Page 136 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

And when he looked at me, I saw that certainty I was used to seeing on his face. But it was different because I was part of that certainty. He was confident in us.

Around midnight, Melody and Austin made their grand exit. We all lined up outside the tent with sparklers, creating a tunnel of light for them to run through. Melody was laughing, Austin was carrying her shoes, and they both looked so radiantly happy that I started crying again.

“You’re a mess,” Cash said, pulling me against his chest.

“I’m happy.”

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “Me too.”

The party continued without the bride and groom. The DJ kept playing. The bar stayed open and now that I was no longer on maid of honor duty, I could really let loose.

As the night wore on, I found myself in the middle of the dance floor with Cash, both of us attempting the chicken dance alongside Finn and several increasingly uncoordinated groomsmen. Cash was flapping his “wings” with an earnestness that made me laugh so hard I nearly fell over.

“You’re taking this very seriously,” I said, watching him execute a perfect chicken-inspired squat.

“Bancrofts don’t do anything halfway,” he replied, his face completely serious while his body performed the ridiculous movements. “Even poultry-based choreography. Do you know how many weddings I’ve been to in the last couple of years? And at every single one of them, we do this stupid dance.”

I snorted with laughter. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re surprisingly fun?”

“No,” he said, spinning in a circle. “That would ruin my reputation. I negotiate billion-dollar deals without breaking a sweat.”

The music shifted to something with a thumping bass line. Cash pulled me close, his hands finding my hips like they belonged there. Which they did. They absolutely did. These hips were his to do whatever he wanted with.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” I said, looking up at him.

“At Austin’s wedding?”

“No. Here. Together. Like this.” I gestured between us. “A month ago, I thought Rome was just… Rome.”

He tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen out of my updo behind my ear. “Rome was never just Rome. Not for me.”

“No?”

“No.” He looked serious now, even as we continued to move to the music. “I’ve been thinking about what happened with the press. How I panicked about our engagement getting out.”

“And?”

“And I don’t want to hide this.” He gestured between us. “Us. Not anymore. But I also don’t want to make a big deal about it.”

I considered this. “So we’re not going public, but we’re not hiding either?”

“Exactly. People might find out. They probably will. But we don’t have to announce it or confirm anything.”

I liked that. The idea that what we had was ours. Not for public consumption or tabloid fodder. Just us, figuring things out together.

“I think that’s perfect,” I said. “Besides, I’m going to need some time to prepare my social media followers for the fact that I’m dating a man who owns more gray suits than should be legally allowed.”

“I don’t wear that much gray.”

“Lurch, your closet looks like a banker’s funeral.”

He laughed, spinning me around. “Then it’s a good thing I have you to add some color to my life.”

“Purple is going to be a very good color on you,” I agreed.

“I was actually thinking about getting a purple tie.”

I stopped dancing and stared at him. “Who are you and what have you done with Cash Bancroft?”