Page 36 of Midnight Kisses

But Perry said, “An easy mistake to make.”

“I’m going to carry on with my rounds,” Ginger said. “I’m running this whole event. As you know, it’s a lot of responsibility.”

Perry wished her well, and the odious woman melted back into hell, or wherever she’d come from. The woman with the nails hugged Perry again, and Lara shook her hand and reminded her to call her office next week.

Then it was just us.

“Want to dance?” I asked. “Or shall we go see if we can find Ginger’s car in the parking lot?”

“Why would we do that?”

“To key it.”

Perry barked a laugh. “Dance. Definitely dance.”

“Dancethenkey?”

“Let’s just dance.”

She pulled me onto the dance floor and I wrapped my arms around her. She melted into my embrace and we swayed for a few songs. I thought about how courageous she was, how loyal, how kind, how funny, and good. I also thought about how hot she was and how much I wanted to get her home to bed, but that was justoneof the things I wanted to do with Perry. I also wanted to get two spoons and eat ice cream out of the same container as it melted in the tub on my counter. I wanted to lie in bed with her on Sunday mornings as she scratched my scalp and told me about her business plans. I wanted everything she would give me, and more besides.

“Hey, blondie?”

“Mmm?”

“You’re it for me.”

She pulled back in my arms to look at me. “What does that mean?”

“Anything you want. Everything you want. Be my girl, my girlfriend, my life partner, my significant other. Call it whatever the fuck you want. I’m ride or die for you, baby.”

A slow grin spread across her face. “Really?”

“Yeah. I want to fuck you to sleep and lick you awake. And I want to make you laugh and kiss you when you cry, and call bullshit when people try and wrong you. I want to be with you.”

A dazzling smile covered her face. “I want to be with you, too. You’re one in a million, Miles. Everyone who meets you knows that. I just want you to bemyone.”

I kissed her then. I didn’t give a fuck who saw, or if we were making a scene in the middle of the dancefloor.

I’d found her by chance but I was keeping her on purpose.

EPILOGUE

PERRY

1 yearlater

Our wedding was vibrant,extravagant, and perfect in every way. Much like my husband.

We got married at a large estate up North. Helen openly sobbed when my parents walked me down the aisle, and even my dad was misty-eyed as Miles and I exchanged vows.

My dress was a custom design by my friend Georgia, who was enthusiastic about putting a plus size bride in a sleek, figure-hugging dress. Other bridal places tried to stuff me into large ball gowns, telling me they were the most ‘flattering’ for curvy brides.

The look on Miles’ face when he saw me for the first time was flattering enough.

Best of all, I wasn’t going to need Tala and three other bridesmaids to help me hold the thing when I needed to go to the bathroom.

After our ceremony, when Miles and I had taken what felt like thousands of photos down by the lake, we stopped off at the main house to freshen up before sitting down for an al fresco dinner with a hundred of our nearest and dearest.

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