I glanced behind me and then back at Hart. He was referring to me. A crooked smile slowly crept across his face when he saw my green eyes light up with recognition. Looking back down at his still waiting hand, I felt fluttering butterflies from head to toe. Hart didn’t just want to dance. He wanted to dance with me.
I dropped my arms from around my chest and extended my hand. The touching of our fingertips sent chills ping-ponging to every part of my body.
I should not be chillin’ with this boy.
Hart’s hand covered mine as he led me to the center of the alcove. I placed my other hand on his upper arm, leaving adequate airspace between us.
His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me to him. “Come closer.”
“Hart . . .”
“We don’t want you to have another outbreak of chilly nips.”
I giggled. “Yeah, because that happening twice in one night would really be embarrassing.”
The area was pitch black except for the bluish glow from the fish tank. No one knew I was in here . . . alone with a boy who was not Will . . . slow dancing. I relaxed, stepped in closer, and rested my cheek on Hart’s toned chest. As we swayed his chin pressed against my hair and a deep throaty hum filled my ears.
“You know this song?” I whispered.
“Tony Bennett, “The Way You Look Tonight”.
Closing my eyes, I got lost in the song, the sway, and the sensation of Hart.
One Mississippi.
Two Mississippi.
Three Mississippi.
“Bryson!” The loud shrill whisper of my best friend, Sophie, cut through the air.
I jumped out of Hart’s arms and shook the dreaminess from my head. Once cleared, I looked up and saw disappointment in his smoky gray eyes.
“Sophie, I’m in here,” I said, pulling my gaze away from him.
A mane of jet black curls appeared as Sophie marched toward me, her bright blue eyes full of panic.
“Thank god I found you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Will, he’s had too much to drink.” She tugged at my arm.
“I’ll be there in a second.”
Sophie eyed Hart up and down suspiciously.
Swinging her gaze between the two of us, she said, “He’s asking for you.”
“I said I’ll be there in a second.”
“Okay but hurry up. I’ll wait for you in the hallway.” Sophie cut her eyes one last time in Hart’s direction before leaving.
I nervously chewed on my lower lip. “Sorry, I have to go.”
But I don’t want to.
Nodding, he said in a low voice, “It’s okay.” I turned to leave when his words stopped me. “Bryson . . .” The sound of his raspy voice wrapped around my name caused my insides to flutter. “You’re lovely.”
My chest caved as all the air rushed from my lungs. “And you’re unexpected.”
I couldn’t tear my gaze away. There was something about this mysterious bad boy using that old-fashioned term that touched my heart. Will admired when I wore my tight pair of jeans or my string bikini. But a lot of times it felt as if he liked the tightness and the skimpiness of the clothing more than the fact that I was in it. Hart didn’t say I looked lovely. He said I was lovely.
Sophie’s head poked back in as she whispered, “Bryson! Come on! Projectile vomiting is happening.”
Keeping my eyes on Hart, I took a deep breath, and stepped backward until I was forced to turn away.
The talk at school on Monday was all about the prom—who wore whom, who got drunk, and who hooked up. I was a bundle of nerves as I headed toward English class. It would be the first time I’d seen Hart since our dance. I thought about our moment the rest of the weekend. I even elaborated on it, imagining what today would be like.
Pausing just outside the door, I took in a few feeble shaky breaths. When I walked into the classroom, Hart was already at his desk, his gaze focused on a piece of paper in his hand. Nonchalantly, I stared at the top of his head, willing him to look up. But he never did. For the remainder of the school year, I waited for him to talk, smile, or just glance in my direction. But he never did. I waited for him to make me feel special like he had that night. But he never did. I considered making the first move. But I never did. My future with Will was so embedded in my mind that the idea of veering off course was not an option. So I lived my life and waited for the memory of Hart and our moment to fade . . . but it never did.
“Suck it in, Bryson!”
“I am sucking.” The words strained against my throat.
“I’m almost done.” Sophie gave one final jerk of the strings, causing me to stumble back, as she cinched the corset tighter.
“Leave room for breathing.” I gasped.
She snickered. “You could be your something blue. There. All snug.”
“Thanks.” I turned around, adjusting and readjusting my boobs.
Looking up, Sophie’s big blue eyes were already misting with a mixture of happy and sad tears. Since the age of three we’d been best friends. Sharing every big milestone. We learned to ride bikes together and got our driver’s license at the same time. We got our first periods in the same week. Our first date was a double, me with Will and Sophie with Travis Tucker. All through high school and college no matter what, we always had each other’s back. Nothing came between girl-time with Sophie. But we weren’t kids anymore and things were about to drastically change. After today my number-one priority would be building a future as Mrs. William Grant Forsyth.
Over the past several months instead of focusing on the fact that time together would be limited, we focused on the fun parts—looking for just the right dress, picking out the flowers, and planning the big party. We were in T-minus zero mode now and could no longer avoid it.
“Bryson, you’re getting married. Like a grownup.”
“I know. Can you believe it?”
