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thirty

Rory

“I cannot get over how fucking gorgeous you are, Ella,” I say.

“That dress is so damn stunning,” Harlow adds.

Ella runs her hands down her sides before fanning them out over the skirt of her gown. “I’m so obsessed with it.”

Lucia drapes an arm over her shoulders. “I bet Josh is, too.”

“He loves it,” Ella smiles before lowering her voice. “But he still can’t wait to get it off me tonight.”

“Something tells me I’ll be the only one not getting my dress ripped off tonight,” Lucia smirks, gaze directed at me. Harlow and Ella try to stifle their laughter.

“No comment,” I reply, biting down my smile.

“Well, I have a comment,” Harlow chimes. “Knox better tear this off me the second we get back to our room. Nothing turns you on more than a goddamn wedding.”

As if he was summoned, Knox slides in behind her, wrapping an arm around her. “I’m not sure we’ll have time to get your dress off, Lo.”

I’m now flanked by Cole and Lane on either side of me as Josh wraps his arms around his wife.

“What the hell?” Lane says. “Cole isn’t complaining about hearing Knox talk about fucking his sister?”

Harlow rolls her eyes. “Thanks for announcing that, Lane.”

“I’m just tuning them out,” Cole says before smiling softly at me. “Hey, Rory. Having fun tonight?”

“I am,” I reply. “Our best friends just got married. It’s a great night.”

We all cheer before the song changes, fading out from one of the traditional dance songs to Invisible , a song by an artist named Knox that, ironically, Harlow is the one who introduced me to. Josh and Knox lead Ella and Harlow to the dancefloor.

“Alright, Brooks,” Lucia says, looping her arm through his. “I want to dance, and as the Best Man, you should dance with the Maid of Honor.”

“Just don’t tell your boyfriend,” he laughs.

“Technically, he’s not my boyfriend yet.”

Lane and Lucia join our other friends on the floor, leaving Cole and me behind. He lets out a breath before turning to face me again.

“May I have this dance, Starlight?” he says, extending his hand to me.

“My dad is here…”

“And we’re friends attending a wedding together. We can still dance, Ror.”

I smile as I place my hand in his, and we walk to a spot on the back of the dancefloor. There will be fewer questions by our friends tonight if we aren’t by them.

Cole and I keep one hand interlocked, and I rest my other on top of his shoulder, while his rests low on my waist.

It’s unfair how good he looks tonight. He looked great in the full suit earlier, but now that he’s taken the jacket off, leaving him in just his vest and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he’s obscenely hot .

And he’s all fucking mine.

“So, friend ,” he smirks. “Are you having a good night?”

“I really am,” I say as we sway to the music. “I just love weddings.”

“You know, I never answered your question earlier.” Our eyes meet, and I’m lost in the depths of steely blue. “Yes, I would like to get married one day.”

I can’t hide my smile.

It’s far too soon to be thinking about marriage. And it’s not like he said he wants to marry me .

But it makes me happy.

I’ve never known Cole to date anyone. I have known him to have some hookups, and I know he had far more of those when he was still in Kansas, but his talk about ever getting married shows me how serious this is.

How serious he is about us .

The thought of us going the distance, getting married one day, makes me downright giddy.

What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic.

But maybe it’s not so hopeless anymore…

“Something on your mind, Starlight?” Cole smiles, taking me out of my head.

“Nothing at all, friend ,” I reply, laughing as I say the word we both know holds no actual meaning to us anymore.

We don’t say anything else as we continue dancing to the song. We’re caught up in the moment, and if we speak, we might blow our entire cover already.

But I can get lost in my own head again.

All of this with Cole just feels so right . The way he holds me as we sway along to the music. The look in his eyes as he catches mine. The way our hands fit together perfectly.

Our relationship is still in its infancy, but I can already see myself falling hard for this man.

Hell, I think I started on that journey almost four years ago.

When the song ends, there’s a tenderness in Cole’s eyes that I’ve not seen before.

It’s not desire. It’s… passion. Warmth. Endless affection .

He lightly grabs my arm, leading me to an empty hallway. Once we turn a corner and are out of sight of the reception, my back is against the wall, and Cole’s lips are on mine.

Our kiss starts out soft before becoming more sensual.

This doesn’t feel like the kisses we normally share. We haven’t kissed much outside of the bedroom yet, so they’re usually hot and heavy.

But that isn’t what this is.

This kiss is sweet.

Passionate.

All-consuming.

A promise that this is more than just infatuation.

