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“Sean and I have known each other since we were fourteen.”

“Is that so?”

“Sure is,” Sean confirms.

“You never mentioned him before, Bills.”

“It’d be sort of weird talking about your first love with your husband, don’t you think?” Sean takes over for me, harshly.

My shoulders relax at the protectiveness is his tone.

Graham scoffs, finishing off his beer. “Right…well I see my buddy—” He stares at Sean, frowning.

A guttural laugh bursts out of my mouth, making Sean flinch beside me. I cover my mouth, looking at the ground. I don’t know if Graham will ever see that word the same again, and I love Sean for it.

Graham licks his teeth, his tongue darting out in a sharp spitting gesture. “Enjoy the party,” he finishes stiffly.

“You okay?” Sean asks as soon as Graham turns around.

“Yes, actually. I’m great.”

His hands slide into his pockets. “You are?”

“I’m over it. I’ve been over him for a long time. That was just—weird. And kind of funny,” I add, chuckling.

“Good.”

He slips his hands around my waist, pulling me into him and kissing the top of my head.

He licks his bottom lip, making it all the easier to lean into him on my tiptoes.

My lips touch the bottom of his jaw, just below his ear. “My hero,” I whisper.

“I truly believe as your hero, I should get a better kiss than that.”

‘Sweet Jane’ by the Cowboy Junkies comes over the speakers.

“I have a better idea.” I grab his hand from his pocket and pull him to the middle of the room.

He follows suit, placing both of his hands on my hips. My arms wrap around his neck.

“We haven’t danced since the last party of that summer.”

“That was the best one too.” He smiles, looking down at our feet.

“Remember when Peyton fell into that wall? Oh my gosh, I was so happy to see him get knocked off of his feet for once.”

He chuckles, brushing his thumb up and down against my side.

“Yeah, that was a dream come true for half of the senior class.”

“What ever happened to him?”

“Who knows.”

“You didn’t keep in touch?”

“Nah, once I left for bootcamp, I actually don’t think we ever spoke again.”