Page 62 of Wedding Bet

“I apologize for pressuring you to dance,” he finally said.

“The dancing was great. It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” Jamie finally asked. He turned to me, and it felt like his gaze was burning a hole into me, somehow finding a way directly to my soul. My throat tightened up again, butI was determined not to let any more tears dry on my cheeks tonight.

I had bottomed out. I had nothing left to lose.

And I had nothing left to say to Jamie but the truth.

“I want to be open to love again, Jamie,” I said, the words feeling strange and foreign coming out of my mouth. “I want to be, and I think I have wanted to be for a while now, and just haven’t been able to admit it.”

Jamie’s eyes danced across my face, searching for something. “Weddings can be emotional,” he said, trying to downplay it. “You don’t have to be sure about any of your feelings until later.”

“It’s not just the wedding,” I told him softly. “It’s something that’s been growing in me for a while. That’s definitely been uncovered, every second I’ve been with you. Because that’s apparently a superpower you have. The ability to be so supportive that anyone around you is a better version of themselves. I know I am, at least.”

He turned away. There was something guarded about his reaction, and after the things I’d told him all week, I didn’t blame him. “That’s very sweet, and I’m glad I’ve helped you,” he said. “I know you and I wouldn’t actually be together—inanyworld—but if you’re open to real love now, whoever it may end up being with… that’s great.”

“Why do you think that? That we wouldn’t ever be together?”

He looked down, giving me a shrug. “Because even in a world where you do want love, or a relationship, you also know we come from two different universes.” He met my eyes again, and this time, it looked like he’d given up hiding his truth. “Because you know you can do better.”

No.

No, no, no.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his.

His lips were so warm. I clutched him close to me, sliding my hands under his jacket and holding his waist. He tasted like lavender from the cocktails, and when I really let myself admit it, I knew his body felt like some version of coming home.

I had to prove to him how wrong he was.

I was pretty sure I could neverdo betterthan Jamie.

I kissed him because I knew I would start crying again if I didn’t. I kissed him because it had been the only thing I’d wanted, all night, all day, all fucking week.

“Jamie,” I said before leaning in to kiss him again, wanting and needing more. “I have no idea if we’d date under other circumstances.” As I spoke, I punctuated every few words with another kiss, so hungry to be as close to him as I could. “And I have no idea if you’d even put up withmysorry ass in any circumstance. But I do know that you deservethe whole fucking world. You’re crazy to think I could ever do better than you.”

“You are way too nice to me,” he murmured as I kissed him along his jaw, pulling him even closer, so desperate for his warmth.

“Not even close.”

“Fuck, why do you have to feel so good?” he said, groaning. I moved him, stepping over toward the tall brick wall nearby. I pushed his body back up against the wall, kissing any part of his skin I could find.

“I don’t understand it,” I said, nuzzling against the crook of his neck. “Something just clicks, for me, when I’m with you.”

I leaned back, looking at his eyes, searching for any sign that he felt the same way.

“You’re…” he said, his words trailing off as he looked at me.

“Tell me the truth,” I said softly, squeezing his hips. “I can take it.”

“You’re in the snowglobe with me,” he finally said, his voice barely a whisper.

Something sparkled inside me. Something I couldn’t name.

“What?” I asked.

Jamie bit his bottom lip, suddenly looking the slightest bit bashful. “All week, I’ve felt like I’m… in my own little snowglobe. Like a dream. Something that’ll only exist here. And this is the first time I’ve beensurethat you’re in it with me, too.”

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