Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
I felt forever in that kiss, right down to my toes.
“Beckett,” I whispered against his lips. “Did you mean what you said?”
“You already asked me that.”
Laughing, I wriggled down so that my heels were on the ground, but kept my arms looped around his neck. “I know, but this feels so unreal. I have to make sure it’s not a dream.”
“Yes, I meant all of it. I said exactly what I was feeling. I just don’t remember what the words were now because the experience was so terrifying, I had to block it from my memory.”
“Don’t worry. I remember everything. And I’m pretty sure there’s a video.”
He groaned. “Great.”
I pressed my lips to his once more. “We should probably get back to the reception, don’t you think?”
“Yes. I should make sure my dad’s okay. And I’ve got some groomsman duties. I think I have to dance with Mariah.”
“Aww.” I laughed and tugged his earlobe. “I can’t wait to see that. Maybe you’ll save me a dance too?”
“Sure.” He bumped me back against the home’s brick wall, his hips pinning mine. “But I can’t wait to get home.”
I smiled, my eyes closing, my entire body humming. “I can’t either. Oh!” My eyes popped open. “I need to let Elliott know he can stop packing—and crying and hating me.”
Beckett chuckled. “He wasn’t ready to go?”
“Right in the middle of his sleepover with Daisy? Not even a little bit.” I sighed. “But we do have to leave tomorrow.”
Taking my hand, he began walking back across the lawn toward the tent. “It’s okay. I know we have a lot to talk about, but no matter what, it’s going to be okay.”
“Promise?” I glanced at him, my heart skipping a beat.
He squeezed my hand. “Promise.”
As we made our way to the table where his father and the Morettis sat, we felt eyes on us from all sides. Some people smiled, some clapped silently, some whispered and sighed. When she spotted us, Mrs. Moretti jumped to her feet.
“Beckett Weaver! You made me sob!” she scolded, throwing her arms around him.
“Sorry,” he muttered, looking at me helplessly over her shoulder.
“No, don’t be sorry. That was just beautiful.” She hugged me too, then grabbed a tissue from her evening bag. “But this is my last tissue, so I hope I’m done crying for the night.”
Mr. Weaver rose to his feet, then shocked me by putting his arms around Beckett. I’d never seen any kind of physical affection between them. From the look on his face, Beckett was just as surprised.
“You found her,” he said, thumping his son on his back a few times before letting him go. “And you didn’t even need a map.”
“Thanks, Dad. I did what you said.”
His father looked confused. “What did I say to do?”
“Swing.”
Mr. Weaver nodded in satisfaction. “That was good advice.”
Beckett motioned to the server setting salad plates on the table. “Looks like it’s time for dinner. Do you want us to sit with you here?”
“No, no, you go sit with your friends.” Mrs. Moretti waved us toward the head table. “You don’t need to sit with the old folks.”
“Thanks.” Beckett flashed her a grateful smile. “I’ll check back in right after dinner.”
“Go,” she said, smiling wistfully at us. “Enjoy yourselves.”
After I gave Elliott the good news, Beckett and I hit the bar and sat down at the head table with Cole and Cheyenne, Griffin and Blair, and Enzo and Bianca, who couldn’t stop talking about the toast.
“I felt like I was watching a movie,” Blair said excitedly. “I had no idea what was going to happen next.”
“Me neither.” Beckett reached for his beer. “I was scared to death.”
Beneath the table, I rubbed his leg. “You were perfect.”
“When you got up on that chair, I could not even breathe.” Bianca fanned her face with both hands, tearing up again. “I knew what I hoped would happen, but I wasn’t sure you’d really do it.”
“Sorry for hijacking your wedding reception,” Beckett said to Cole and Cheyenne.
The groom shook his head. “Don’t be sorry.”
“Are you kidding? You made it unforgettable!” Cheyenne shouted. “I loved absolutely everything about it!”
“Me too,” said Bianca. “You made it about more than just ‘cheers to the bride and groom,’ you know? You made it about something bigger. Something everyone could relate to.”
“I liked the part about my no-hitter.” Grinning, Cole leaned back in his chair and put an arm around his wife. “Thanks for working that in.”
“I gotta ask, Weaver, what the hell gave you the guts to do it?” Griffin asked.
“A combination of things.” Beckett took another drink from his beer. “Something my dad said last night. Something my sister said this afternoon. You guys giving me shit on the patio.”
“We did give you some shit,” Cole said. “I felt bad about it afterward.”
“Nah, I needed to hear it. You guys were right. I was being stubborn.” He looked at Bianca across the table. “It was actually something Bianca said right before the ceremony that pushed me over the edge.”