Taking in a deep breath, Sophie’s expression turned serious. “Promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t forget your old spinster of a friend.”
Laughter flew out of me. “Sophie . . . I don’t think you can be considered a spinster at the age of twenty-four. Besides it’s impossible to forget you.”
“Easy to say that now. But you’ll get all caught up in marital bliss, having so much sex your brain goes foggy. Then you’ll go all Michelle Dugger on me, popping out babies left and right. Soon the main topic of conversation will be the consistency and frequency of baby poop. You’ll fade into the all-consuming world of parenthood where everything is moist and reeks of pizza until the kids hit their teen years. Before you know it I’ll only see you at class reunions. Bitterness will have set deep into my bones by then and I’ll be forced to talk about how your ass has gotten so large it’s beginning to creep around to your front.”
“There’s a lot going on in your brain. And thanks for all the confidence you have in my ass.”
Sophie raised her handsup, shrugging her shoulders, and tilted her head to the side.
Smiling, I placed my hands on her shoulders, and promised. “You have always been and will continue to be a huge part of my life. I will always have time for you. Marriage nor babies will change that.”
“What about all the sex?”
“I can’t make any guarantees about that.” I pulled her into a hug.
Leaning back, Sophie said, “You’re such a slut, Bryson.”
“True, but as far as my dad and that crowd out there are concerned, I’m as virtuous as the Virgin Mary.” We giggled. “I guess its dress time.”
Sophie gave me a sweet smile. “It’s time.”
I found my dream gown the first day I went shopping. The second the crisp white tulle slid over my skin I knew the search was over. The princess dress was aptly named because I felt just like one. The sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves tastefully allowed the right amount of skin to show. Will liked my boobs. I had nice boobs. The tops of th
em poked out of the fitted flower appliquéd bodice that flowed into the appliquéd full skirt, gathered and secured with a satin bow at the waistline.
As Sophie zipped me up, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. It felt as if a stranger was staring back at me. I started planning for today right after Will officially asked me to be his wife a year and a half ago. We’d been a couple since our junior year in high school and we practically lived together during college and graduate school. It was a forgone conclusion that we’d get married soon after graduation.
Will and I wanted a small and elegant wedding much to the disappointment of both our mothers. The ladies tried desperately to talk us into a big lavish event since this would be their only chance.
My older brother, Ryan, at the age of twenty-seven had never even been remotely serious about a girl or a guy for that matter. He repeatedly told my parents that he was never getting married and stood firm in his conviction. Will’s older brother, Alex, was the black sheep of the Forsyth family.
Alex had been in and out of rehab three times since I’d known him. It wasn’t that Will’s parents disowned him but it was close. Will rarely spoke about his brother. It was as if he were an only child. Mr. Forsyth started with nothing, building his construction company until it became one of the largest on the east coast. Unlike Will, Alex didn’t fit the image of Forsyth Construction. Will already had a position and generous salary with the company and was on track to take over once his father retired.
My soon-to-be in-laws were so different from my family. Focused on status and image. I had been with Will for eight years and still felt uneasy around them, like I didn’t quite measure up to their expectations. As for Alex, I always felt bad for him. He was a nice guy who just couldn’t keep it together.
After many guilt-inducing discussions, Will and I compromised, letting our mothers plan the wedding. It was just easier than seeing their sour faces every time the subject came up. Money was no concern when it came to Will’s mom. That became very apparent when the bills for the reception started coming in. Since Mrs. Forsyth went overboard on everything, they paid for everything. At first my parents were a bit insulted but decided they weren’t going to stand in the way of their little girl’s dream wedding. The problem was that it was more Mrs. Forsyth’s dream than mine. Not wanting to start off on the wrong foot with the new in-laws, we all acquiesced to Karen Forsyth.
The ceremony was taking place at the historic Saint Mary’s Cathedral in downtown Charleston. Our moms made sure that the church was filled to the rafters with three hundred fifty of our closest friends. Will’s dad was his best man while Sophie was my maid of honor.
As my gaze traveled down the image in the mirror a tingling sensation spread from my hands up my arms and the room suddenly became very hot. I never doubted that Will was my future. Marriage was simply the natural progression of our relationship. But now that the day was actually here, it felt strange. Draped in this gorgeous gown, my hair pinned up, my mom’s antique diamond teardrop earrings dangling from my ears, and my makeup done to perfection, it dawned on me that in a few short minutes I would legally be bound to another person. Bryson Walker would cease to exist.
A knock on the door snapped me out of my wandering thoughts.
The door cracked open and the deep voice of my dad drifted through. “Is it safe to enter?”
“All clear, Mr. Walker.” Sophie informed.
When my gaze met Dad’s, my throat closed, capturing my breath. The moment of nerves disappeared once I saw the love and pride overflowing from his eyes. It had been a very emotional month for my parents. First, watching me walk down the aisle to accept my MBA degree and now watching me walk down the aisle to my new life.
