I wrap my arms around his waist as he carries me into the reception hall. A mixture of cheers, laughs, and whistles greet us and I lift my head, smiling at everyone the best I can as my hair falls into my face. Once Reese stops walking, he slides me down the front of his body, depositing me on my feet. I look around and see we’re in the middle of the dance floor, the crowd fanning out around us.
I smile up at him, watching as he lifts his gaze off my face and connects with something or someone over my shoulder. His lips part slightly, and a look of admiration washes over him as he studies whatever or whoever it is with deep concentration. I turn, looking through a gap in the crowd and instantly narrow in on what he’s looking at.
Our cake.
He takes my hand, moving me with him across the dance floor. He holds a finger up to the DJ before we slip through the mass of people and step in front of the dessert table. He leans down and studies my creation with great interest as he tightens his grip on my hand.
“Do you like it?” I ask, expecting him to glance over at me. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t take his eyes off our cake.
“It looks like your dress,” he says, moving around to the side and back to the front, making sure he takes it all in.
“And it’s all mint chocolate. The icing. The filling. Pretty much the whole cake.”
That makes him straighten up and turn to me. He brings our conjoined hands up to his mouth and kisses the back of mine. “The perfect union of flavors.”
I nod, motioning with my head toward the center of the room. “Dance with me, handsome.”
After he escorts me out into the middle of the dance floor, he wraps one arm around my waist, taking my hand and holding it against his chest. ‘“Look After You’” begins playing overhead and I smile up at him as we share our first dance, letting him lead me all around the floor. When we get close to the bridal party, I notice Joey standing as far away from Billy as possible. And I also notice Billy’s anxious eyes and the fact that they are glued to his heated boyfriend. As the song comes to an end, I steal a kiss from Reese before we’re instructed to take our seats at the bridal table.
I snap my fingers at Joey, gaining his attention once he sits two seats down from me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He leans back, seemingly insulted by my question. “Me? Nothing. I’m not the one acting like I want nothing to do with my boyfriend. I’m so sick of this shit.”
I look over my shoulder at Billy who is seated at the opposite end of the table next to Ian. He seems to be lost in thought, fidgeting nervously with his napkin and tearing it into tiny pieces.
Shit. My mother better not see that. It’ll be the cloth-napkin debacle all over again.
The sound of a woman’s throat clearing overhead gets my attention and I turn back around, seeing Juls standing behind me and holding a microphone. She smiles at me before looking out over the crowd.
“Can I have everyone’s attention for a moment, please?” The sound of shushing fills the room before the silence. “I don’t think there’s a person in this room who knows Dylan better than I do. Well, except for Joey.” She places a hand on his shoulder and he smiles up at her. “We’ve been best friends for as long as I can remember, and I have seen every side of her. Her pissed-off, slap-happy side. Her tipsy, nickname-giving side. Even her focused, career-driven side. I’ve seen every emotion. Every personality trait. Except one.” She focuses on me. “I’ve never seen my best friend in love. Not until she met Reese.”
His hand squeezes mine and I look over at him, smiling before Juls continues.
“She fought it. She was scared, but there was no denying what that man did to her. Or what she did to him. And I loved watching it. I loved seeing them completely blissed out on each other. I also loved seeing them both lose their shit over the other person.”
“Julianna,” my mother scolds from her seat. She shakes her head disapprovingly, glaring at me like I’m the one who just used profanity.
Juls laughs into the microphone, and we all join in. “Sorry.” She clears her throat, dropping all humor. “Anyway, I love you both very much and I couldn’t be happier for you. To the bride and groom.”
Everyone cheers as I stand and wrap Juls in a hug. She kisses Reese on the cheek as I take my seat again.
“And now, the Man of Honor has a few words,” she says, handing the microphone over to Joey as he stands out of his seat.
“Actually, the Man of Honor isn’t saying anything.” He looks over at me as he walks off the platform. “I, uh, put together a little video instead. I hope that’s okay, cupcake.”
I nod, bracing myself for what I’m hoping isn’t some slideshow of my awkward years. I was at a wedding once where the Maid of Honor did that to the bride. But I’m sure Joey knows better. I’m not afraid to use any of the utensils in front of me if a picture of me with braces pops up. And he knows that.