𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐫 | 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢

Here's To You

During Cheryl and Veronica's engagement party.

I looked over my shoulder as Jason danced me away from Cheryl. Her eyes remained fixed on me even from across the room.

"Jason, what was so important that you had to cut in?" I huffed.

"You looked like you could use a save. That dance seemed a little too intense for the public eye. Besides, making my sister mad is a surprisingly fun pastime." He smiled.

I stared at him in utter disbelief. "I can rescue myself. And I'm not some object you can use to rile Cheryl up."

"Look, I don't know what's going on between you two but whatever it is it doesn't look fun. And adult relationships should always be fun." Jason spun me around, then dipped me suddenly! I laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation.

"See? You're having more fun already, and Cheryl knows it."

I resisted the urge to glance back even though I could feel the heat of her intense gaze on me.

"C'mon let's dance." Jason said and I allowed him to drag me onto the dance floor once more.

. . .

After a few more songs, everyone gathered around for Veronica and Cheryl's toast.

"Thanks for coming to our fabulous party. This night is a dream come true for me. Cheryl is a dream come true for me." She lifted her champagne flute in Cheryl's direction, fluttering her eyelashes.

I scoffed under my breath. "Is she for real right now?"

Jason nodded. "Oh, yeah. This is serious business for Veronica. She even hired a ghostwriter for her toast."

I slowly turned to him with an incredulous look. "A ghostwriter? That's pathetic. How hard is it to write a loving toast about the person you're engaged to?"

He simply shrugged.

Across the room, Veronica was having a hard time with 'her' speech. "Cheryl and I have only been officially dating for--"

She started but paused to check her notes.

"--about eight months, but we've been the best of friends for much longer."

Jason stifled a laugh. "I swear, she has " I love Cheryl " written down too. Imagine what we could've tricked her into saying we'd swapped out her cards."

I smirked thinking of it.

As Veronica droned on, Jason continued to provide me with whispered commentary. I fought the urge to giggle and interrupt the toast the whole time.

Finally, she asked. "Cheryl, would you like to say a few words?"

My eyes trailed after Cheryl as she joined her fiance, dropping a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you, Veronica. And thanks so much to all of you for joining us as we celebrate our engagement."

"As you all know I lost my first wife about five years ago and for a long time I didn't think I would ever meet someone else who made me feel the way she did." Her eyes locked with mine from across the room. "But now.. I feel as if I've gotten a second chance at happiness. I finally met someone who got me. Someone I can't stop thinking about. Someone who lights up the whole room with her passion."

"Oh, I love you too!" Veronica suddenly burst out. She wrapped Cheryl in a long hug that made the room spin around me.

The longer I stared at her perfectly manicured nails and dazzling ring, the dizzier I got. I turned to Jason, who started to make another snide remark but stopped short when he saw the determined look on my face.