Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
He looks around at the assembled crowd, then looks at me, right at me for a second. But it feels like it lasts much longer.
It feels like time stretches, and we exist at this moment, just me and him, a private blazing intimacy.
Finally, he turns back to the crowd in general.
“It’s a rare thing,” he says, his husky voice carrying. “To find somebody you want to spend the rest of your life with. It’s a rare thing to want, need to be with them, so badly it hurts thinking about being with anybody else. Or thinking of them being with anybody else.”
A tingle moves over my skin, the same which touched me when we first kissed, back in the grove…which seems ages ago.
How was that the same weekend?
Everybody smiles over at Banner. Dad looks around, a wide grin on his face. His eyebrow is quirked as if to say, Where did this come from?
But I know exactly where it’s coming from. It’s the same place shivering inside of me, the place crying out for his touch, closeness, and every second of every minute, ever.
“I often wondered if I’d find it,” he goes on. “But it’s like I said. It’s rare. It’s so rare most people will never experience it. And when they do, they won’t be able to imagine life without it, without this amazing person they’ve found.”
I bite down a sob, certain he’s talking about us. And I feel the same. I’d never be able to imagine life without my man now. We would have bonded and fused in a tropical paradise or in a snowy tundra.
“It’s like waking up one day and finally realizing I can have this. I can be this person, who loves, is loved. I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I don’t have to be alone. I don’t have to wonder if I’ll ever feel this thing we’re all chasing. Because it’s right there, she’s right there.”
He glances over at me, his smile tight, his eyes blazing intensely. Luckily, Sonya is between us, so people probably assume he’s looking at her.
A tear slides down my cheek as he quickly turns back to the crowd in general.
“I’m so happy for you Gil. Congratulations,” he says, raising a glass.
We all toast the bride and groom.
When Banner sits down, dad claps him on the back.
Everybody is talking again, so I can’t hear exactly what dad’s telling him, but I know it’s well done. I know he’s probably asking where those moving words came from since Banner has never been one for romantic gestures like that.
Until now, until us.
Mila squeezes my leg under the table, causing me to turn to her.
She smiles, and there are tears in her eyes too.
“That was for you, right?” she says, her voice low. “Or am I crazy?”
“I think it was,” I murmur. “But maybe I should text him to be sure.”
I will, I decide, after the party.
CHAPTER 22
Banner
Of course, it was for you.
I smile as I send the text, though it’s tinged with the dark side of what I did. I took my best friend’s speech and made it about me somehow, though he didn’t know.
But it was like I had to say something to my woman and let her know…
Or maybe that’s giving myself too much credit and thinking too deeply.
I acted on instinct, not giving myself time to think, the words flowing out of me.
Now, leaning against the headboard, legs sprawled out, the balcony door letting in the cool night air.
The starlight and moonlight bounce off the water, but then its blackness for miles and miles.
It was so sweet, she replies. I had tears in my eyes. So did Mila.
Mila knew it was for you, too.
Yeah, she got that.
I pause, nodding. It’s only right her best friend should know about this. I want the whole world to know, except the whole world includes Gil.
Not long now, I type. Then we can tell him. We’ll be able to be together.
Do you really believe that? she asks.
I bite down, willing myself to tell her yes. Just yes, and add nothing on top. Inject no doubt into the situation.
I don’t know. I text her a moment later. I honestly can’t imagine how he’ll react. It’s probably so far outside of anything he’d think would ever happen. It’s impossible to predict, but I think it COULD be good. I think there’s a chance.
Maybe that’s all we need, she replies.
I hope so, I write. You’ve got no idea how badly I wish you were here. I feel like an ass for the way I walked out on you.
It’s okay. It was probably for the best. What if we’d gone crazier and somebody had heard?
Fair point, I send. I have to be strong. But I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight. I don’t think I’ll sleep until we can be together again, not after seeing you in that outfit.