my dad says, a soft, sympathetic smile on his lips. “And this is some gift. Thoughtful, caring, loving, kind of like the other gift he gave to all my girls.”
I nod. “Besides you, he’s the best man I’ve ever known.”
My dad wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You know, I can imagine it feels pretty awful right now, but I have a feeling things are going to work out, Avie.”
“I don’t know about that, Dad,” I retort, but he shakes his head.
“Listen, Avie,” he continues. “I have a lot of years of life under my belt. With your mother, I’ve experienced falling in love. And with my friends and family over the years, I’ve watched other people fall in love. I’ve witnessed relationships bloom, and I’ve seen them fall apart. I’ve seen people get married, and I’ve seen them get divorced. So, I think we can both agree that I have a little experience in the whole love department, right?”
I shrug. “I guess that’s fair.”
“And you know what all of that experience has taught me?”
“What?”
“It’s taught me that the way I saw Luke look at you, every day that he was here with us, is the look of a man who isn’t just in love but whose entire world stands right before him.”
My lip quivers, and I stare down at my lap, fidgeting with my fingers as I think about his words. “You really think so?”
“I know so, Avie,” he says and reaches out to gently lift up my chin so my eyes meet his. “When a man looks at a woman the way Luke looks at you, one fight isn’t going to stop him from loving her.”
Goodness, I hope he’s right.
Luke
This might be the craziest fucking thing I’ve ever done.
On a whim, we switched the Las Vegas flight plan and headed to Burlington.
But when Trevor and I started figuring out the timing of it all, we both realized we’d be cutting it real fucking close if we flew to Burlington and then made the ninety-minute drive to Lakewood.
Fortunately, Lakewood, while a small community, has a little airport almost no one ever uses. And after I worked my magic with ATC, I managed to get in touch with that tiny airport and get approval for a landing.
We’re certainly going to have some explaining to do with Billy as to why one of his massive private jets ended up in Lakewood, but minor details.
By the time we got off the plane, the crazy group that’s along for the ride managed to have two fucking limos sitting outside of the airport, ready and waiting for us.
And that’s how we got here, pulling up to the venue for Kate and Zach’s wedding reception. The beat of dance music pounds from the inside, and I don’t waste any time hopping out of the limo and heading toward the reception doors.
“Go fluffing get her, man!” Thatch shouts toward me, and I swear to God, the rest of the group breaks out into hoots and hollers and applause.
I have no idea if they follow me inside or if they stay outside and keep drinking champagne in the limos.
I don’t even know if anyone sees me rush through the doors like a maniac.
All I know is that I need to find Ava.
The instant I step into the venue, I spot the bride and groom on the dance floor, dancing around with friends and family, but I don’t see Ava.
I keep scanning the room.
I spot her mom and her aunts by the cake.
I see her sister Emily and her husband Landon talking with another couple.
Where in the hell is she?
My heart pounds in my chest, and it breaks out into a damn near sprint when I finally find her, standing just off the dance floor with her dad.
I don’t waste any time, veering between half-empty tables and attendees and quickly closing the distance between us.
And when I’m standing directly in front of her, that’s when shocked blue eyes meet mine.
“Luke?” she questions and blinks several times, like what she’s seeing isn’t real. “W-what are you doing here?”
I have no idea if her dad notices me.
Hell, I have no idea if anyone else notices me.
All I can see is her.
“Ava, you are the only woman, the only anyone, that I’d go to my knees for,” I say and reach out to grasp her hand in mine. “I know I fucked up and I should’ve told you the truth about NASA right from the start, but see, the thing is,