Page 157 of Ripped & Shipped
“I am!” she beams and her eyes dart away, looking for Joe. He sees her searching for him and walks over to put his arm around her waist.
“Congrats, you two,” I say.
“You’re next,” Meg whispers.
“Not yet, I’m not.”
“I bet it’s soon,” she says. “I’ve never seen a man more in love than Chris is with you.”
“Hey,” Joe says, smiling. “What am I over here?”
Meg giggles. “Okay. Chris is the second most in-love man ever.”
“That’s more like it,” Joe says, leaning in to place a kiss on Meg’s forehead.
He can think that. I know better. Chris is the most in-love man ever—and he’s in love with me. It still blows my mind on a regular basis.
We’re ushered back outside for more pictures while the guests mingle and eat tray-passed appetizers, and help themselves to drinks from the portable bar.
Since the reception area isn’t divided at this venue, some guests stand around watching the wedding party take pictures. Then the DJ announces the couple. They step out onto the dance floor together. Chris stands at my side, his arm around my waist. Our eyes are on Meg and Joe. The air feels a little chillier, so I snuggle up next to Chris and he pulls me closer—like I need an excuse to be nearer to him. I don’t.
Joe takes the microphone and greets the guests, thanking all of us for being here for Meg’s and his special day. Then they have their first dance while we all look on. Christina Perri’sA Thousand Yearsplays through the speakers set around the garden. It seems like it’s telling our story—Chris’ and mine. I pull him near and give him a squeeze. He looks down at me and our eyes say everything we need to say.
My opportunity to dance with Chris is next, during the wedding party dance. My arms are looped around his neck like a junior high student and his arms are laced behind my lower back.
Calum Scott’sYou Are the Reasonplays, and Chris softly sings it into my ear as we sway. As if I needed any more persuading to fall for this man, he can sing. His resonant voice vibrates through me, telling me I’m his reason. Declaring all the things he’d do just to be with me.
He pauses his singing and says, “What a day,” in his only-for-me voice.
He’s looking at me with an expression I want to memorize.
“It’s amazing. My bestie is married.”
“You doing okay with all that?”
Ever the protector. He’s got to check in on me, take my pulse, make sure I’m good. It used to unnerve me. But now I cherish it.
“I’m fine. I’m so happy for her, I’ve put the move completely out of my head.”
“Obviously,” he teases.
“Mostly,” I admit.
Laura’s aunt and uncle have a studio apartment over their garage. Laura mentioned it to me a few months ago, when I was getting my hair done.Thatwould never have happened a year ago. So, for the time being, in a few weeks, I’ll be moving up over the garage. It’s not ideal for my yoga shoots, but it’s a place to live for now, and the rent is dirt cheap. I nearly had to beg Laura’s aunt and uncle to let me pay them.
The song stops, and Joe walks over to me and Chris, holding out the microphone in Chris’ direction. It should be time for the meal now. Toasts come later.
I can feel my face scrunch in confusion until Chris drops down on one knee. I don’t flinch like I thought I would. I’ve imagined this scene hundreds of times over the past six months, at least. Every meal out, every drive to Columbus to visit Alex and Courtney, every time he showed up at my door looking a little preoccupied, I’d ask myself,Is this the time?I’ve been so ready for this. So very ready.
Chris looks up at me and starts speaking into the microphone. “A year ago, I happened to be walking into a Frisch’s Big Boy near Columbus. And, as fate would have it, Ella Mae was there.”
People hush and now we’re the center of everyone’s attention. All eyes are on us—on Meg’s big day. I glance over at her and she’s beaming. Obviously, they’re all in cahoots about this. I look back down at Chris.
“As you all know, Ella Mae and I didn’t run in the same circles around Bordeaux, and to be honest, we sort of grated on one another’s nerves half the time.”
I whisper, “All the time, Big Boy. All.the.time.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, more like all the time.”
