can hide in the crowd and follow the event from the sidelines.
Distances, however, thin considerably as we head to the dance-floor—back in the wall-less house where tables have been removed to clear a space in its center—for the first dance.
But being demoted to simple bridesmaid has the added benefit of me being paired with Tucker for the last of the wedding party’s duties. And if I sneak off stage the second the song is over, I can disappear in the crowd again and not have to face Archie.
With this determination in mind, I find Tucker, steer him to the opposite side of the dance-floor to where Lana and Archie are standing, and wait for the first song to start. The notes of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect soon fill the air, and I have to work hard at keeping the waterworks in check as my sister and Logan walk on stage hand in hand and begin to waltz. The bride and groom can’t take their eyes off each other, and they look so unabashedly happy my chest tightens.
And then I make my first mistake; I look up and find Archie’s eyes, and my heart squeezes even harder.
The first chorus ends, our cue to enter the dance-floor. Tucker and I join hands and I let him lead. As my dancing partner twirls me around, my eyes search for those of the man who has stolen my soul. We meet and lose each other’s gazes again at each turn in a vortex of emotions until the song ends.
My plan to flee forgotten, I remain on the dance-floor, breathless, staring at him. Tucker leaves me to go grab Penny from the crowd and lead her on for the second dance. Similarly, all other couples break and reshuffle. Winter is to dance with our father, Logan with Mom. And when Christian claims Lana for himself, the best man is free to close the distance between us, imprison my body in his arms, and spin me round to the center of the stage.
All of Me from John Legend begins to play next.
Why did my sister have to pick the most romantic songs on the planet?
My heart can’t take any more strong emotions; it’s already been battered and crushed too many times. I’m so ruinously in love with this man holding me, it’s ridiculous. I can’t bear the thought of having to say goodbye to him tomorrow. Of never seeing him again. I search Archie’s eyes for a clue he feels the same, and his gaze seems to promise everything his mouth still hasn’t said.
A small flame of hope lurks in my chest, but I squash it down. I can’t get carried away again. For all I know, this could be just a beautiful goodbye for him.
The song ends and, before I can do or say anything, Archie scoops me up into his arms and carries me off the dance-floor and over to a wooden bench hidden in the trees surrounding the lawn.
I’m holding on to him, my fingers laced behind his neck. And as we sit down, I don’t let go. Archie sits and scoots me closer to him with one arm, while his other hand moves up to cup my cheek.
Eyes as intense as ever, he whispers, “I love you, Summer, and I’m not ready to let you go. Whatever it takes.”
For a moment, the words catch in my throat and I can’t speak. I gulp down a sob, and, in a trembling voice, I say, “I love you, too. But—”
Archie presses a finger to my mouth. “No buts.”
I free one of my hands from behind his neck and put it over the hand covering my mouth. I kiss his fingertips and push the hand down, saying, “But because I love you, I can’t force you into something you don’t want. Even if we could make it work at first, one of us would have to go against our wishes in the end. And I would never do that to someone I love.”
“Summer, I’ve been stupid. I had no idea what I wanted before you showed me. I always thought marriage wasn’t for me, that I would never find a woman I needed by my side every day, but you are that woman, Summer Knowles.”
“How can you be sure? How can you change your mind so radically in just a week?”
Archie bows his head for a second as if to collect his thoughts, then raises his gaze again. “In the past, I’ve never felt anything more