Page 107 of Stand Your Ground

I silently thanked the universe for the excuse to run from my confusing, terrifying thoughts a while longer, dragging Maven closer to the action.

“Our esteemed guests,” Mia began as everyone gathered around. “We are gathered this evening to celebrate the union of Chloe and Will Perry, our little ball of rainbow sunshine to our grumpy little rain cloud.”

Ava giggled loudly at that, and the rest of us chimed in, Vince elbowing Will where he stood next to him.

“And what better way to celebrate than with… a dance?!” Ava twirled with the words, landing in a wide stance with one hand on her hip and the other pointing off beyond the pool. “Hit it, DJ!”

And who was the DJ but Carter Fabri?

Seemingly out of nowhere, a giant speaker on a tripod had appeared. Carter must have had his phone hooked up to it because he tapped something on his screen and then a catchy pop beat rang out over the space.

I recognized it instantly as Mia’s song, “Perfect Storm.”

Mia handed her glass and fork to Grace, and then she and Ava launched into a fully choreographed routine — one that had all of us in stitches by the second line of the song. The lyrics were about finding your person in a time you least expected it, about bracing for a storm to be greeted with sunshine, instead. It was playful and fun, a complete bop, while also being layered with profound sentiment. That was the magic of Mia Love’s songwriting, and watching her and Ava dance around throwing confetti over Will and Chloe, it was impossible not to smile.

It was impossible not to get emotional.

I felt it as soon as Chloe’s eyes watered, her laughter sweet like the sound of wind chimes as she watched the show. Will tugged her in closer, his smile the brightest it’d been all night, his eyes on his daughter.

It was a full-circle moment for them, and my heart burst at the sight.

“Oh, my God,” Maven said beside me, swiping tears from under her eyes. “This is illegally cute.”

No tears found my eyes when I nodded my agreement, but my heart was in a vise grip. It was impossible to be surrounded by that kind of love and not feel it permeating through you.

As the chorus repeated, Ava and Mia snagged Chloe and Will and shoved them onto the dance floor, forcing their hands together like dolls. The newlyweds laughed, awkwardly swaying at first before melting into their own rhythm. Then Mia and Ava kept grabbing whoever was closest—friends, strangers,teammates — and shoving them into pairs until the whole yard was moving.

We howled when they tossed Jaxson and Aleks together. Jaxson performed a ridiculous curtsy before yanking Aleks into some sort of chaotic waltz, Aleks muttering curses the whole way.

I was still laughing when Maven was dragged onto the floor with Vince.

And then my laugh died in my throat at the sight of Carter sliding in front of me.

His hand closed around mine before I could protest, and suddenly I was being pulled through the crowd, straight into the chaos.

“Carter—” I warned, heels digging in, but he spun me out before I could finish. The crowd whooped. I nearly toppled over, but Carter was there, steadier than ever.

“Relax, Professor,” he teased, catching me by the waist and spinning me back in. “It’s just a little dance.”

I scowled, or tried to. It was hard to look menacing when he twirled me again, his grin wide, his body warm against mine each time he reeled me in.

“Carter,” I hissed, though laughter cracked through my voice. “That’s enough.”

“Mm, I think not. Besides, what are you going to do? Punish me?”

“That’s exactly what I’ll do.”

Carter’s grin turned salacious, and he dipped me low enough I gasped before slowly, dramatically, pulling me upright once more.

“Don’t you think that’s exactly what I’m counting on?”

His wink was too smooth, too charming, and I couldn’t fight the laughter that bubbled out of me even if I’d tried.

And I hadn’t.

I’d let it consume me, that breathless, unguarded laughter.

For one wild, fizzy second, the lighthearted girl I used to be burst free. No fear. No past. Just the dizzy joy of music and motion, of him holding me steady as the world spun.