Page 88 of Untruly With You

“It’s a good thing, too. If not for this,”—he looks down at his sling—“I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

Dang ribs.

That warmth in my cheeks spreads again, coursing through my body, down my torso, settling in my core. I tip my chin up, just seconds from giving the bridesmaids something even better to talk about, when Cassidy’s grabs Sutton’s shoulder.

“Hey, you’re up.” She places a champagne flute in Sutton’s hand. “It’s time for you to start the toasts.”

Sutton lets out a groan, his jaw flexing. “I’ll be right back,” he murmurs in my ear, giving me one last smile before he goes to the microphone at the front of the dance floor.

Within a few heartbeats, Frankie is at my side, her expectant smile as contagious as ever. “So,” she says, bouncing on her toes once, “how’s it going?”

I’m still watching Sutton when I mumble, “Good.”

She loops her elbow with mine. “Nothing…exciting to report?”

“Is one of your brothers marrying your other brother’s ex not enough excitement for one day?” I joke.

Magnolia, Hank, Wells, and Cassidy stand in a grouping near the front of the dance floor. Their attention turns toward Frankie and me. So discreetly I almost don’t see it, Frankie lifts a downturned thumb at them. Before I have time to question her, microphone feedback sounds through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sutton’s voice carries a warmth that matches the ambient glow of the string lights. “Thank you all for being here to celebrate this incredible day with Wells and Cassidy. I've been given the honor of saying a few words. I’m sure you’re all wondering why I look like this, and you can thank Wells for that one.” He pauses, grinning. “I probably deserved it, as you can imagine.”

A ripple of laughter runs through the crowd.

“I’ve known Wells since his day one. We've shared our work, secrets, sadness, and, for a couple of awkward years, the same taste in girls.”

Another wave of laugher. Sutton winks at Wells, who is laughing louder than anyone, aside from maybe Cassidy.

“When I heard Wells was getting married, I was thrilled. At least,eventuallyI was, after that initial shock wore off. Thrilled because I knew he was marrying the right woman. Like most of you here, I’ve known Cassidy a long time. We all know firsthand how powerful it is to have her in your corner. I’m so happy that Wells will have that honor for the rest of his life.” Sutton’s voice is certain, genuine.

“Wells and Cassidy prove that love isn't always a straight path. Sometimes, it's a wild, roaring river that leads you to places you would never expect. Sometimes…it feels like a big mess.” He pauses, eyes snapping to me, and that sideways grin dimples one cheek. “But what a beautiful mess,” he says, repeating the same words he said to me after we confessed our feelings at the lake last week.

There’s a pause, the kind that makes the room lean in, the hum of quiet expectation palpable. His smile tilts, a little lopsided, but the warmth in his eyes remains steady. “Love challenges you. It changes you. It asks you to show up, to keep showing up, no matter how messy or imperfect it gets. And when it’s real—when it’s right—it’s worth every ounce of chaos.”

He clears his throat, shifting his weight, and the crowd hangs on to his every word. “Wells and Cassidy show that love doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be true.”

Sutton’s eyes find mine again, clinging to me for a heartbeat longer than they should, and my breath catches. He lifts his glass, and his voice grows lighter but no less sincere. “To Wells and Cassidy. And to the messes that lead us to the best things in life.”

40

LAINE

Applause coursesthrough the crowd as Sutton lowers his glass, his words still hanging in soft glow of the string lights. Wells claps him on the shoulder, grinning, while Cassidy wipes a tear from the corner of her eye, laughing through it. Around us, people murmur about how touching and thoughtful the toast was, how Sutton’s words seemed to resonate with everyone in some way.

I stay rooted to my spot, the glass of champagne in my hand forgotten. My heart is doing something strange, like it’s caught between racing and stopping entirely. Sutton’s voice keeps echoing in my head, but it’s not the part about Wells or Cassidy that’s sticking. It’s everything he said about love: messy, unexpected, and worth the chaos.

When I look up, Sutton’s already stepping off the small platform, weaving his way through the crowd with a polite smile here and a nod there. But then his eyes meet mine, and his face shifts into something softer, something undeniably just for me.

My breath hitches.

He doesn’t break eye contact as he approaches, stoppingjust close enough that I can feel the invisible tether between us, a stronger pull than gravity.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice low, almost teasing, but his expression gives away something more serious.

“Yeah,” I manage, though I’m not sure if it’s true. “That was…some speech.”

“Glad you liked it.” His grin is small but steady, and then he glances toward the trees, where the soft glow of the party gives way to shadows and quiet. “Come with me?”

“What?” My voice is barely above a whisper, and I glance around. “Why?”

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