TWENTY-THREE
EMMA
At the soft knock on my door, I check the time on my watch. Damn, I’m running late.
“Come in,” I call while braiding my hair. “In the bathroom,” I add when the door opens and closes with a quiet thud. A moment later, Jack stands in the doorway.
“Peach, you look incredible,” he says with a low whistle.
“Thanks.” I chuckle and glance at him. But my eyes dart back to him immediately, and my movements freeze as I examine him more closely. “Oh boy.”
If I currently didn’t use my hands to braid my hair, I’d need them to fan my face. It usually takes just one glimpse at Jack, and I’m swooning and drooling all over him, but Jack in a tuxedo makes my heart skip so many beats that I’m close to cardiac arrest.
Jack’s chuckle tears me out of my dreamland, where I’m already all over him, showing him how hot I think he looks.
“Are you almost ready to go?” he asks with a smirk, pointing at my hair.
With a sigh, I tear my gaze away from him and nod. “Yes, almost. Give me five minutes.”
It’s June, and Ben and Amy’s big day has finally come. We’re about to leave to attend the wedding ceremony held at Henry’s parents’ house in the Hamptons. Like their other closest friends, Jack and I arrived last night and stayed at this cute little inn close to today’s venue. We’re leaving tomorrow, after a brunch Ben and Amy invited their families and friends to, rounding off the weekend.
Once I’m done with my hair, I slip into my shoes and grab my purse. When I turn to Jack, I catch him watching me, and something in his eyes makes the butterflies in my tummy flutter wildly. I inspect my floor-length emerald chiffon dress. It’s a halter-neck gown with hardly any cleavage showing, and it’s not even cut out in the back because I can’t skip the bra. So I can’t figure out why he stares at me like that. “What is it?” I ask.
He smiles and strides over, stopping mere inches from me. “You look stunning. I don’t think I’ll be able to take my eyes off you all day.”
My cheeks burn at his compliment, and I lower my gaze, biting my lips to keep the wide smile from giving away how his words affect me, but he lifts my chin and lowers his head to press his lips on mine.
So far, not much has happened between us, intimate-wise. It’s been two weeks since Jack almost stayed overnight after our brief fight. I’m okay with that, but I know Jack still pressures himself. Overall, he’s been much more relaxed, but I saw the disappointment in his eyes whenever he had to pull back when a kiss got a little more passionate and turned into a make-out session. I hate how he doesn’t see the progress he’s made. While any physical closeness we shared at the beginning was over way too soon, the occasional heated kiss lately has already left me looking forward to more. Now I wonder what this weekend has in store for us. Jack booked two separate rooms, as I asked him to because putting pressure on him is the last thing I want.
“Come on, beautiful. Let’s go.” Jack grasps my hand and intertwines our fingers, and before pulling me after him, he strokes over my baby bump that I can’t hide anymore at twenty-two weeks.
A short drive later, we walk into the beach house and the beautifully decorated garden that overlooks the ocean. After saying hello to our friends and the groom, Jack and I find our seats right in the aisle in the third row of chairs in front of a wedding arch.
While we wait for the bride, I watch Ben as he steps from one foot to the other. I smile to myself as he talks to his brother and best man, Aaron, who tries to calm Ben down. I chuckle as he flinches when the music starts, announcing the imminent arrival of the bride.
I turn my head toward Lauren, who walks down the aisle first. She’s wearing a beautiful, knee-length, lavender dress. Holding onto her hand is Bella, Ben and Amy’s daughter, who just turned one, as Jack explains.
The wedding party chuckles and laughs when Bella spots Ben, screeches “Daddy!”, and wants to run off into her father’s arms, neglecting her job as a flower girl.
“Sorry,” Lauren mumbles, also laughing, when Bella pulls her after her to the front, holding onto her because Bella is still a little unsteady on her feet. Once Bella gets a cuddle and a kiss from Ben, he hands her over to her uncle just in time for the wedding march.
Ben fixes his gaze on Amy walking down the aisle, and man, do I wish that one day someone would look at me like Ben gazes at Amy. So much affection shows on his entire face with the huge and happy smile. Amy looks breathtakingly gorgeous in her classic but stunning, floor-length, A-line wedding dress with a bateau neckline and a narrow purple belt around the waist—the same color as Ben’s tie. With the Lyon lace bodice and the satin skirt that’s slightly flared out, that dress fits Amy perfectly. Her long and wavy brown hair is half up, half down, held back by a short veil, and in her hands, she carries her wedding bouquet, made of white calla lilies with a purple center.
Tears fill my eyes when I look back and forth between those two when Amy walks down the aisle, and they flow unstoppably when Ben and Amy stand in front of the officiant, holding hands, exchanging their vows, and declaring their undying love for each other. It’s a beautiful ceremony that gives me hope that true love exists.
After an entire day filled with laughter and mirth and merriment, spent in an atmosphere overflowing with love and excellent food, I sit at a table surrounded by my new friends. We talk about Tessa’s fantastic job with the flower decorations, while her best friend, Ava, the official wedding photographer, still snaps the occasional picture here and there. Music plays softly in the background.
I look around the table at Henry and Lauren, who seem glued together today, smiling at each other happily. And at Paul and Tessa, who are just as helplessly in love, and, of course, Ben and Amy—today’s epitome of affection and desire for each other.
At some point, they all asked me what the deal was with Jack and me—if we were official. All I could give them was a nonchalant shrug because I honestly still don’t know. Yes, I’d say we’re exclusive. Jack would never look at another girl twice, and I sure wouldn’t want another guy. But to call us a couple? Hmm.
