Page 138 of Fireworks

“See, she didn’t mind my speech at all. Now I need to dance. You coming with me King?”

The smile on my face was making my cheeks hurt today. Katie looked flawless in her bridesmaid dress. I’m sure the other members of the bridal party looked good too but my eyes only saw her. She was twirling around the dance floor with her niece, Serena, having the time of her life. It took us some time to settle back into our lives. Not fearing that the bottom was going to drop out and that this was indeed our fairy tale ending.

“You’ve got your hands full with that one.”

Vanessa Murphy walked up beside me, bumping my hip.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Vanessa was also a Summit Creek resident and one of Bridgets cousins. She was in Katie’s graduating class, but they never hung out.

“How have things been? You ready to graduate this year?”

Never letting my eyes leave my girl on the dance floor, I could see Vanessa nod out of the corner of my eye.

“I sure as hell am. You know Katie was right, about how if you asked any of us years ago if this is where would we end up this is what we would be telling them.”

“You do realize she’s drunk and will be pissed in the morning that she didn’t give the actual speech she wrote, right?”

Vanessa chuckled, “yes. Katie will most certainly be pissed but, I bet having the love of her life next to her will make up for it. I’m happy you guys are getting married. I don’t even know if you remember me from back when we were younger. I was at that sleepover when Ashely dared her to kiss you. Lucky girl, you got Nate.”

Beaming as I watched Katie smile and laugh on the dance floor my heart fluttered at the prospect of our future.

“I sure as hell am. So, you got a lucky man, or will Katie and Bridget be trying to pawn you off on someone tonight?”

Letting out an exaggerated sigh she looked around the room.

“Single as hell and ready to start my own adventure. I’m going places Nate, you just watch.”