Page 45 of Olivia’s Only Pretending (Sweet River #3)
Thirty-Three
The sky was sapphire with twinkling stars overhead and the air crisp. Streetlamps lined the street and passersby crowded the path as I weaved toward Coffees and Commas—toward Victor.
I swung the doors open, hit by the warmth of the close quarters filled with guests sitting around tables set up for the dinner. Candles at the center of every surface and twinkle lights strung overhead. Everyone was facing the center of the room, where Victor stood with a microphone in his hand.
The door swung closed behind me. No one looked my way. Every eye was on Victor, whose eyes were on Gabriel and Emma as he spoke.
“But I’m happy to share him with you,” Victor said, his voice playful but still thick with emotion.
Emma nodded, wiping a tear away.
I took a few steps forward. A few guests glanced my way, and I smiled politely.
Victor’s warm, booming voice filled the small space.
“I used to spin my wheels, terrified I’d let down the people I loved.
But lately, I’ve gotten an up-close look at love.
” His throat caught on the word love like rough sandpaper.
“When love is good and right and real , there’s no space for that kind of doubt because that kind of love lifts you up.
It gets you reaching for things you never thought were possible before. ”
Tears pooled in my eyes. I’d heard this speech before, but each word still plucked at the strings in my heart.
“And that’s what you two have—a love that lifts each other up.” Victor raised his glass, casually glancing back out toward the crowd, his eyes stopping like a record scratch when they landed on me. His face melted into a smile like I was the best surprise.
I gave a small smile and perked my shoulders. His grin widened as he clinked glasses with the tables around him, everyone toasting the couple.
After he took a swig, he set his flute down and walked straight to where I stood in the center of the room.
People couldn’t help but glance our way as his hands met mine, our fingers entwining.
“You made it,” he said, his voice tender, quiet.
I chuckled. “I’m a total mess, but yes, I made it.” My chest was rising and falling fast.
“It ended early?” Victor asked, his warmth wrapping around me.
“No, I left early,” I said. “I skipped the last part.”
“Liv.” His voice was syrup as he tucked a fallen strand behind my ear. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You always show up for me. I want to show up for you, too.”
“You don’t see it, huh? How you do more than just show up for me. You make my world go ’round,” he said.
Our lips met lightly, and the room applauded around us. We broke into a laugh in the middle of our kiss. I glanced over his shoulder toward Emma and Gabriel’s table, where Gabe whistled.
Linda Hernandez was nodding, mouthing, It’s about time .
I buried my face in his chest. I hadn’t meant to make a scene. I’d only meant to be the smiling face on the front row, like he’d been for me, even if for just the last couple minutes.
Victor led me to his table with the bride and groom and their families. Linda grabbed my hand to give it a gentle squeeze.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Katie said warmly. “You must’ve booked it from your event.”
I’d definitely booked it down the winding roads between the school and Sweet River. “I didn’t even stop to fix my hair.” I gestured toward my falling ponytail.
“Well, now our table feels complete,” Linda said sweetly.
I felt my cheeks go pink. Victor slung his arm around the back of my chair. I rested my tired head against his shoulder.
Gabriel stood up to thank everyone for making it to the rehearsal dinner, his voice loud and eliciting murmurs of laughter throughout the room as he made a joke.
Victor’s own laugh hummed under my cheek.
A feeling of peace radiated through my body—a rare, warm feeling that I usually only felt with my family on lazy holiday mornings and late nights up talking in Mom’s living room.
Now, as I sat at this table with Victor’s family, with my head on his shoulder, that sense of home snuck up on me. A feeling Victor had more than earned.
He was so much more than a safe zone.