Absolutely petrified and wanting to stall as long as possible, my eyes washed over everyone on the dance floor. It was easy to see how happy they all were. Even Kristen and Ethan seemed to be dancing rather close . . . interesting. How ironic that Ethan had turned into her date instead of mine. His dark eyes were fixated on her, too. It was as if everything had ended up as it should be.
For everyone but me, that is.
Things could change, but it would be up to me this time.
I looked across the room and even Chris looked happy talking to a girl I didn’t recognize. She appeared to be interested in him, but I could tell the feeling wasn’t mutual because I knew what he looked like when he was into someone. I knew the way he’d looked at me. The intensity in his baby blue eyes. The way he kissed me as if I were the only thing that mattered to him. My chest ached to feel that way again. There was only one way I might have that chance.
I knew what I had to do.
After the way I’d acted yesterday, he might reject me. But at least it wouldn’t be because I hadn’t been honest or because I had been too scared. I needed to lay it all on the line. Now.
I pushed to my feet, ready to ask him to dance, then turned abruptly when someone took my hand. “George? What the . . . ”
“Come on.” He pulled me toward the dance floor. “Let’s dance.”
Shocked and confused, I followed him numbly while mumbling incoherently, “How did you . . . ? Why in the world . . . ?”
He put his arm around me and lifted my hand to his. “I’m so happy to see you, Gina. You look amazing.”
Closing my mouth, I blinked up at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you I made a mistake.” He looked down at me, his voice sincere. “This should be us right now. It should be our wedding.”
Immediately, I looked over at Chris whose gaze was fixed me, and he looked ready to take someone’s head off. “No, it shouldn’t be.” I stepped back to put more space between us. “My only mistake is that I should’ve left sooner. It wasn’t right. We weren’t right.”
Because I knew what right felt like now. And he was heading this way.
His brows came together. “But I miss you.”
“We had good times, George. I blamed you for leading me on for ten years and I shouldn’t have. The truth is it’s my fault for not ending it a long time ago. I’m the one who wasted all those years. It was my mistake, not yours.” I turned just as Chris crossed the edge of the dance floor. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
Just as I spun around, Chris barreled up, and I put my hands against his chest to keep him from going near George.
His jaw went tight. “What is he doing here? He had his chance—”
“Just leaving.” I put a hand to Chris’s face, trying to get him to look down at me instead of George. When his eyes finally met mine, it took my breath away. Here went nothing. “I need to tell you something.”
He stared down at me as if processing what had just happened. “I’m listening.”
My heart pounded, a loud thump thump thump, joining the beat of the slow song echoing through the speakers. “First, will you dance with me?”
In answer, he snaked his hands around my waist and pulled me into his arms.
Shivers raced down my spine from being so close to him, but also because of how he was looking at me. Like I was still everything to him. It gave me a bit of hope, but I’d still never been so petrified in my life.
I inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry for yesterday. You may not forgive me, but I was just scared. You’re not the only one who’s had their heart broken before.”
He closed his eyes, then cupped my face in his hands. “Gina . . .You know who broke my heart, don’t you?”
My brows came together, remembering what Rach had thought. “A girl from work.”
He ran his thumb along my jaw line. “You.”
“Me?” My words were barely a whisper.
He nodded. “Who else? All those years I had to watch you with someone else.”
“I had no idea.” I tightened my grip around his neck. “That’s the reason you made your rule? About not dating in the workplace.”
He chuckled softly. “There was no rule.”
My eyes bulged. “What about you needing me to pretend to be your girlfriend?”
The corners of his mouth tipped up. “Yeah, that was fun.”
“Chris!” I batted at his arm as he laughed. Then I raised my lashes at him. “I never invited Ethan to the wedding. I only said that to push you away.”
His jaw tensed. “I’m not going to lie. That stung.”
Tears formed in my eyes. “I’m sorry. If I could take it back—”
“It hurt because I wasn’t hitting on another man’s girl. You’re mine.” His hand slid around the back of my neck, trailing its way up my jawbone until he cradled me in his arm.
“I am?” Shivers raced through me and my heart pounded against my ribcage. I found myself leaning closer to him, our mouths a breath apart. “I am.”
“I’m glad you know that.” His lids were heavy, but he held still, not closing that whisper of space between us. “I’ve waited a long time for you, honey.”
“Me, too.” With his lips so close to mine, I couldn’t resist anymore. My lips finally found his. The kiss was electric, sending a rush of tingles all over me. Then our mouths opened in sync, tasting each other, savoring, filling every worry I’d had.
Chris trailed kisses along my jaw, below my ear, and then whispered. “I hope you want a houseful of kids.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “That’s negotiable.”
“Good.” He tilted his forehead against mine. “Why is it you never pick Truth?”
I bit my lip and smiled. “Because I’m a girl who goes for it. I just forgot that for awhile.” I pressed my lips against his. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“Anytime.” He cradled my face in his hands. “I’m calling you my girlfriend for real now. Like I said, you’re mine.”
My face broke into a smile and all the happiness in the room flowed through me. “Indefinitely?”
He pulled me close. “If I have anything to say about it? Forever.”
I rested my temple against his chest and melted into him. “Now there’s a Truth I’ll say yes to.”
THE END