“Wow! You look beautiful, just like your mother did on our wedding day.” Dad gushed as he blinked away tears.
“Daddy, if you cry, I’m going to cry, and my makeup will be a mess. Today is happy, happy.”
Taking the handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped a stray tear off his cheek. “I know and it is. You think I’m bad, you should see your mother. We were over at the reception site making sure everything was set. The second she laid eyes on those tiny pies . . .
“You mean quiches?”
“I suppose. She became a blubbering mess. So any uncontrollable wailing during the ceremony is her fault.”
“Daddy, I love you.”
“I love you too, darlin’. Will is one lucky young man.”
Dad leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’m going to go pull myself together. I’ll be right outside the door when you’re ready.”
“Oh, the feels.” Sophie squeaked.
With blurry eyes, I watched my dad slip from the room before his emotions kicked into overdrive.
Frantically fanning one hand in front of my face and the other hand in front of her own, Sophie attempted to dry our tears before they fell, causing a makeup slide down our faces.
“I’m good. You can stop.” I sniffled.
Sophie ignored me. “Dry. Dry. Dry. Dry.”
Popping her hand away, I cleared my throat and said, “Sophie, knock it off. I’ve got to finish getting ready.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s finish.”
Sophie brought over the black shoe box that held a special surprise for Will, a pair of four-inch red heels with crisscrossing ankle straps. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he saw these babies.
“Here you go, hot momma.”
As I slipped into the shoes, another wave of nerves hit my stomach and swirled around my head. I grabbed on to Sophie’s arm to steady myself.
“Whoa, are you okay, Bryson?”
“Yeah, I think it’s just all the excitement of the day and having to face the big crowd.”
“Just picture everyone naked.”
“There’s some pretty old people out there. Not sure I want that visual on the way down the aisle.”
“True. Scratch that. Just picture Will naked.”
“You’re not helping me.”
“Sorry.”
“I’ll be fine once I see Will.”
“I’m going to give your dad a headsup. You got three seconds to pull it together and then its show time.”
I nodded.
Sophie walked toward the door then turned to me. “You’ve got this. You look perfect. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Thank you for being my best friend.”
I stood alone in the dressing room located in the small building next door to the church, looking at my reflection one last time. Sophie was right, my dress, my makeup, and my hair all looked perfect. I took a few more cleansing breaths. Once I saw Will, my nerves would disappear. He’s the love of my life, my rock, and my future.
I picked up the red rose bouquet, opened the door, and stepped into the mid-fall evening. Goosebumps formed as the cool air hit my skin. Dad was waiting for me with a bittersweet smile across his face.
“Ready to give me away?” I asked.
“I’ll never be ready for that.”
Taking Dad’s arm, he led me between the white marbled columns and through the large ornately carved wooden doors.
The inside of the cathedral was majestic and magical. Rows of intricate stained-glass windows decorated the walls. Two rows of dark wood pews flanked either side of the white marble center aisle, which flowed into the brilliant pristine altar at the front of the church. Above the altar hung local Charleston artist John S. Cogdell’s painting from the 1800s of the Crucifixion.
As the large pipe organ rumbled to life with Pachelbel’s Canon in D, I gave Sophie a slight nod, letting her know it was time. She looked stunning in her black strapless dress with a deep red ribbon around her waist that matched the rose bouquets that we both carried. Since we kept the wedding party small, I was able to splurge on her maid of honor gift, a pair of Tom Ford black patent leather pumps with a tiny gold padlock dangling from the ankle strap. It was unexpected and slightly edgy.
O
nce Sophie was in position at the altar, the music stopped. Dad placed his hand over the one I had wrapped around his arm and gave it a slight squeeze. Two deep breaths later and my chest vibrated when the sound of Bach’s Suite in D major hit my ears. The princess transformation was complete.
I had decided awhile back that I didn’t want my wedding day to go by in one big blur. I wanted to live in the moment, take every aspect in, no matter how small. But with all the beauty and love surrounding me the only thing I saw was the dark-haired boy waiting for me at the end of the aisle looking incredibly handsome in his classic black tux. When Will’s gaze landed on me, his eyebrows rose as his mouth dropped open.
And he hadn’t even seen the red heels yet.
As we approached the altar I stole a quick glance at my mom. She was already sobbing into her handkerchief. Dad leaned down, placing a sweet kiss on my cheek before taking his place by Mom.
Father Jacobs motioned for me and Will to step forward. I looked up into the dark brown eyes of my soon-to-be husband.
“Your tits look amazing.” Will mouthed inconspicuously.
You would think after eight years with a guy nothing could shock me. I was speechless that he’d made that comment in front of God and everybody.
I just smiled back at him as the music faded and the ceremony began.
“William and Bryson, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”
“I do,” Will and I said in unison.
“Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.”
My shaky hand slid into Will’s steady one.
Clearing his throat, Will began. “I, Will . . . I mean, William, take you, Bryson, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
The love and sincerity in his voice was overwhelming, causing my eyes to fill with tears.
the Dance Page 2
