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Thirty minutes later when we arrive at the historic Franklin Hotel downtown, it’s Angie’s turn to use the handkerchief to wipe my mouth clean of her lipstick before we walk inside arm in arm.
I glance down at the foam sandals she’s sporting as they peak through the hem of her dress and I smile. I’m glad she’s comfortable because there’s no part of tonight I want disrupting her joy.
I keep her by my side throughout cocktail hour as I introduce her to all my colleagues and keep her sparkling juice flute filled. We take pictures with the photographer I purposefully hired, standing in those classic and awkward prom poses; and I already plan on giving a copy to our parents for their refrigerators. I’m framing this shit and hanging it up.
When dinner is served, while Angie is talking to Dayo, our Director of Interior Design, I lean over to Jay who’s sitting right next to me and whisper in his ear, “Everything ready?”
“It’s perfect,” he says. “I may have…added a little more.”
“More what?”
“You’ll see. Don’t worry,” he grins.
After dinner and dessert are cleared, the volume of the music picks up and the song switches from the festive holiday mix to No One by Alicia Keys—and the real reason we’re here tonight begins.
Sort of.
Standing from my chair, I reach for her hand. “May I have this dance?”
Her gaze shifts from mine to glance around the room and then back. “But no one is dancing yet.”
“We are.”
“Jesus,” she mumbles, but takes my hand. “Just whip your cock out and show everyone already.”
I lead her to the empty dance floor, giving her a spin right off the bat, and then tucking her into my body. To make room for the babies, her own body isn’t centered against mine—instead, her belly extends next to my hip. I brace one hand under her stomach and my other holds her close. We sway together and her glossy fingernails shine against the dark velvet of my tux.
I don’t care if no one else joins us. I don’t care if we overstay our welcome and I have to pay to extend tonight’s event, because nothing could tear me away from this long-overdue dance.
“Can this be our song now?” I ask, and her sad smile fills me with warmth.
“Only if you promise to keep slow dancing with me.”
“Forever, baby.”
Eventually more people come to join us and even though we’re surrounded by them, it somehow feels more intimate—like we’ve created a little cocoon within each other’s arms.
“This is the best prom I’ve ever been to,” I say to her, watching the light twinkle in her eyes.
“I feel like a princess,” she smiles. “Like a huge, pregnant princess.”
My chest shakes with laughter as I kiss the top of her head. “The most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”
“Do you mind if we take a break for a little while?” she asks. “My hips are starting to hurt, and I need to catch my breath.”
“Of course. Here, why don’t we step into the hallway,” I offer, and she holds my arm as I lead us through the double doors. There are professionally decorated Christmas trees and garland strewn throughout the hallway as well as ornate couches along the walls. But instead of guiding her to one, I pull her towards the double doors on the other side of the hallway.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Let’s see what’s in here.”
2Her eyes go wide as she looks behind us like we’re going to get caught. “Um…”
“Come on, live a little.” I pull open the large door and usher her inside quickly, and it swings shut behind us.
“Oh my god, no. We can’t be here,” Angie whispers, trying to push me back. “This is somebody else’s event!”
Holding her shoulders, I spin her back around to face the room. “No, it’s not. It’s our event.”
