“Yeah. But I just got a message from my mom.”
“Oh, no. What did she want? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It happens from time to time, she’s been wanting to make amends or some shit. But I don’t wanna dwell on that, not today.”
”Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head. “Not right now.”
She takes a pause and links her hands in mine, giving them a squeeze.
“Will you come back to San Diego with me for the last few days before you head back to Seattle?”
With all the commotion of the wedding, we hadn’t exactly made plans for what we were going to do, I figured it would be staying on a few days in Vegas. But I’m happy to head to San Diego, or wherever she wants.
“Of course,” I say. “I don’t have to be back until Tuesday afternoon.”
“Perfect.”
I turn to face her and bob my head to place a peck on her lips. I’ve been dying to do that all day, but I didn’t wanna start getting all touchy feely with her in front of her parents and brother after they just found out about us.
“And how about I take you back to my place after this and we relax in the hot tub?”
She squeezes my forearms, her eyes shining with excitement and warmth. I’m trying to place if I heard her say she loved me when I woke up in her bed, or if I dreamed it. But I’m too chicken shit to ask. “Now that sounds like a perfect finish to the most perfect day.”
“Let’s give your brother our best and high-tail it.”
“They’ll still be here for breakfast tomorrow,” Jade reminds me.
“I know, but it seems fitting, kinda saying it now.”
“Are you sure you’re okay about your mom?” she asks.
“I’m fine. We’ll talk about it, just not right now.”
It’s an emotional few words when we catch up with Tanner and Deb, about as emotional as the speeches, because yes, I had to pull something out of my hat as best man. But nothing too embarrassing, just the truth of how much the Jones family means to me, and what a great friend Tanner was in my last yearof high school. I threw in a few jibes here and there, mostly at his expense.
“Look after my sister while I’m away,” Tanner tells me, prodding me in the chest.
“You know it.” I give him a hug and he pats me on the back.
“Thank you for being part of our day,” Deb says behind him. “We couldn’t have done it without you two.”
“Hey, I just showed up,” I joke. “But thanks for letting me be a part of it. I love you guys.”
“Love you, too, man.” Another pat on the back as Jade and Deb hug, then Deb reaches over to me and I pull her into my arms.
“Bring him back in one piece from your honeymoon,” I quip.
They may only be going away for three days, but it will be a nice break for them to be on their own. They’re taking Luca with them to Cancun for a family vacation when they return.
“I’ll do my best.”
The rest of the night goes without a hitch. Jade and I say goodnight to Billy, Ellen, Luca and the rest of the guests. As promised, we jump in the hot tub and have a last glass of champagne to celebrate the day, enjoying each other’s company and recapping all the amazing parts of the day. We definitely danced the night away after Billy returned Jade to me after their daughter-dad dance. One day I hope it’s our wedding.
It’s all I could see when I saw Jade in that beautiful dress. And we may have only been on one dinner date after that dance class, and a few outings here and there, but I know enough inside to realize how I feel about her.
We go to bed right out of the hot tub and I make love to her before we fall asleep from exhaustion, and I swear to god I slept all night with a fucking huge smile on my face. The text from my mom temporarily forgotten, for now, at least, anyway.
