Page 54 of The Flight Risk

Although I never believed in the idea of lasting love, I have cried at every wedding I’ve ever been to. I think it’s the idea that two people want to take that chance and make vows to love each other no matter what life brings them–I become an absolute puddle.

During cocktail hour, Oakley takes me around the reception hall and says hello to almost every person in the room. One would think he’s the man of the hour. I guess he hasn’t seen these people in a long time. My heart skips a beat every time he introduces me as his girlfriend. The only time he lets go of my hand or my waist is to greet someone. Otherwise, he doesn’t leave my side.

We are standing at one of the small round high top tables when a beautiful, petite redhead pokes Oakley on his shoulder. He turns around and embraces her. “Oh my god, Molly! It’s so nice to see you! How are you?”

A small twinge of jealousy and possessiveness takes hold of my body. I drink the rest of my champagne, distracting myself from spiraling.

“Molly, I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Tess. Tess, this is Molly. We’ve known each other since, what?”

“Since we were playing with building blocks in preschool.” She bumps into him playfully and my insides are incinerating. She turns back to me and holds out her hand, smiling. “It’s so nice to meet you, Tess.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Molly.” I return the handshake steadily, hoping she doesn’t sense my cavewoman urge to announce to the world that Adam is mine and mine only. He stands next to me and his warm, large hand splays across my lower back. My body tingles with the reassurance he gifts me. He’s gotten so good at reading my body language. We can communicate without speaking a word.

“Yeah,” Oakley says, “Molly and I dated for a while before I moved to Dallas.”

I feel a large lump in my throat and force it down as I face the woman he was once in love with. The woman that could have prevented him from moving to Dallas and meeting me.

“This guy thought he was too good for Chicago,” Molly teases. She’s rocking a cute, chic bob and her deep blue eyes are stunning in the sunset light. No wonder Oakley dated her.

Oakley nervously laughs. “That’s not it. I just went where the opportunity led me.”

“I’m joking, Adam.” She places her hand on his forearm and I feel like I’m about to combust. I bite the side of my cheek to stop myself from reenacting that scene in Mean Girls where the girls start fighting in the cafeteria like feral animals. I quickly grab another glass of champagne from the waiter walking by. The bride and groom should be here any second and everyone’s attention will be on them.

The four-string quartet begins playing Falling Slowly and my body inadvertently sways to the melody. Oakley leans down and softly asks me, “Would you like to dance?” Butterflies take flight in my stomach as I lock eyes with him. He’s strikingly handsome and all at once, I know I never want another man to look at me the way Adam Oakley is looking at me right now.

“Wait, did Adam Oakley just ask a girl if she wants to dance?” Molly’s jaw drops in shock. “I couldn’t even get him to dance with me on prom night until I finally dragged him out to the dance floor for a slow song and even then the look on his face was indicative that he would literally rather be anywhere else.” She raises her glass and clinks it with mine. “Cheers to you, Tess. He’s a changed man.”

“He’s full of surprises, that’s for sure,” I respond without breaking eye contact with the 6’7” hunk standing next to me. He certainly has changed me.

He takes the glass from my hand and leaves it on the table. Oakley makes me feel like we are the only two people in the room. The outside world melts around us. He presses his hand against my lower back, his thumb brushing against my bare skin. He cradles my hand tenderly with his other hand and pulls me close. I don’t even register if we are alone on the dance floor. It doesn’t matter, because I’m with a man who makes everything feel like a dream.

“You are dancing in front of about two-hundred people, you do realize that, right?” I tease. “We aren’t on the ice right now.” My hand leaves his bicep and I pretend I’m feeling his temperature.

He laughs. “Ha ha, very funny. I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again. Only for you, Tess.”

My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. Then a wave of doubt crashes through me. “Molly seems lovely.”

His chest tightens beneath my cheek. “Yeah, she’s great.”

I wonder if he can sense how shaky my body is becoming. “And she’s the only serious girlfriend you’ve ever had?”

“Mmm hmm.” His calm voice soothes the panic inside me.

“Why did you break up?”

He sighs. “I got drafted to Dallas and she wanted to stay in Chicago. So we went our separate ways.” He is playing with my hair, while still splaying the rest of his hand across my back. I don’t know if it’s the cool breeze or his touch, but goosebumps cover my body.

“Do you think if you had stayed in Chicago, you would still be with her?”

“I don’t know, Tess. But that doesn’t really matter.”

I should believe him. But old habits die hard. Doubt is a sneaky enemy. Just when I think I’m so sure about something, it creeps up when I least expect it to.

“How can it not matter?”

He stops swaying and raises my chin so I have nowhere to look but into his eyes. “Because that’s not what happened. I don’t like to go through life like that. I believe everything happens for a reason. And to be honest, I don’t want to think about my life without you in it.”

It’s a confession as profound as the one at the lakehouse, when he told me he was falling in love with me. It’s overwhelming and all-consuming and I can’t find the right words, so I do the only thing that feels right. I wrap my arms around his neck and tip toe until his lips meet mine. I softly kiss him, leaning into the sweetness and steadiness of this moment. I play with his hair on the nape of his neck and he keeps his hands strictly on my hips.