“I found her a while ago, it turns out. Just had to get it right this time.” Hudson gives me a grin and pats me on the shoulder again, and we cheers our drinks before someone yells out from down the hall.
“All right, everyone, here we go!”
Hazel rushes over and takes my hand. We finish up our drinks and then make sure we get ourselves seated before the big show begins.
“Promise you're not going to cry,” she whispers over her shoulder at me as we walk into the other room.
“Of course not. It's a wedding. I amentitledto cry.”
She laughs at my stupid joke, and we take our seats, ready for everything to get started.
During the reception, I take a moment in a quiet spot to admire everything around me. The wedding takes up the entirety of Mason’s massive backyard and land, and I have to hand it to both him and Bridget, it’s absolutely gorgeous out here, with fairy lights and greenery-filled arches and a soft fall breeze.
I take a sip of my drink, graciously acquired from the open bar, and look up at the stars, lost in thought. Hazel finds me not too far from the main party, walking over with a mild expression of concern.
“You alright? I haven’t seen you for a minute.”
Smiling back at her, I open my arm for her to get close. “I’m great, taking stock.”
“Yeah?” She looks up at me from against my chest.
“Trust me, Hazel, ever since you walked back into my life, I’ve never been better.”
She beams from head to toe, and I’ve still never seen anything as beautiful as the woman next to me.
“Do you want to dance?”
Despite the music blasting from the DJ booth beside the makeshift dance floor, it’s not overly loud where we’re standing.
With a soft chuckle, Hazel nods, and I pull her into position. We slow dance to the distant beating of music coupled with the rhythm of our hearts, wearing smiles as bright as the stars above us.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” I murmur, laying a gentle kiss on Hazel’s cheek.
“I amsoexcited.”
The kiss changes, becoming passionate and emotional before Hazel leans back with a grin.
“You know, this was always our plan. It just took a few years of heartache and ‘almosts’ to find our way back to each other.”
“And I’m damn glad we did, Haze.” I kiss her again. “I’m damn glad we did.”
