Laura laughs. “Yeah, that’s what Ithought.” I sit down at our designated table with a sigh. It’s been one long,amazing day.
“I don’t think so.” Cole looks down atme, a frown on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“This.” He pulls me to him, then turnsaround, sitting with me in his lap.
“Oh sheesh.” I roll my eyes. “How sweet,thank you.”
“No, thank you.” He examines my dress.“Now I need to figure out how to get my hand up your dress without anyonenoticing.”
I tug on the lapels of his tux, bringingmy face to his. “I love you.” And kiss him.
We watch Cooper at the front of thestage, fiddle with a microphone until it screeches in everyone’s ears.
“Sorry about that. I’m making sure I haveeveryone’s attention.”
I’m pretty sure he had the entire roommesmerized the second he started talking in that seductive British accent ofhis.
“For those of you who don’t know me,which is pretty much ninety percent of the room, my name is Cooper Prescott,and if you catch me on a good day, I will admit to being related to thatarrogant bloke over there who goes by the name of Coulter.” Cooper jerks histhumb towards Cole and me. Cooper has a big smile on his face while he talks.“And today is a wonderful day. I don’t have any great speech planned that willmake the women weep and the men all want to high-five each other, but I do havea few simple words of love and encouragement for my cousin and best friend,which we’ve been since before we could talk.” I run a hand down Cole’s cheekand kiss him.
“Cole taught me everything I know aboutchasing women. So when I met Kate, and he told me he had married her, my jawhit the floor. I knew Kate, that you had to be someone very special if you hadcaptured Coulter’s heart. I believe the words in Cole’s vow that you have madehim whole. He has become a wiser, more compassionate man. But I’m sorry, Kate.Now that you’ve married Cole, I’m afraid that it is going to fall to you, toteach me how to catch a woman, instead of chasing them.” Cooper raises hisglass. “To Kate and Coulter, my best mate and my best girl.” There’s a round ofapplause. Cole puts his fingers between his teeth, whistling. Cooper hands themicrophone to Laura, who’s waiting at the side.
“I don’t know how I’m going to top that,for the simple reason, I don’t have a British accent, so thanks, Cooper,” Laurachides.
“No problem, love,” he yells, laying theaccent on extra thick.
“Yeah, uh-huh, I’m sure.” Laura turns herattention back to Cole and me. “I have thought long and hard about what Iwanted to say to Kate and Cole tonight, especially to my girl Kate, andamazingly enough, I’ve had a hard time. It’s not that I don’t have plenty ofKate stories that would make us all laugh and shake our heads, saying ‘that’sour Kate’. But that’s not what this is about. It’s about how my best friendfell in love and married the man of her dreams.
“I’ve known Kate for the last six and ahalf years and if there is one thing I know about her, it’s that she doesn’t doanything without a carefully laid out strategic plan. As roommates, I used tofind lists all over the house. To do lists, homework lists, grocery lists andon and on. If Kate had something she needed to do, she made a list, no matterwhat it was. I make this point for one reason, and that is because Kate is sureof what she does because she’s made a list and most likely checked it nottwice, but at least a dozen times. So I, along with everyone else, wassurprised and shocked when in such a small fraction of time she married Cole. Ijust couldn’t believe it. I’ll be honest. I thought she was crazy, that thelights and glam of Las Vegas had gone to her head. But then I saw the look onher face almost a month ago in a little white Vegas wedding chapel as shewatched Cole argue with his dad, just after everyone had interrupted theirnuptials, trying to stop them. All I saw on Kate’s face was true love, a lookI’d never seen before. And it was at that moment I was truly happy for her anddecided if Kate knew, then I was happy for her and wouldn’t stand in her way.”Laura’s voice cracks and she wipes her eyes.
“I hope one day, Kate, that you have thechance to see that look on my face and to stand up here and give this samespeech at my wedding. I don’t have any impressive words of advice because it isyou, Kate, and Cole who have shown me what it truly means to love.” She putsthe microphone down and walks over to me. I stand up, pulling her into a bearhug.
“I love you so much, Laura. I’m so gladyou’re coming to Vegas,” I whisper.
“I love you too, Kate. I thank heavenevery day for sending me such an amazing friend.”
Cooper seems to be the master ofceremonies tonight. I’m sure that was my mother’s doing, again because of hisaccent, but really I see the appeal. He stands back up, thanking Laura for hertouching speech. He thanks everyone for their attendance and then he says, “nowCoulter and Kate, get your arses up here so we can watch you dance. And Cole,try not to step on her toes…too much.”
Cole takes my hand, leading me onto thedance floor. “Which song did you choose?” I ask, placing an arm around hisneck.
“You’ll just have to see.” He smiles. Themusic starts. I don’t recognize the song at first but the melody is familiar,and then Ted Reynolds, our Elvis Preacher—he’s really like our hero ofsorts—with a sultry voice, sings about remembering and loving, soft cheeks, andwarm smiles, and the way you look tonight.
“It’s beautiful.” My voice cracking,happy tears slipping down my cheeks.
“You like it?” Cole breathes into myneck.
“I love it, it’s perfect.”
“It’s not Elvis, but I wanted to searthis night in my memory forever; you are all the things this song sings of.”There are no words for what I feel at this moment, for Cole. I tuck my chin,snuggling into him, feeling the moment.
I’m not even aware the song has endeduntil Cooper’s voice blares through the microphone. “Enough with this slowcrap. Let’s get this party started!” Guests join us on the dance floor and theparty is officially underway. I dance with my dad and with Alan, Cooper, Kitand Race. Even Luke gets in on the action.
“It’s my turn to ask for a dance, ifyou’d oblige?” I turn around to Preston, his hand extended, a genuine smile onhis face.
“I would love to.” I take his hand and wesway to music.
“Are we good, Kate?”
