Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
When I could reconnect with Yara after completing my best man duties, I pulled her straight to the dance floor when the first slow dance came on.
“Are you sure it was okay? I felt nervous up there. It was all right?” she asked me for the seven hundredth time about the ceremony. “I felt as if I was fumbling my words.”
“It was the best performance I’ve ever seen. You did amazing. Especially with such short notice.”
She sighed. “Okay. I’ll stop overthinking.”
I laughed. “You won’t.”
“You’re right, I won’t. How are you though?” she questioned. “I know having Catie here with Henry has to be—”
“I don’t care,” I confessed, shaking my head. “I thought it would be hard to deal with, but I don’t care. Not even a little. I think it’s because my soul moved on to something better.” Truth be told, I hadn’t even thought of the two of them. They didn’t cross my mind for a split second after Yara showed up, looking remarkable as ever.
She smiled. “I think some would call that growth.”
“I call it the Yara effect.”
As we slow danced, I pulled her closer to me, dreading the moment when the song would end.
“Alex?”
“Yes?”
“I forgot to tell you earlier. I’ve been thinking about kissing you, too.”
I pulled her back slightly as I arched my eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She laid her head against my shoulder and we returned to our sway. My fingers gently began to massage her lower back as I held her against me.
“Careful when you hold me like this,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“Because,” she faltered, “I might mess up and start to believe in the lie.”
CHAPTER 35
Yara
I’d never seen so much food at a wedding in my life. From the rotating appetizers during cocktail hour and multiple veggie and fruit displays, to the pasta bars, carving stations, and food trucks, Mandy and Noah’s wedding was destined to add fifteen pounds to my bottom by night’s end.
The problem with me was I understood that I’d probably never find myself in that situation again, so I would partake in every single food item out there, even if my stomach suffered the following morning.
I was almost certain I was going to break into the meat sweats sooner than later. Still, I needed to try the glazed ham that I heard another table going on and on about.
“Tonight has been amazing,” a gentleman said as he crossed paths with me at the carving station. It was Mandy’s father, James. I’d met him earlier after the ceremony had taken place. He thanked me for stepping up to help out.
He picked up a plate and handed it to me before grabbing his own. “It looks like you two lovebirds are having a great time, too,” he said.
“Yeah.” I smiled after he spoke about Alex and me. As I turned to see Alex talking to a few others, I couldn’t help but feel a slight tug in my heart. He looked amazing in his olive-green tuxedo. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off him since he’d walked down the aisle during the ceremony. “It’s been a fantastic time.”
“Definitely.” James had the carver place a piece of ham on his plate, followed by a slice of prime rib. “Now, I know we don’t know each other, and it’s probably odd for me to ask anything of you since I’m the father of Alex’s ex. But I’m going to go out on a limb. Do you think you can do one thing for me?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Take care of him;” he requested with a cracked voice. “Don’t break that boy’s heart. I know he acts tough and puts up a good poker face, but truth be told, I don’t think he has many more breaks left within him.”
The sincerity in James’s voice sent chills racing down my spine. “I’ll do my best.”
“Do even better than that, please.” He looked over at Alex, and a tiny smirk found his lips. “But I think the two of you are safe. You look at him the same way he looks at you, and I’ve never seen him look like that before. Not even with my daughter.”
“Look like what?”
“Happy.”
* * *
After too much food, I headed over to one of the many bar stations to try the Candy Mandy signature cocktail that came with a nice size of cotton candy attached to it. Since I was on a food high, I might’ve well have added a sugar high to the list, too.
As I waited for my drink to be made, I turned to examine the room before me. Alex was at a table, laughing freely with a few of Noah’s family members. Seeing him happy did something to me. I wanted to keep him in that utopia as long as possible. I’d realized, too, the whole night whenever he wandered off, I’d find myself searching for him. It felt as if a magnet was constantly trying to pull me closer to him.