Why don't you Stay ... Forever - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,35

after party—don’t you dare try not to. Drinks are on me.”

He charges down the hall, a force of nature. That’s Dean.

I take Erin’s hands again. “Thank you for not saying no.”

“Are you kidding me?” Erin pulls me to her. “I think I need to show you how much I wouldn’t say no.”

I warm inside, my worries falling away. “Sounds like something I’ll enjoy.”

“Me too.”

Clattering feet and voices let us know it will be a while before Erin and I can celebrate on our own. Falling in love and taking that love to til-death-us-do-part makes us a piece of something larger than ourselves.

“Here they come,” I say, as my brothers, their ladies, and my parents surge toward us, my Great Aunt Mary’s new guy escorting her up the stairs. “My family.”

“My family too now,” Erin says with a sunny smile. “Which is no bad thing.”

They’re around us, all talking at once. Ryan is smug—he’s the one who helped me figure out the grand gesture. Mom has her arms outstretched, the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Now she’s hugging Erin like she’ll never let go. Erin is passed around, and I lose track of her.

But it’s all right. She’ll be there when I need her. We are us now.

Erin

Somehow we make it through the after-party and all the toasts, the McLaughlins coming along, no gathering complete without them. I talk, smile, and laugh until I’m exhausted.

Even Reuben is congratulatory. I’m still annoyed with him for using me—again—but that anger has been swallowed by my present happiness. Reuben acts contrite, and genuinely glad for Ben and me, but I’m relieved he’ll once more be gone from my life.

Dean gets drunk off his ass and gives me a big kiss on the mouth. He tries to give Ben one too, but Ben manages to evade him. Dean laughs as though he’s never had so much fun.

It’s very late before Ben and I break away and head home. Virginia hugs me one more time before I go.

“Welcome to the family, honey,” she says. “I’m so happy I could spit. But I won’t.” She pulls me aside and lowers her voice. “I meant to announce this tonight, as a surprise, but Ben upstaged me, so I’ll just tell you. I called the temp agency on Friday and said I wanted you permanently—you’ll now be working directly for us. That is, if you still want the job.”

I stare at her in astonishment, then I do a spontaneous leap. “Yes!” I shout. My job is perfect—it’s low-stress and lets me focus on dance, and I enjoy being part of the McLaughlins’ business. “You’re wonderful. Thank you.”

I must have had a little too much of the champagne Alan splurged on, because I’d never have gushed that way to my boss otherwise. Virginia laughs and hugs me again.

When Ben and I finally reach my house, all is quiet. Ben halts his truck in my driveway, and we sit still for a time, reveling in the silence.

“Want me to go?” Ben asks softly. “It’s been a big night. I understand if you’re overwhelmed—”

I haul myself across the seat and crush his lips to mine. “Stay,” I murmur. His answering smile is all I need.

We finally go inside, kissing as soon as the door is closed. We kiss in the foyer, the living room, and then down the hall to the bedroom. My aunt smiles from her picture on the mantel, happy for us too.

We kiss in the bedroom, and shed our clothes. Soon we’re on my bed, wrapped in each other, bathed in moonlight.

“Sure you don’t want me to go home?” Ben jokes as he slides inside me, my world opening and flooding me with euphoria.

“No.” I groan the word, and hold him close. “Please stay. Forever …”

“I can do that.”

Our words drift away—no more need for speech.

I’m with Ben, the man I love. We come together in a perfect dance, two partners well matched as we float away on love, happiness, and an effervescent wave of pleasure.

Epilogue

One month later

Austin

I know she’ll be here. I’m bracing for it, but when I walk into the church for Abby and Zach’s wedding rehearsal and see the beautiful woman in the tight blue dress, my tongue gets stuck in my throat.

Brooke Marsh. My ex.

The sheath dress shows off her legs, bare for the June heat. Her arms, which used to wrap languidly around me, are likewise bare. Her black hair is long and sleek, hanging in a satin swath halfway down her back, complementing