We all continue friendly conversation while we finish our meal before watching Ally and Scottie have their first dance. More tearing up ensues, and it’s definitely not coming from me.
Okay, maybe a little bit, but I’m going to blame all the champagne I’ve consumed this evening.
The dance floor eventually opens up to all the guests, and when Travis gets up, I expect him to ask me to dance. Surprising me completely, he extends a hand to my mother, smiling down at her.
“Can I have this dance with the mother of the bride?”
Her eyes widen a little and she lets out a nervous laugh as she looks around the table, eyes finding mine. I don’t even realize I’m smiling at first, but he always has a way of surprising me. After a moment, she nods, slipping her hand in his as he leads her onto the dance floor. Glancing over his shoulder, he throws me a wink.
I watch them dance, unable to take my eyes off them. They’re talking as they sway together, and I wonder what about. He even gets a laugh out of her, despite how uncomfortable she looks before slightly relaxing into it. Someone slides into Travis’s seat, but I don’t look away yet. My chest swells as I take him in, my throat tight with emotion.
“Is that Travis with Mom?”
Turning my head, I realize it’s Ally who’s joined me. “Yup.”
“That’s so cute.” She nudges me with her elbow. “You should go dance with her next.”
“What?” I hiss, glaring at her. “Not happening.”
“Oh, come on,” she grumbles. “It’s a wedding. People set aside their differences at these type of things.”
“I don’t think that’s true, Ally.”
She scoffs loudly before standing and tugging on my arm. “You’re doing it, Matty.”
I don’t know why I let her drag me onto the dance floor, but I do. She cuts in between them, stealing Travis and leaving me with our mother. I’m not someone who gets uncomfortable easily, but as I stand here with about a foot of space between me and my mom, I can’t help the wave of nervousness that washes through me. I know how much this means to Ally, but I don’t know how to let my mom in. I just don’t.
Too many years have passed. Too much hurt. But… it is Ally’s wedding day, and I guess I at least owe her this much. So, even though my mouth is dry and it feels like my throat wants to close up, I extend my hand toward my mom and ask, “Dance with me?”
There isn’t any hesitation as she takes it, letting me pull her closer. Her eyes fill up, and something twists sharply inside of me. The song continues, and we move to the slow beat, neither of us saying anything. We both look in the direction of Ally and Travis. They’re talking and laughing while they dance.
Pride fills my chest, thinking over how easily he’s settled into my world. How easy it was for him to get along with my friends. My sister. How he had no qualms about meeting my mom, despite knowing what he does. It was effortless. With Robbie—who’s around here somewhere, but thankfully, I haven’t had to see much of him tonight—it felt easy for him to mesh in with us simply because my family already knew him because of Scottie. Not because of who he was as a person.
With Travis, he’s a bright light amongst the bleakness. He’s friendly and kind, and he wears his heart on his sleeve. And yeah, maybe before I saw that as a fault, before I really got to know him, but now I know it’s quite the opposite. He sees the world in a way I’ve never been able to. And as I watch him mingle with my sister, appearing totally comfortable, I realize, not for the first or the second or even the third time, how fucking lucky I am to have him. How much better my life is with him in it. And how that man is going to be my husband one day, and nothing has ever made me as proud as that.
As if reading my thoughts, my mom breaks the silence. “He’s a very nice boy.”
My heart slams against my ribs as I look at her, finding her already watching me. “Yes, he is.”
I can only imagine how hard that one simple sentence was for her. Just when I start to think that’s the end of our conversation, she adds, “I’m glad you found someone who makes you happy,hijo.”
Before I can respond—not that I’d even know what to say—the song ends. She leans in, standing on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Thank you.” Her voice is quiet and her eyes are glossy. She walks back to the table while I swallow down the unexpected emotion that’s overcome me. Ally and Travis step closer to me, both of them grinning as Travis takes my hand, leading us to the bar while Ally goes to join my mom.
He leans into me as we wait for our drinks. “You okay?”
Turning my head, I meet his curious, yet worried baby blue gaze. Nodding, I reply honestly, “Yeah, I think so.” I lean in, fusing my lips to his, letting myself bathe in the comfort he gives me before adding, “Thank you for coming with me tonight. It means a lot.”
Travis smiles against my lips. “Of course. I love you, Matty.”
I’ll never get tired of hearing that.
“I love you,cariño.”
EPILOGUE
Mateo
