as long as it works for them, who are we to judge, right?” Jayce replied.
“I guess.”
They moved along with the rest of the guests, following everyone up to the lodge for the reception. The sunset ceremony had been stunning, but it was time to head inside for dinner and dancing.
Kelsey sidled up and whispered to Milo, “Is it okay if I steal Nora away while we walk? I’m dying to get to know her.”
That made him smile. “You don’t need to ask. She’s been looking forward to talking to you too.”
“I can hear you,” Nora said with her typical sass, “and I can answer for myself.” Then she grinned at Kelsey. “I hear you’re the reason we’re all here. Come talk to me about that!”
And the two of them walked ahead like two old friends.
“It’s kind of crazy about this place, don’t you think?” Jayce asked.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like…is there something in the water? I mean…look at all the relationships that have happened because of it: me and Kelsey, Walker and Harlow, Axel and Maisie, Connor and Lexi, you and Nora…” Then he paused. “Am I allowed to ask what’s going on with you and Nora?”
He chuckled. “You can ask, but I’m not sure when we became those guys who talk about relationships and whatnot.”
“Normally I’d agree, but seeing you and Nora sort of piqued my curiosity,” Jayce said with a shrug. “You’re normally a pretty private guy and I don’t think I’ve ever heard of you being in a relationship.”
“Like you just said, I’m a private guy.”
“Yeah, and here at the resort, nothing’s private. Even I know that,” he joked.
“That is the absolute truth,” Milo murmured.
“I don’t really love that aspect of the whole thing, but it hasn’t been bad.
Everyone respects everyone else’s privacy mostly—although Connor and Lexi are notorious for letting everyone know what they’re doing, and I believe they hold the record for asking for room keys midday more than anyone else. ”
“Seriously? That’s kind of hysterical. I know they have a house in town…”
“And they technically still have a cabin too, but they just…” Pausing, he shook his head. “I really don’t want to talk about Connor and Lexi’s sex life.”
“Good call. So that brings us back to you and Nora.”
Walked right into that one…
“It was really unexpected and yet somehow, we clicked,” he said.
“I heard the two of you were downright hostile in the beginning. Something happened the weekend of my wedding, didn’t it? Something about a drone…?”
He groaned. “We eventually realized it was a misunderstanding.” He paused. “Actually, there were a lot of misunderstandings, but once we took the time to get to know each other, we found that we liked each other.”
“And what happens when you go back to Seattle?” Jayce asked. “You are going back, aren’t you? You’re not moving the company here?”
“I go back in less than two weeks, and…we’re going to figure it out. Slater asked her to take over for him, and it’s kind of the ideal job for her.”
“Where’s Slater going?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? I don’t even think he does. This was never going to be his full-time gig. His goal was to see the resort open and get all the amenities and activities going, then move on.”
“Well that’s too bad.”
“How come?”
“Honestly? It’s been nice having everyone together again. Especially Slater. It’s easier to find Waldo than him on any given day. He packs up and moves like he’s afraid to stay in one place too long.”
“It’s just the job. He goes where the tours need him and…”
“Think about it. Tour companies are usually based in one spot. One state. Not all of them, but the majority. Slater tends to hop around with no permanent address. If it weren’t for cell phones, I don’t think any of us would be able to find him.”
That was something Milo had never really considered. It was just always Slater’s thing—chasing after the next big adrenaline rush or challenge. But was there more to it than that?
“How crappy of a friend am I that I never thought about that?” Milo asked. “And I don’t know if the other guys have either. Like…what could his reason be?”
This time it was Jayce who shrugged. “Maybe all the years that his family moved around because of his father’s baseball career made him feel like it’s what he’s supposed to do. Who knows?”
That seemed plausible, but now that it was out there, Milo knew he was going to have to find a way to casually bring it up with Slater.
They reached the lodge, and as they stepped into the lobby, they caught up with Nora and Kelsey.
“I can’t wait to see what Maisie and Connor’s team did with the banquet hall,” Kelsey said.
“When we got married, we had the reception in the restaurant just because the resort wasn’t open yet and we could.
” She paused. “Were you there at all? Did you get to see it?”
“I was only there for a few minutes to get Lexi and Connor’s kids. But from what I saw, it looked amazing. You almost couldn’t tell it was a restaurant.”
“Exactly! It was everything I wanted it to be.”
“Maisie can do such incredible stuff with literally any space,” Nora explained. “I’m sure it’s going to look beautiful.”
Jayce and Milo glanced at each other, realizing there was nothing they could add to that conversation and simply took their girls and followed the wedding guests down the hall to the reception.
They were slow dancing, though calling it dancing felt generous.
The music was low and unhurried, the kind of song that asked very little of you.
Milo’s hand rested at Nora’s waist, his thumb moving in an absent, steady arc like it knew exactly where it belonged.
Her other hand was curled into his shoulder, light but sure.
They swayed more than anything, bodies close enough that he could feel her breathing change with the rhythm.
Around them, the reception glowed—string lights, soft laughter, Axel’s unmistakable grin every time he caught sight of Maisie. It was small. Intimate. The kind of wedding that felt less like an event and more like a cozy gathering.
Milo had been watching it all with a strange, hollow awareness.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Nora murmured, her cheek brushing his chest as she shifted closer.
He exhaled slowly. “Trying not to overthink.”
She smiled at him. “That sounds exhausting for you.”
He huffed a quiet laugh, then sobered. “I leave in sixteen days.”
She went still, not pulling away, just…present…like she’d been expecting him to say it, even if neither of them had wanted to be the first.
“I know,” she said softly.
“I don’t want this to turn into a countdown,” he continued, choosing his words carefully. “Or something heavy. I just…” He paused, feeling the truth crowd his throat. “I don’t want to pretend it’s not there.”
Nora tilted her head back enough to look at him. Her expression was open, steady, but there was something fragile under it, too. “I’m excited about the promotion,” she said. “I worked really hard for it.”
“I know you did,” he said immediately. “I’m proud of you.”
The words came easily and honestly. That part wasn’t complicated at all.
She studied his face for a moment, then nodded, as if settling something inside herself. “I don’t want this to feel like a choice I’m making instead of something else.”
Milo’s grip tightened just slightly at her waist. “Me neither.”
They swayed in silence for a few beats, the music carrying them while the rest of the room blurred at the edges. Milo watched Axel spin Maisie under his arm, the way she laughed like she trusted him completely, like she knew exactly where she belonged.
“Do you ever worry,” Nora asked quietly, “that timing matters more than people like to admit?”
“Yes,” Milo said without hesitation. Then, softer, “But I also think timing isn’t everything.”
Her fingers flexed once against his shoulder. “That feels like a very you answer.”
He smiled, resting his forehead briefly against hers. “I’m not asking you for anything,” he said. “Not promises. Not plans. I just want to…be honest about where I am.”
“And where is that?” she asked.
He met her gaze, heart knocking hard enough that he wondered if she could feel it. “Here,” he said. “With you. Fully.”
For now…