It'd been over a week since I'd agreed to go to a wedding for someone I'd never met, and as I stepped back from the mirror to study the caramel-colored suit I'd bought for the occasion, I worked to relax the stiff set of my shoulders. Large group functions always made me uncomfortable.

Unless I was running them. Then I was in my element. Making sure everything looked perfect and ran on time was my specialty.

Mixing in with the crowd, making small talk, meeting a bunch of new people all at once—that was my personal hell. But for Nate, I'd chat, schmooze, and do it all with a smile.

My cell buzzed in my pocket and I sighed, knowing it'd be my sister without even looking. "Morning, Liv."

"Good morning! Now, don't ignore this FaceTime call. I want to see you."

The phone vibrated again, and I answered her call. Auburn hair fluffed in unruly waves around her sleepy face filled the screen.

"It's almost eleven. Did you just wake up?" I asked.

"Maybe." She grinned and glanced away with a giggle. "It was a late night."

A chuckle sounded beside her, and I shook my head. "That's nice. No need to go into detail."

"I wasn't going to! I just wanted to see what you're wearing to the wedding. Show me!"

After straightening the silk caramel tie over the crisp white button up, I held the phone out far enough for her to get a better look. Running my hand over the back of my head to smooth my hair down, I said, "So? What do you think?"

"I love it! You look so handsome." The phone turned and a shirtless Andre appeared, sitting in bed beside her. "Doesn't he?"

"Hey, man." Andre lifted his chin in greeting. "Looks good."

"Thanks. I'm sure you were dying to see what I'm wearing."

His deep laugh was friendly and kind, exactly like him. Liv seemed to have found the one for her and I couldn't be happier. A second later, she was back, poking her tongue out at me. "He saw Nate. Might as well get to see you too."

"You've already called Nate today?"

"Of course." Her brow furrowed at the idiocy of my question. "He looks super hot too. Like, hot daaaammmmn, hot."

I grabbed my keys, ready to see him for myself. "Does it bother Andre when you objectify my boyfriend?" I asked, knowing it didn't.

"Nope!" She grinned and scooted over to rest her head beside Andre's. "I spend way more time objectifying you, right, babe?"

"Yes, you do." He smirked right before her squeal filled the air. The phone fell from her hand, and landed, showing me the ceiling, as Andre said, "But, it's been hours since I've been objectified. Say bye."

Liv leaned over the camera with bright eyes and pink cheeks. "Bye, Joby!" Her loud giggle sounded as the screen went black.

As glad as I was that she'd found a good man, I wished she'd at least wait to leave the bed before calling. That wasn't the first time I'd been way too close to seeing something I didn't want to see.

***

Less than an hour later, I was riding the elevator to the fifth floor and straightening my clothes in the reflection of the silvery walls. Why was I letting Liv's words make me nervous? Nate was always attractive. Whether the man was dressed to go out, or groggily rolling from bed in the morning, he'd never been anything less than insanely hot.

Still, when the door swung open, revealing him in a sage three-piece suit cut to display his toned body while the color made his emerald eyes glow, I had to remind myself to breathe.

Nate wasn't wearing a tie. Instead, the top two buttons of his shirt were open, and stylish, dark stubble covered his square jaw.

The corner of his full lips lifted as our gazes met and my heart squeezed in my chest. "God, you're gorgeous," the words came out as a whisper through my tight throat, but judging by the smile that split his face, he'd heard me just fine.

"You're looking pretty amazing yourself." His eyes ran over me with an appreciative glint that heated my blood.

Nate stepped back, letting me enter the foyer, and brushed his fingers over my freshly shaved cheek as he leaned in for a quick kiss. His minty taste and the scent of sandalwood cologne made me want to hold him there and beg for more. Forget our plans—we could have more fun on our own.

"Let me grab our gift and we can go." He hurried away, and I stayed in place. I told him I'd go, and I wouldn't try to change his mind.

A day out would be nice, and there was supposed to be dancing. Nate loved to dance, and it was something we hadn't done in public together.

Usually, I was too nervous to even stand too close to Nate for fear of being seen by someone who could cause us problems. That's why I enjoyed taking him away from town for little day trips. We'd get to see someplace different and try new things, and we could behave like any other couple. This wedding would be the same; a place where we could be ourselves.

Nate appeared, carrying a large box covered in shimmery white paper with a giant bow on top. "We got them the air fryer off their registry." He passed me the gift and pulled the keys from his pocket, locking the door behind us.

An odd tingle filled my stomach at his casual words, suggesting the present was from the two of us. We got them...

I'd never been part of a 'we' before. To my surprise, it felt good. More than that, it felt right.

Thanks for reading! 💜