Page 110 of A Vine Mess
“We should talk later,” Mellie said as we moved back up the aisle.
“There’s nothing left to say,” I assured her.
“Please, Will—Liam,” she corrected. “Just give me a chance to explain myself.”
I’d never considered the possibility that she might owe me an apology, that I mightdeserveone, and suddenly, I found myself wanting it.
“Fine.”
Photos were interminable, mostly because my cheeks were fucking aching from faking a smile, and my entire body, every nerve ending, begged me to get Ella back in my arms.
At last, we entered the reception, and though I knew it would piss my father and brother off and raise all kinds of questionsfrom the guests, I left my seat at the head table empty in favor of joining Ella and Gramps at theirs once again.
Before she could utter a single word, I hauled her against my body and crashed my mouth to hers.
It wasn’t an overly explicit kiss. There was no tongue, only an extended length of time where my lips remained pressed to hers, breathing her in, drinking in the sensations of being with her.
When I let her go, Ella swayed a little on her feet, but I steadied her with my hands on her hips.
“Hi,” I grinned.
“Hello to you too,” she said.
“That was some greeting,” Gramps said from behind me, and I turned to him, giving him a sheepish apology.
Now that the hard part was over, I could sit back and enjoy my time with my girl and Gramps. We chatted all through dinner, and when the speeches were out of the way—Dad gave one in my place because there was no way in fuck I was getting up there and saying anything nice about Sammy and Char—the DJ got the music going.
I was surprised by the selection—namely that it was all music from this century.
A slow song came on, and I pulled Ella to her feet, walking us to the center of the dance floor and wrapping her in my arms.
“I have to ask,” she said, though the way she gnawed on her lower lip told me she was nervous about the question she had.
“Yes?” I prompted.
“Did you and Mellie—” She stopped, shook her head, and started again. “Were you ever close to…this?”
I shook my head, lifting my hands to cup her cheeks. “No,baby. We were—” I thought about the best way to phrase it without hurting Ella. Then again, I knew she’d understand. Knew she felt the rarity of what we had exactly as I did. “We were off more than we were on, and though I thought we were getting more serious at the end there, it wasn’t ever like this. Believe me when I say I have never felt for anyone the way I feel for you. And maybe it’s crazy to say, but I know without a doubt that the only woman I ever want to marry isyou.”
Ella nodded, tears welling in those gorgeous green eyes, making them sparkle even brighter than normal.
“Happy tears?” I asked.
“Happy tears,” she confirmed.
The song ended, and something neither of us had any interest in dancing to began playing, so I led her off the floor.
“I’m going to go get us more drinks,” I told her. “Go hang out with Gramps and rest.”
“Rest?” she asked, quirking a brow. “For what, exactly?”
“Oh, I think you know, my dear. Let’s call it a repeat of last night. But this time”—I leaned in to whisper in her ear—“I’m tyingyouup.”
“Promises, promises,” she said, winking and disappearing into the crowd.
I made my way toward the bar, but I pulled up short when I caught my parents in my periphery, having what appeared to be a whispered argument. Dad was red in the face, visibly pissed off. That wasn’t shocking. What was, however, was the fact that my mom was shaking. With anger or fear, I couldn’t tell, and when my dad gripped her upper arm tightly and didn’t let go when she tried to pull away, I frankly didn’t give a fuck.
Before I reached them, Dad finally released her and disappeared.
