Page 80 of Stolen Kisses
“I’ll toast to that!” Abby set a glass of wine down in front of Grace, then poured a glass for Krista. She held up her own.
“Well, okay then. I guess we’ll toast.” Krista laughed, holding her glass against the other two.
“This may be the first of many toasts,” Abby said. “I’ll need alcohol if I have to stay here in the same room with Sam for several more hours. I’m doing this because I love you,” she told Grace.
“I’m honored.” Grace beamed at both of her friends. She really did look happy and in love, and Krista understood because she felt the exact same way about Noah.
“To happily-ever-afters,” Krista said.
“Hear! hear!”
Krista paused before drinking, the broken condom situation back at the forefront of her mind. If she was pregnant, then she should avoid alcohol. But if she wasn’t pregnant it would be fine, she told herself, taking the smallest of small sips. Because what if she was? If she and Noah were pregnant, then they would deal with it. They’d be a team just like they’d been for this event, which was going off without a hitch.
After more drinks and laughter, everyone sat down to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast together, followed by the traditional bachelor and bachelorette festivities that most brides and grooms enjoyed.
Krista couldn’t help stealing glances to the other side of the room to see what Noah was doing. And most of the time he was sneaking glances right back at her.
“You two can’t keep your eyes off each other, can you?” Emily whispered beside Krista. “I think it’s terrific.”
Krista pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She really liked Emily Sawyer. “We’ve been seeing each other for a couple weeks,” Krista shared.
“How about your entire lives?” Emily laughed while shaking her head. “Glad you two finally caught up with your feelings.”
“Yeah.” Krista had never been the one who’d needed catching up, though. She’d always known how she felt. She’d just been waiting for Noah all this time.
Abby tapped her wineglass and stood up. “Toast time.” She looked at Krista and Grace. “Yes, I know. This is toast number two for some of us. I just want to wish Grace an unforgettable wedding day. May it pour down on your big day.”
“Pour down?” Grace frowned and stole a glance at Jack across the room.
“Rain on your wedding day is good luck,” Krista said.
“Exactly. It didn’t rain on my wedding day,” Abby added, “if that tells you all anything.” Her gaze rolled in Sam’s direction. If he was listening, he wasn’t showing it. The men had other things going on at the other side of the room. Instead of wine, they were enjoying their beers, laughing and leaning back in their seats as if they’d eaten way too much. And they probably had. Even Krista’s pants were fitting snugly after all of Abby’s delicious catering, and they hadn’t even served dessert yet.
“May it pour on your wedding day,” Abby said again, with a slight slur as she addressed Grace.
All the women agreed, even if deep down none of them would’ve wanted a soggy wedding day of their own. If it brought good luck, however, then Krista guessed it was worth it. She toasted and cautiously took another half sip of her wine.
After cake and gifts, the crowd started to disperse. Krista finally made her way back to Noah, like she’d been waiting to do all afternoon.
“A success.” She sighed.
“Yes, it was. You’re amazing.”
She sat down beside him in an empty chair. “You helped. Don’t give me all the credit.”
“But you dreamt up the plan, and it went off without a hitch. You bring things together, Kris. People together. A lot of people would’ve taken Grace and Jack at their word. They said they didn’t want a party, so they wouldn’t have gotten one.”
Krista leaned against him. “But they would’ve regretted it when they were ninety years old in their wooden rocking chairs.”
Noah turned to look at her, his gaze unwavering. His voice lowered. “You amaze me.”
There was so much punch in those three words that she stilled and forgot to breathe for a second. They weren’t the three little words she wanted to hear from him, one day, but they felt similar. She swallowed and started to shrug it off, but nodded instead. “Thank you.”
“I don’t know what I did to have you as my best friend all these years, and now so much more, but I don’t want to mess this up.”
And those words had punch, too. “So don’t,” she said.
The corner of his mouth twitched. He reached for her hand and took it in his own. “Looks like all the guests are venturing off. Care to walk along the waterfront with me?”
