Epilogue

Jordan

New Year’s Eve…

A manda and Brian’s wedding was one for the books.

Normally, I drank my face off at weddings, got bored during the endless rambling speeches, and fucked off to light some fires. One time literally. Daisy still hadn’t forgiven me.

I’d kicked back a few drinks, but Nick had been so nervous about the speech for Amanda that I’d spent half the time making dumb jokes to distract him. Mostly about the furry contraption on his aunt’s head that I was fairly certain was alive. And then he’d gotten up there and knocked his speech out of the park. I sat back at the table, where I’d been placed with the other Ellises, of course. Nick was on the dance floor with Amanda and the rest of the bridal party, who’d been invited for the first dance.

“I’m happy for you,” Coop said next to me.

“Hm?” I asked, not taking my eyes off my hot boyfriend on the dance floor. Seriously, with his hair pulled back in a neat bun and a slim-fit blue suit hugging his body, he was hotter than ever. I wanted to find a private spot to bend him over .

“You’re serious about this one,” he said. “Not that you didn’t have feelings for the other partners you brought around, but I’ve never seen you this settled.”

“Settled, my ass,” I muttered. “I’m going to start a fire just to prove you wrong.”

Coop rubbed his forehead. “Please don’t. Daisy will murder you, and it’s not even her wedding this time.”

“Nick gets me better than anyone else.” I shrugged. “The town’s disapproval had started to dig under my skin, but all I’d really needed was for someone to see past my bullshit. To see me.”

“He does, doesn’t he? Keep him and hold on tight.” Coop clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t wrangle you forever, not with my own hellion.”

“Someone’s got to keep you on your toes,” I teased. “Or you’ll just become a grumpy old curmudgeon.”

“Speak of the devil,” Coop said as Logan rushed over.

“Everyone’s flooding the dance floor now.” Logan grabbed Coop’s arm. “Come dance with me.”

Coop passed me a long-suffering look, but he pushed up from his seat and followed his boyfriend. I searched the dance floor for Nick, who was still dancing with the bridal party. Except other people had joined them.

Fuck it. I was going too.

The music poured over me, pumping hard and loud, some boppy pop hit. I hopped up and strode right up to Nick.

I tapped him on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”

He whirled toward me and slapped his hands on my shoulders. “Whisk me away.”

His eyes were bright, his smile so radiant it struck me square in the chest. The joy emanating from him was so strong I could only stare. I shook out of my stupor, grabbed him by the waist, and swept him off to a corner. We plastered onto each other, barely coordinated but moving to the rhythm nonetheless. I didn’t give a damn. I just wanted my boyfriend by my side.

Forever.

Fairy lights twinkled all through the room, and combined with the tea lights and the dimmed lighting, the place had an ethereal feel to it. The song switched to a slower one, a definite throwback to our high school days.

“Fuck, really?” he said. “I haven’t heard this song in forever.”

“Reminds me of high school dances.” I wrinkled my nose. Dates had dragged me to the floor back then, but I’d been too antsy at the time and hadn’t wanted to dance. Now, though, hearing it struck differently. I was still impulsive, but the itch that had claimed me for years had settled. Coop hadn’t been wrong. I’d been craving peace for a little while now, and I’d found that in Nick.

“Ugh, high school dances sucked,” Nick said as we rocked back and forth to the music. “I never had a date, so I’d watch everyone else dance, or I’d get in trouble with you when you were supposed to be with whatever girl you brought.”

“So let’s make up for it now.” I brushed a kiss against his forehead. His eyes softened, the sweetness striking me square in the chest. The scent of his cologne soothed something inside me, and I drank in a deep inhale. He rested his cheek against my shoulder, and we swayed together.

We moved like this to the nostalgic song, the beat of our hearts in unison.

Nick was the one I’d been waiting for. I was sure of that.

And we’d continue dancing through life together, creating our own melody along the way.