top 10 after moments

5

chapter 195

the wedding

"May I cut in?" I ask, tugging at the back of Smith's dress shirt before either of them can refuse. My hands immediately move to her waist, resting on her hips. I take her lead and freeze, feeling overwhelmed by my fingers touching her.

It's been so long. Too long, since that spontaneous night in New York just over a year ago.

I need to stop thinking about the events of that night, or anything else from our past, and focus on her now, in front of me.

"I thought I would save you from dancing with him, he's a little short. Terrible dance partner," I finally say when I can pull my head out of my ass.

"He told me you bribed him," she smiles at me, shaking her head.

"That little fucker," I glare at the tratior as he sits back down at a table, alone again.

"You two have gotten pretty close, I hear." There is admiration behind her words and I can't stop the blush rushing to my cheeks if I tried.

"Yeah, guess so." I shrug. Her fingers tighten on my shoulders and I sigh. Literally fucking sigh, and I know she can hear it.

"You look very well." She says, staring at my mouth.

"Well? I don't know if that's a good thing." I bring her closer to me and she lets me.

"Very good, handsome. Very hot," the last words tumble from her full lips by accident. I can tell by the way her eyes go wide and she bites down on her lower lip.

"You're the sexiest woman in the room, always have been."

She tilts her head down, trying to hide in the mass of long blonde curls. "Don't hide, not from me." I quietly say.

Nostalgia fills me at the familiar words and I can tell by her expression that she's feeling the same.

"When's the release date for your next book?" She quickly changes the subject.

"Next month it will be release. Did you read it? I had an early copy sent you."

"Yes, I read it." She says and I take the oppurtunity to pull her to my chest. "I've read them all."

"What do you think?" The songs ends and another begins. As the female voice fills the room we look into eachother's eyes.

"This song," Tessa softly laughs. " Of course they would play this song."

"I didn't want to go to that wedding," I recall. "I only went to make you happy, but now I thank you for pushing me to go. I really do." I brush loose curl away from her eyes and she swallows, blinking slowly.

"I'm so happy for you, Harry. you're an incredible author, an activist for self-recovery and alcohol addiction. I saw that interview you did with the Times about dealing with abuse as a child," her eyes well up and I'm positive that if her tears spill, I may lose all composure.

"It's nothing really." I shrug, loving her pride for me, but feeling guilty for what it caused her. "I never expected any of this, you have to know that. I didn't mean for you to be embarrassed publicly by me printing that book."

"Don't worry about it," she smiles up at me. "It wasn't so bad and you know, you're helped a lot of people and a lot of people love your books. Me included." Tessa flushes and I do the same.

"If you loved them so much, why didn't you call after that night?" I should wait until we aren't in a public setting to bring up that night but I can't seem to keep my mouth shut.

"I tried a few times, but it became so hard to get in touch with you without making an appointment." she frowns. "That night was terrible and i really don't want to talk about it. everything worked out though, now we are at their wedding," she laughs with little humor.

"This should be our wedding," I blurt. Her feet stop moving and some of the glow disappears from her beautiful skin.

"Harry," she glares at me.

"Theresa," I tease. I'm not joking and she knows it. "I though that last page was going to change your mind, I really did." I admit.

...