I looked at Gunner and then back out to the dance floor. Just then, our eyes met. The tears falling down her face made me sick to my stomach.
“Fuck.”
Gunner squeezed my shoulder. “Smile at her, Josh.”
I did exactly what Gunner had said. She slowly smiled back as the song ended.
“Go to her, dude.”
I stood up and started to walk out onto the dance floor. As soon as I got to her, she turned and slammed into my body. My dad put his hand on my back, and then he turned and walked away.
“I love you, princess. I love you so damn much, and I wish I could take away every ounce of pain.”
When her eyes met mine, I wiped away her tears.
“Would it make you feel better if I told you where we’re going for our honeymoon?”
She smiled the biggest smile ever. “Yes! Plus, it’ll save me four hundred dollars,” she said with a giggle.
The DJ announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, I think it’s time for Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ first dance as a married couple. Heather, Josh wanted to say a few words to you before the song.”
I saw her eyes building with tears again.
“No more sad tears, baby. It’s only happy tears from now on, okay?”
She nodded and smiled.
“I didn’t think I would ever find love, but you proved me wrong, Heather. You said I rescued you, but you rescued me when you walked into my life.”
I placed my hands on her face, leaned down, and kissed her so softly on the lips. I slowly pulled away as Lila McCann’s “When You Walked into My Life” started to play. I put my forehead against hers and sang along with the lyrics as we started to dance.
When my princess started crying, I captured her lips with mine. She wrapped her arms around me and held on to me so tightly. My chest felt like it was going to explode at any moment with all the love I felt for this girl.
I’ll always love her. I’ll always protect her. I promise you.
She pulled away from my lips and smiled as she let out a little giggle. “I kinda think you got Gunner beat in the whole romance department.”
“Fuck yeah, I do!”
We both laughed as I glanced over at Gunner. I looked back at her and put my hand on the side of her face. “I love you. I’ll always love and protect you, princess.”
“Forever?”
I pulled her closer to me. “Forever plus infinity.”
“Well, I’ll be goddamned. I think that boy just outromanced you, Gun,” Jeff said.
I looked over at Jeff and Brad as they were both laughing. I shook my head. “I taught his ass everything he knows, damn it!”
Jeff threw his head back and laughed. “Little fucker. Wait until she finds out she’s going to Italy.”
Brad slapped me on the back. “I’m gonna ask my girl to dance with me. Excuse me, y’all.” He walked up and swept Amanda away from Sharon and Alex.
I smiled, watching as Sharon carried a sleeping Alex around. I looked for Ellie.
“Where are the girls?” I asked.
“They went to the ladies’ room with Jessie. What in the hell happened between Jessie and Scott?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Fuck, I don’t know. Something about Jessie going back to Scott’s house, and Chelsea, his ex, was there, waiting inside.”
“Hell, I could see why that would make a girl mad.”
Scott walked up and sat down with a sigh.
“Speak of the devil,” I said.
Scott looked at me, confused, and then looked out at Josh and Heather cutting up on the dance floor. “I want that. I want what y’all have.”
I was shocked by what he’d said. Ah fuck. How much has he had to drink?
I glanced over at Jeff as he gave me a concerned look.
“Scott, how much have you had to drink?” I asked.
Scott gave me a confused look. “One beer, you asshole!”
Jeff started laughing.
I glanced up to see the girls dancing on the dance floor. Jessie was smiling while she was talking to Ari about something.
“Don’t let her push you away, Scott.”
He shook his head. “I’m trying, Gun. I’ve asked her, like, five times to talk to me, to dance with me, to kick me…anything. She won’t even let me explain.”
“Dude, from what I could make out by all the talking on the way here, you didn’t kick the ex out. You don’t bring a girl home and then ask her to step aside for the ex.”
Scott sighed as he pushed his hands through his hair. “I know that. At the time, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. Fuck, I was just surprised that Chelsea was in my house. Then, when I was talking to Jessie, I accidentally called her Chels.”
“Oh…ah hell, dude. You done fucked-up!” Jeff said.
“Tell me about it. As soon as I got back home from dropping off Jessie, I had Chelsea leave.”
“Wait, we ran into Chelsea on the way here, and I overheard Ells and Jessie saying how Chelsea had said she’d spent the night with you.”
Scott’s face fell. “What the fuck? No, she didn’t! I made her leave. I mean, her ass was naked in my bed when I got home, but I walked away and told her to leave. I have to talk to Jessie.” He jumped up.
Jeff got up and grabbed his arm. “Dude, don’t mention the fact that she was naked in your bed. Since nothing happened, Jessie doesn’t need to know that.”
Scott grabbed Jeff on the shoulder and smiled. “Thanks, Jeff, and dude…I really have just been fucking with you about Ari. I know how much y’all love each other. I’d never get in the way of that.”
Jeff nodded. “I know. I trust Ari. Besides, I’d kick your ass and put you in the hospital if you ever touched her.”
Scott nodded. “Ah…right.” He turned and started walking toward Jessie.
“You know Jessie, Gunner. What’s your take?”
I looked at Jeff and then back out toward Jessie and Scott. “Shit, I know they both really liked each other in high school, but Scott was freaked out by how much he liked her. Once Chelsea Mason gave him some attention, he used that as an excuse, and he went after her. It was always about sex with Chelsea though. I just hope they don’t pull a Jeff-and-Ari.”
Jeff shot me a dirty look. “Fuck off, you fucker!”
I watched as Scott went right by Jessie and up to the DJ. Scott talked to the DJ for a good minute before turning back and walking up to Jess.
Hunter Hayes’s “All You Ever” started to play. Scott took Jessie’s hand and pulled her closer to him as they started dancing. Ellie turned to me and smiled.
I stood up and headed over to her. “Dance with me, sweetheart?”
“Always.”
I took her into my arms as I started to dance with her. I held her close to me and whispered in her ear, “I love you, sweetheart.”
She held on to me tighter as I moved her around on the dance floor. I glanced over at Scott and Jessie dancing. My heart broke when I saw Jessie quickly wipe away a tear.
“Gunner?” Ellie asked.
“Yeah, baby?”
“When can we go back to our room?”
I laughed as I kissed her on top of her head. “We could try and sneak away now. Your mom hasn’t let go of Alex since we got to the reception. I don’t think she’d even notice if we were gone!”
Ellie looked around me at her mother. She gave me the most beautiful smile as she looked up into my eyes. The passion filling her eyes had my dick jumping. I grabbed her hand and started leading her off of the dance floor. I took one look at Jeff, and he just smiled and shook his head.
“Holy hell, Gunner. You’re going to pull my arm out of its socket if you don’t slow down.”
“I want to take you out of that dress right now. If we don’t hurry, we might be having sex in the elevator.”
Ellie started giggling. “That sounds like fun!”
I turned to her as the elevator doors opened. I grabbed her and started to kiss her as I walked her into the elevator. When the doors shut, I pushed her against the wall, and I quickly hit the button for our floor.
“I want you so badly, Ells.”