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He laughed. “Well, that didn't seem to work for Ryan's bachelor party.”
I burst into giggles and swatted his arm while shaking my head. “Levon!”
“What? It's true!”
I couldn't contain my laughter. We walked over to the crowd forming in the center of the dance floor and joined the mass of bodies moving to the pop music. I accepted a glass of champagne and clinked it against whoever had theirs extended, swaying to the rhythm of the music. Jen danced to my left as Levon danced to my right.
And I felt so happy.
CHAPTER19
Levon
I joinedthe line of groomsmen that were clapping around the dance floor. We had just completed the first dance with Jen and Ryan officially married. The grin on my face could have cut right through my cheeks if I tried to smile any wider, but I didn't care.
It was my sister's big day and my heart swelled with happiness.
Jen approached and I embraced her warmly. “I'm so proud of you, sister.”
“I'm so glad you could stay, Levon. It means so much to me.”
She choked quietly and I hugged her tighter. “Don't work yourself up, okay?”
“I will do whatever I please.”
“That's my sister.”
She giggled and pulled away, wiping beneath her eyes carefully. She rolled her eyes and waved her hands. “What are you waiting for? Go dance! I have to do my rounds.”
“Don't get too drunk!”
She laughed as she wandered away from me to a group sitting at a table. As she embraced them, I turned to the dance floor. Clara was in the very center with a group of bridesmaids. They were wearing matching gowns that swept the floor. Even though they matched, Clara seemed the prettiest of all of them. Her curly hair fell over her bare shoulders and framed her gorgeous face. Her smile lit up the floor. Her eyes were sparkling.
Everything about her drew me toward her.
I found myself stepping in her direction before I could stop myself. The music ended and the girls cheered, turning around to find more dance partners.
Clara locked eyes with me. “Hey, stranger.”
“Hey,” I said with a smirk. “Could I join you?”
“I guess that depends on what song is next.”
A slow R&B song floated through the speakers and I shrugged. “How about a slow dance?”
“We could do that.”
She held out her arms and wrapped them around my shoulders. I took her hips and swayed with her, fitting just like a puzzle piece that had been lost from the box for far too long. We moved together like a ship might move with the ocean. Every part of us seemed to touch. I held my cheek to hers and she let me. I sat there, content with our skin connected, and listened to her breathing, to the rhythm of it picking up with the beat of the song.
She shuddered. I wrapped my arms tighter around her waist and held her close, vowing to myself that I would enjoy every second of this moment. There was nothing that could tear my attention away. Even the goofy way the other groomsmen were dancing around each other couldn't possibly steal my focus. She was everything and I was nothing.
And I think I was melting.
I nuzzled slightly into her cheek. She didn't complain or deny me. I didn't want to do much more than that because I didn't want to test her, but it was difficult to contain my reaction to the nearness of her body. She commanded me in every way. Even after years of being apart, it felt like we hadn't parted at all. I felt like I was right back at senior prom with her in my arms.
Back then, I thought we would last forever. I had pictured us getting married, having kids, and growing old on a beautiful wrap-around porch as our kids came to visit. Our kids would have kids and we would spoil them with all the affection in the world. And we would always be in love.
That was then—and this was now.