We’re real , and he’ll do whatever it takes to be everything I need.

When I tangle my fingers in the loose strands of his hair and deepen our kiss, I hope he can see that I’m promising him the same thing.

After Cole and I sneak back into the reception, I head straight to the bar. I need to get my bearings again after my boyfriend just kissed the life out of me.

I lean forward and rest against the bartop after the bartender hands me a new glass of Merlot. I take a long sip and exhale, working to gather my composure.

“Having a good night, Rory?” I hear a deep voice from beside me.

I turn and smile. “It’s been a great night. But you already know that. You’re the Best Man, after all.”

Lane laughs. “They did good. This reception is fucking fun.”

“Where’s Sage?” I ask, looking around the room for the adorable toddler.

“With your dad,” he chuckles. “He’s barely let her go all night.”

“That man is in desperate need of some grandkids.”

Lane eyes me. “You’re an only child, Ror. Thinking about giving him some grandkids soon?”

I choke on my wine. Guess I set myself up for that one. “Hell no. I’m twenty-six. I don’t want kids yet.”

“Fair enough.” He takes a swig of his beer before a sly look washes over his face. “You and Cole will make some really cute kids, though.”

“W-what? Why would you say that?” I feel like I’m on fire right now. Is it possible for your entire body to blush?

“Cut the shit, Fisher,” he says, no bite to his words whatsoever. “You may think no one noticed, but I saw you two sneak off into the hall after you danced together. It’s really not that hard to put it together.”

I groan.

One day.

We’ve been together one fucking day, and we’ve already slipped and got caught by someone.

“Did my dad notice?” I whisper nervously.

Lane laughs. “Seeing as he didn’t march after you both, I’d say you’re safe.” He leans closer now, lowering his voice. “Cole wasn’t the same man this morning as he was at the bachelor party. Is this official now?”

I just sigh. “Please don’t say anything. We’re talking to everyone tomorrow. But… yes.”

“Finally. I’ve been rooting for you two.”

“You didn’t even know I liked him until literally last month,” I chide.

“And ever since, I’ve been pulling for you.”

I laugh heartily. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Makes life more fun,” he smiles.

“Dada!” a tiny voice cuts through the crowd.

“Lovebug!” Lane says as he scoops up Sage in his arms.

“Your child is too damn fast,” my dad says as he walks over to join us. “I can’t keep up with her.”

“Ah, Skip,” he says, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “That’s because you’re an old man.”

“Watch it, Brooks.”

Lane laughs before his face scrunches up. “Oh God, what’s that smell?”

“A present from your daughter,” my dad laughs. “Consider it an early Christmas gift.”

“You shouldn’t have, Sagie.” She giggles as she clings to Lane’s shoulders. “You really shouldn’t have. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and hope this isn’t a blowout. I really don’t need shit all over my suit.”

“Shit!”

I double over in laughter and wipe a tear from my eye. “Oh my God, one of the only words she can fully say. Good job, Lane.”

He grumbles as he walks away, leaving just me and my dad at the bar.

“You look beautiful tonight, baby girl.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I lean closer as he places a kiss on my cheek.

“I saw you dancing earlier. With Cole.”

My breath catches in my throat. Time to sell this.

“The entire wedding party was dancing, to be fair.”

“I know,” he smiles. “You two are friends, aren’t you?”

“We’re all friends. But when the Best Man and Maid of Honor decided to dance together, and the other two people in the wedding party were an actual couple, that just left Cole and me.”

“Fair enough. I like him. Probably the only guy on the team that isn’t a complete pain in my ass.”

I choke on a laugh. “Yeah, he’s a good guy. It’s a Pierce thing, I think.”

He chuckles. “You’ve seemed so much happier lately, Rory.”

“I am happy,” I admit. “Life is pretty good right now.”

My dad stares at me now, gears turning in his mind. “You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”

“What?!” I yell. “What would make you think that?”

“Because your old man has been around long enough to recognize the look of being completely smitten with someone.”

“You need new glasses then, old man,” I say, hip-checking him as I try not to combust into flames. “I’m just happy. I’ve got my friends. I don’t need a man.”

“I need all the single ladies to join us on the floor. It’s time for the bouquet toss!” The emcee’s voice booms over the speakers, giving me the perfect way to get out of this conversation with my dad.

“Welp, that’s me. Gotta get out on the floor.”

I scurry as fast as my feet can take me.

Why am I such a bad actor?

He knows I’m with someone, even if I’m denying it.

He doesn’t know it’s Cole, but how long will it be before he figures that out, too?