Hold the Forevers

In the sea of people, Ash Talmadge managed to stand out.

Cole on one side and Ash on the other.

The story of my life.

I looked straight ahead, anxious to get to my place at the front. Despite all of the eyes on me, I could feel them both specifically looking at me. Like fire creeping over my body.

The two men who had always been in my life.

And the divide between them felt fragile. As if a nail dragged along the film would rip it in half.

I rushed straight to Cole as soon as the wedding was over and I was cleared from pictures. Thankfully, the wedding party did not have to walk into the outdoor tent to music. The bride and groom were about to be announced, and everyone was mingling, waiting for that moment.

“Hey! Sorry you’ve been alone all day,” I said as I threw myself into his arms.

He dipped his lips down to meet mine. “It was a beautiful wedding.”

“Elle was like out of a fairy tale.”

“She and Gary look so happy.”

I nodded. “So happy.” Then I bit my lip and looked down. “Sorry about … that other thing too. I didn’t know he’d be here.”

“Ah, yeah. That was unexpected.”

“Completely. I didn’t think he even knew Elle.”

Cole shrugged. “He was on the groom’s side. Must know Gary.”

“Oh fuck,” I said, smacking my forehead. “He does know Gary. They used to work together. I totally forgot.”

He arched an eyebrow. “It’s fine. Let’s talk about something other than your ex-boyfriend.”

“That seems fair.”

Just then the band announced the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley. Everyone cheered, and we all settled down to eat. Toasts were given by their maid of honor and best man, and then they stepped right into their first dance. We all oohed and aahed over them before joining them in dancing and drinking.

I thought we’d make it the entire evening without stumbling into Ash’s path when he walked right up to us as we were getting drinks at the bar.

“Lila,” he said calmly. There was fire in his eyes when he looked at Cole, but he held his hand out. “Cole.”

I swallowed, sure that this was going to end in a fistfight, but Cole shook his hand as if it were an everyday occurrence. As if they both didn’t hate each other for how it had all gone down.

“Ash,” Cole said stiffly.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” I said.

“Gary and I used to work together,” Ash said, supplying the details that I’d already remembered.

“Right.”

“You were a beautiful bridesmaid,” he said, all casual. As if the words didn’t make Cole bristle.

Cole wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “She was, wasn’t she?”

Ash clenched his jaw, and then it loosened. As if he’d told himself he wouldn’t throw the first punch, but he’d try his hardest to get Cole to do it. “Well, I wanted to come over and say hi. I guess I’ll probably be seeing more of y’all soon.”

Cole’s hand tightened on my shoulder.

“You will?” I blurted out. My stomach sank at the prospect. This couldn’t be good.

“Oh, didn’t your mom tell you?” Ash asked. “I got into the MBA professional program at UGA at the Atlanta campus. I’ll be moving there in August.”

August.

In one month’s time, our sanctuary would be shattered. It didn’t matter how big Atlanta was. Distance had never mattered. We always found each other. And once he was there, I knew we’d never be alone again. I didn’t know how to feel about that. Terrified? Relieved? Anxious?

“She didn’t tell me,” I muttered.

“Ah, well, now, you know.” He tipped his head at Cole and winked at me. “Have a nice wedding.”

Then he walked away, leaving tension in his wake.

“I hate that guy,” Cole said once he was gone.

“I’m so sorry about that,” I said with a sigh. “I didn’t expect him to be here at all. I know Savannah can feel small, but I don’t know … I definitely didn’t think that he’d come talk to us.”

“I don’t know why he’d even want to talk to us.”

“Oh, really?” I asked, turning to look at him. “As if you’d never do that.”

He gave me a conspiratorial grin. “I didn’t do that on purpose. He did this on purpose.”

“Uh-huh.”

Cole pressed another kiss to my lips. “Well, it was worth it to see his face when I showed up in Savannah.”

“I’m sure he feels the same way right now.”

Cole shrugged and handed me a drink before taking my other hand and pulling me out onto the dance floor. “He can do whatever he wants. You’re mine now. Now and forever.”

I nodded and leaned against him as we danced. But over his shoulder, I saw Ash waiting in the wings. He arched an eyebrow at me and smirked. Then he lifted his glass to me as if in cheers. And I wasn’t so sure what was going to happen when he came to Atlanta.