Fourteen

Link

T he rest of the night was magical, it wasn't too cold and the fire pits we'd set around the dance floor were perfect for people to sit at and chat. Andy's eyes lit up when the first song played. Our song. The song that told him how much I loved him and how I'd always love him, and how he'd always love me back. We didn't dance together often but holding each other close while we swayed to the music for our first dance as a married couple, made me yearn for more.

The night was cool, and our love was warm, and our friends and family danced around us while we reveled in the fact we were married. "Did you think it would ever really happen?" Andy asked.

"I knew it would. That night when I told you I loved you I knew we'd be married someday. Or at least we'd be together."

"How did you know that?" he asked.

"Because when I said it, even though you were drunk—"

"Yeah, I really was drunk." He grinned at the memory.

"I know, baby, but even then, I could tell you felt the same way. It's always been us." Andy smiled at me before leaning in to kiss me.

"I love you," he whispered against my lips.

"Did you see Lance?" I asked when I caught a glimpse of him dancing with a guy about his age. They looked happy, and possibly in love. "Oh, and I love you too, it just caught me by surprise."

Andy looked in the direction I indicated and watched as Lance and the other guy danced together. At first it looked like two friends dancing together, a little awkward, and not very smooth. But when they leaned close to chat or share a laugh there was a light in Lance's eyes I hadn't noticed before today. "He looks happy," Andy said.

"He does. But not as happy as we are."

"Well, that's a given. But considering he's usually stomping around the house and only showing up around mealtime, I'd say he's found his someone special," Andy said, while still watching his little brother.

"Who knows, maybe after Stu and Morgan's wedding there'll be another Lawson wedding." I leaned back enough in his arms to meet his eyes. "There's just something about you Lawson boys."

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have to agree," Morgan said while he and Stu swayed nearby. "They are something special." Stu met his eyes and the two of them went back to dancing.

"Do you think they'll ever get married?" Andy whispered.

I looked at them again, both talking quietly and not a breath's distance between them. "Oh yeah. They're not going to last much longer. They're so in love," I said close to Andy's ear. "But no one will ever love anyone as much as I love you."

Blair and Jace danced nearby with their little girl held between them. Two more of our group of friends who had found happiness with each other. Living in a small town was not as easy as people thought. They wanted to make it out to be some kind of paradise with no worries, where everyone got along and were nice to each other. It wasn't that simple. I thought back to how lonely I'd been when my parents had moved away, and how Andy's parents had always made me feel welcome. I was happy that Andy had found his place in the city and was living his dream. But I'd missed him, and somewhere along the line he'd missed me too.

"This is nice, we need to dance more," Andy murmured into my neck, and I pulled him closer.

"Link?" a familiar voice interrupted. "Sorry, Son, we just wanted to tell you again how happy we are for you," Dad said as Mom stood beaming next to him.

"Thanks," I said, and stopped dancing long enough to hug them both. "I'm glad you made it."

"We wouldn't have missed it for anything," Mom said. "Welcome to the family, Andy."

"Thank you, and thanks for coming," Andy said.

"We'd love to take you two out to dinner if you have time," Dad said with a hopeful grin.

"We'd like that," Andy said, answering for me. He knew our uncomfortable past, and also knew I wanted to keep the door open with them.

"Great, we'll call in a couple of days and set it up," Mom said with a wink. "Mister Lawson."

My cheeks heated in a blush, but it wasn't out of embarrassment. A part of me had worried what they would think when they found out I'd chosen to take Andy's name. But it was my choice, and I was thrilled with it. "I love the sound of that," I said, and kissed Andy's cheek. Dad squeezed my arm before they started dancing too.

"We did it, Link. We really did it."

"I always knew we would," I whispered in his ear.

He pulled back enough to meet my eyes. His were still so bright with happiness and excitement, and I never wanted this night to end.

"I can't wait to get you home tonight," he whispered to me. And immediately my focus was on what we'd do later and not what we were doing now. "But not for a while yet."

"Not for a while," I repeated, and leaned in for one more kiss.

"Who's up for shots?" Curt yelled over the music.

"Oh lord, here we go," Blair said loud enough for us to hear, but to my surprise none of our regular group walked over to the makeshift bar. This time it was the older crowd who had apparently forgotten just how much they were going to pay for that choice. Andy's eyes met mine and we both laughed.

Our love might have started years ago, but in the end, it came down to one night of too many shots, or maybe just enough to loosen my lips and tell him how I really felt. Either way, after that night I never needed a drink to tell him how I felt, and I knew he would agree.