Page 47 of Olivia’s Only Pretending (Sweet River #3)
Thirty-Five
T winkle lights were everywhere, even woven through the trees, heavy with copper and gold leaves.
Taper candles glowed in golden candelabras at the center of each table.
A coffee bar toward the back of the garden helped fight the chill in the air this November night, while guests clutched drinks spiced with apple and pumpkin flavors.
Happy chatter hummed around us, along with poppy love songs the DJ played. Adam grabbed Lucy’s hand when we walked out and immediately spun her into a dance. Her wild red hair fell around her shoulders.
“Those two,” my mom said, arriving by my side, Charles in tow.
“Those two,” I said, grateful my sister found someone who made her so happy. Who made her glow .
“Your daughters both have such nice boyfriends,” Charles said, waving the cocktail in his hand toward me. “I met Olivia’s boyfriend weeks ago at our faculty dinner. Wasn’t his name Victor?”
I nodded, swallowing. Oh dear, that night was a total charade . I tried to remember what we’d said to him. Charles must’ve bought whatever we were selling.
“I remember how he told us the story of how he met you at the coffee shop—how he got your help with milk alternatives? Right?” he said. “He’d had a crush right away. Something about liking your freckles.”
The story he told came back to me.
All of it was true.
None of it was a charade. None of it was an act.
We never even had to lie—not a word, not a touch.
“I see where you got those beautiful freckles,” Charles said, blushing at Mom.
“Oh, well, thank you.” Mom touched her freckle-laden cheeks. Her blue dress swished at her ankles. “Did you recognize Victor up there in the wedding party?”
Charles’s eyes lit with recognition. “Now, that you mention it, I do.”
“Speak of the devil,” Mom said, nodding toward Victor, who strolled into the garden. His eyes swept the place until they landed on me.
He grabbed my hands. “I’ve got to show you something.” He led me farther into the garden, across the dance floor, to a corner with an ornate stone fountain, iron benches, and a beautiful wooden arch.
Victor’s arch.
Two intertwined triangles, meeting together to make one beautiful arch. I touched it. It was wrapped with ivy. My fingers traced the carved ivy detailing, Victor’s trademark.
My breath caught in my chest. “It’s beautiful.”
He bit his lip, looking down at his feet for a beat. “You think?”
I loved that I got to see the vulnerable moments of confident, cool Victor. I collected them like treasures I found along our life together.
I stepped closer to him. “I know . It’s perfect.”
“We took our photos out here,” he said proudly. “Em and Gabe even did their first look out here by the arch.”
“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire started pulsing through the speakers, filling the garden. Victor grinned immediately, reaching his hands for mine.
“Victor, Olivia, get out here,” Katie shouted from the middle of the bridal group, which was forming a big huddle on the dancefloor.
Terrence had his hands on her waist as she swayed to the beat.
Victor and I jogged over, hand in hand. Luis and his wife, Rachel, were dancing, hands in the air. I caught him giving Victor a nod of approval. Victor spun me into the center of the dance floor. Sweaty and happy, we danced.
The night unfurled before us with a fiery pink sunset overhead, twinkle lights shining.
A slow song by Tim McGraw came on next. Victor pulled me close, his warmth wrapping around me on this crisp evening. His hand was on my lower back, the other interlaced with mine. I looked up to find him grinning down at me. It made me grin right back. Joy bubbled in my veins like fizzy champagne.
“I love being the one you dance to the slow songs with,” Victor said, his voice a sweet rasp in my ear.
Goose bumps trailed down my neck.
The word love was on the tip of my tongue. “Well …” I licked my lips, taking a beat, asking myself to be brave. “I love … you , Victor.” A lock on my heart fell open.
He pulled his head back quick as lightning. His eyes widened on mine, almost like he was wanting to check if he’d heard me right.
“I’m so in love with you,” I said through a giddy, relieved laugh. “I’ve thought it so many times now. I had to say it.”
“I’ve never known how to be anything but in love with you, Liv,” Victor said, stopping us in the middle of the dance floor.
People danced around us. “I’ve thought it a thousand times, but I’ve wanted to wait until you were ready.
I didn’t want to scare you. But I’m sure you, and everyone, can tell, I love you . ”
My heart was bursting. I grabbed his suit jacket, pulling his mouth inches from mine. “I’m not scared. I’m sure of us. I’ve never felt as sure of anything in my life as I am of you and me.”
He planted his lips on mine, soft, tender.
The music swelled around us. He lifted me up, with my feet dangling in the air for a moment.
My body was pressed against his. His chest was warm and solid under me.
He dropped my feet back to the ground, pulling apart from our kiss for a second, to look at me like he still couldn’t believe he got to hold me in his arms like this.
“What are you thinking?” I asked, the two of us starting to sway to the music again.
He shook his head. “I’m just … happy.”
I nestled my head against his chest, a breeze ruffling through the garden, through my hair. “Me too.”
It was as simple as that. I’d finally stopped pretending. Stopped fighting it. Let my guard down. Let my feelings out. Let him in. And let myself be vulnerably, wondrously, bravely happy.