With those thoughts running through my mind again, my gaze falls on Jack, who returns to our table after getting a drink for me. When our eyes meet, his lips lift in a sweet smile, and boy, does that make me tingle all over.
“Here, had that made especially for you.” He hands me the margarita glass. “It’s peach—virgin, of course.”
“Thanks.” My smile widens, and the pleasant feeling that Jack has been responsible for ever since I met him floods my entire body.
Amy’s screech makes us all focus our attention on her. “Oh my goodness!” she says. “Lauren, are you freaking kidding me?” She jumps up and grabs Lauren’s left hand. “Why haven’t I noticed this before?”
Everyone stares at Lauren’s left ring finger with the engagement ring.
Lauren chuckles. “I’m sorry. I was gonna tell you, but not before the wedding. You didn’t need any more distractions.”
“Lauren, you bitch!” Amy gasps, but it turns into a chuckle. “How could you keep that from me? Oh my gosh, I hate you a little bit right now, but I’m so happy for you guys! ”
And then everybody jumps up and congratulates Henry and Lauren on their engagement.
Once we’re all seated around the table again, Ben stands up and clears his throat. “Okay, people, I’d like to take a minute to thank all of you—our closest friends—for joining us on our special day and being part of our celebration. We hope you enjoyed the festivities and will enjoy the rest of the evening.” He raises his glass, and we all follow suit. Before he sits back down, he adds, “Oh, Amy and I have an announcement to make as well.” He throws her a glance, and they smile at each other. “We just found out we’re having another baby.”
It’s quiet around the table as we all gape at Ben.
Lauren is the first to talk. “ I am the bitch? Damn, Amy, how could you have kept this from me?” She jumps up and pulls her best friend into a tight hug.
Again, words of congratulations echo around the table until Lauren points her finger at Jack and me. “Okay, so we know those two are dating.” She holds up her hand when I open my mouth to say something. “No, don’t even try to deny it.” She chuckles. “Which only leaves you guys.” She raises her eyebrows at Tessa and Paul.
Tessa shakes her head. “We don’t have anything to announce. You already know we moved in together. Sorry to disappoint you.”
As she chuckles, my gaze falls on Amy, and I wonder why she tries hard to keep a straight face when Paul clears his throat. “Well, actually—”
I cover my mouth with my hand to keep myself from screaming when Paul rises from his chair and kneels in front of Tessa, who gasps as he grasps her hand.
“No way!” Lauren says.
“Shhh!” Amy shushes her.
“Tessa,” Paul says. “You know I love you with everything I am. You hold my heart. You complete me—a fact that has become more and more obvious to me over the past few months. Every thought of you brings a huge smile to my face, and every time I’m with you, I feel like the luckiest guy on earth. The thing is, I could never live without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So I ask you here, in front of all our friends: Theresa Williams, will you marry me?” He pulls a velvety box out of the inside pocket of his tuxedo and holds it open in front of her.
With tears in her eyes, Tessa gasps. “Oh, Paul! I don’t know what to say.” She half laughs, half sobs. “You’re crazy to ask me that in front of everyone.” She draws in a deep breath, and poor Paul wipes his sweaty forehead while waiting for her response. “Oh, look at you.” She cups his face. “Don’t look so worried. Of course I’ll marry you!” she finally answers and pulls Paul closer for a kiss.
The cheering begins as Paul slips the beautiful ring on her finger. “By the way,” he explains after everyone is seated again, “I asked Ben and Amy if they were okay with me proposing at their wedding. They gave me their blessing.”
Wow, what a night. The happiness surrounding me is so contagious, and I can’t stop smiling when I look at our friends .
“Come, dance with me.” Jack holds out his hand, interrupting my thoughts. I smile at him as he pulls me after him onto the dance floor.
“Phew, I can hardly believe what just happened,” I say as we sway left and right to the slow music. Jack’s hands rest on my waist and my arms on his shoulders.
“Yeah, that was pretty intense.” Jack chuckles. “I need a moment away from them.”
“Fine by me,” I say, still with this huge smile on my face. “I enjoy—Whoa!” I freeze and grab Jack’s hand to put it on my belly. “The peanut is moving.”
The baby has been moving a lot lately, but so far, I could never share that with anyone. So this is the first time someone else feels it move too. If it’s possible, the smile on my face grows wider and wider when I watch Jack as he rests his hand and his gaze on my belly, waiting for the baby to kick again. And when he looks up into my eyes with a smile just as wide as mine, he says, “Wow, I felt it. This is amazing.”
We stand there for a few moments, smiling at each other, with Jack’s hand still on my belly, before he pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. I rest my head on his shoulder and breathe in his familiar scent. I feel so at ease and comfortable in his arms that I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.
“What?” Jack asks when I chuckle.
“I was thinking—we’re slow dancing. Like really close. Who would have thought?”
Jack chuckles too. “Yes, we are, and everyone is watching.” He inhales a deep breath and lets it out with a small laugh. “Let’s give them something to talk about.” He pulls back and grins at me as he slowly lowers his head .
And then he kisses me. I mean, he really kisses me, like never before. It’s not that it’s very passionate. It’s different. It’s so full of affection and tenderness that it soon leaves me breathless and wondering where this might be going. It’s crazy how little it takes to drive me completely out of my mind. My wildly beating heart and erratic breathing are sure signs of what I want: more.
“Jack!” I gasp as I pull back. “Everyone keeps asking … is this … are we a couple? Like girlfriend and boyfriend?”
He runs his lips along my jaw to breathe in my ear, “Of course we are, Peach. I’m not letting you go, and I’ll make you mine soon.”
A hot shiver rushes down my spine, and a quiet moan escapes me. I wrap my arms around him more firmly, wondering what else could happen tonight.