Page 64 of Entwined Hearts
“Do you love Brittany?”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “Of course, I do.”
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life with her?”
His expression softened. “Yes.”
“Then stop being so scared, man. The rest of your life is about to start.”
Colt nodded, swallowing roughly, and I turned him around. He let out a choked sound when he saw Brittany, his hand going to his mouth as she approached us. I’d never seen my best friend cry before, but he was beaming. They both were. Their joy and excitement were palpable, like a current in the air that spread to everyone else.
I looked at Savannah sitting in the second row, her eyes glistening as she watched them with a soft smile. But then she looked at me, and it felt like we were the only people here. I wanted this with her. A wedding. A marriage. Happiness. Have wanted this since I was seventeen.
The chance to have it finally was right in front of me; I just had to be brave enough to reach out and take it. And I think I finally figured out a way to do that and have it all.
Like every wedding,the vows were sappy, but hearing Colt say them hit a little different. And at one point, some random dust got in my eyes, and I had to wipe my tears. Totally coincidental, though.
But now the reception was in full swing. There was a band, free drinks, and a dance floor. I’ve been standing on the sidelines like a wallflower at her prom for the last hour, making small talk with Emmett, who scanned the area nonstop like always. Except, I noticed his attention would snag on a cute brunette on the dance floor with every sweep. I think she was Britt’s cousin or something like that.
“You should just ask her to dance,” I murmured into my Jack and Coke.
He glanced over at me, frowning. “Who?”
I shot him a look. “I might’ve gotten a pretty gnarly concussion, but I’m not an idiot.”
He sucked his teeth, staring into his beer. “Not gonna start something I could never finish,” he said. “Don’t know if Beau told you, but I don’t date.”
I laughed. “No one said you had to date her.”
“No. I don’t do…anything,” he said, quieter.
I blinked. “Likenothing?” His lips went to a thin line, and he shook his head. I leaned in closer and whispered, “Dude, are you a virgin?”
He let out a laugh, one that was full of self-deprecation. “I might as well be at this point.”
No fucking wonder he was wound so tight. The man needed to get laid. “How long has it been?”
“Three years.” I choked on my drink. “Yeah,” he sighed, while I wiped my chin.
“Do you want to?”
“Of course, I want to. I just don’t think I should.” He wrenched his jaw, swirling his beer. “Didn’t have a lot of time for it overseas. And my head isn’t exactly right since coming back this time, and I don’t want to accidentally hurt someone.”
I didn’t really know what to say to that. I knew he had problems with adjusting, but I didn’t realize they had reached that point. “I don’t think you’d hurt someone, Emmett. Especially not a woman.”
He shrugged before looking up at the girl again. “Maybe not, but it’s not worth the risk.”
A slow song came on, something sappy, and Savannah looked around. In a snap decision, I handed Emmett my drink. “Take this. I gotta go beg your sister to dance with me.”
Savannah was walking off the dance floor when I took her hand, spinning her and bringing her into my arms. Her eyeswere wide when she collided against my chest, sparkling from the fairy lights strung up in the trees above.
“A woman as stunning as you shouldn’t be alone on a dance floor,” I said, proud of how quick I thought of that.
“Good thing I’m not, then.” Her voice was soft with a subtle rasp. Flirty in a way that made me ache.
I pulled her closer, my hand settling low on her back. “I miss you, Sav.”
“I miss you, too,” she said quietly. She moved closer, to the point that we were flush, our bodies gliding like one on the dance floor. It was effortless being with her like this, as if we were extensions of one another.
