"We didn't need words, we just looked at each other and smiled"

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I undo my fifth attempt at a tying a tie and curse the dumb piece of fabric in my hand when I hear the doorbell ring.

"Can one of you get it? I'm busy!" I yell down to the boys.

"I've got it, Blake," Mason replies from downstairs.

Today is the wedding, and honestly, I'm not doing great. I'm supposed to pick up Laney from her house in ten minutes and I'm not nearly ready. I've been a stressed, tense, nervous wreck all day.

I'm excited for my dad and Nancy, I really am happy for them, but this is still hard.

It's hard seeing my dad love someone else. To watch him move on.

I know it's time, but everything happened so fast it caught me off guard.

So, to get through today, I'm focusing on the two people in my life who never fail to put a smile on my face.

Charlotte is beyond excited for the wedding. She's their flower girl and she looks adorable in her dress. She's been looking forward to this day from the second she found out about it. I can't ruin this for her.

Laney is coming as my date and thank god for her. Just knowing she's going to be by my side the entire night has made all the difference. That girl is fucking perfect. Even if she's still avoiding any sort of discussion about our kiss.

But, if time is what she needs, then so be it. She's meant to be mine as much as I'm meant to be her's. The timeline doesn't matter so long as it ends with the two of us together.

I groan when my sixth attempt at tying a tie is unsuccessful and I go to find one of the guys to help me.

The door opens before I get the chance to even reach for the handle and Laney walks through it.

My breath gets caught in my throat when I take her in.

She looks absolutely fucking mesmerizing. She's wearing a black dress that hugs her body perfectly. So much so, I almost have an aneurysm prying my eyes off her ass and tits. The dress has a cut starting from the top of her thigh, running all the way down her leg to the floor. God, the fucking access that slit gives me.

The thought alone is enough to get me hard.

Her long chocolate hair is draped down her back in loose curls and I already feel the instinct to tuck some stands behind her ear for a better view of her gorgeous face.

I don't know much about makeup, but I can tell she's wearing a little bit. Her eyelashes are longer, her cheeks look slightly more flushed, and her read lips are screaming at me to kiss them.

"Darling? You alright?"

"You look beyond incredible," I utter.

She bites her lip, effectively knocking the wind out of me, to control the smile appearing.

Now that I know what her lips feel like on mine, how she tastes, and what her small moans sound like, it's taking everything in me to not fuck her any chance I get. The way she looks right now, is not making that any easier.

"Thank you." Her voice is almost a whisper, making this so much more intimate and intense.

Suddenly, all I can think about is how easy it would be to kiss her. How good it would feel. But we can't right now. We can't go further until we have an actual conversation about us.

I clear my throat, snapping myself out of the daze she has me trapped in.

"What are you doing here? I thought I was supposed to pick you up?"

"You were, but I was ready early and I figured you'd need some help. Clearly, I was right." She eyes the tie in my hands and looks at me knowingly. I let her take it from me and she wraps the fabric around my neck.

She goes up on her tippy toes to reach and my hands find their way around her waist to steady her. In a matter of seconds she's tied it perfectly, leaving me speechless.

"How the hell are you so good at that?"

"Oh, don't you know? I do this with all the boys." She smirks playfully and turns to walk away.

Even though I know she's messing with me, the mention of her doing this, being so close to other guys, kills me.

"Not so fast, love." I grab her wrist and gently pull her back into my body. "Other boys, huh?"

Suddenly, she's nervous and all she can do is nod.

Liar.

"Do all the other boys make you feel like this?" My voice gets dark and raspy as I whisper into the crook of her neck.

Not able to keep up with her lie anymore, she shakes her head.

"Words, Laney."

"No," she mumbles.

"Good. Now tell me," I pause to make sure she can hear me.

"Hm?" Her eyes are closed now.

"Tell me I'm the only one who makes you feel this way. Tell me I'm the only one who makes you speechless. Tell me I'm the only one your body reacts for." I'm clear with my words, lust and authority laced throughout.

I watch as she takes in what I'm saying. I can read her body language like a book.

"Are you wet right now?" I ask. "Does just the sound of my voice turn you on? Hm?"

I know I probably shouldn't be going here right now, I mean, I did just say we shouldn't kiss, but this feels so good. Talking to her with less of a filter, giving into some of the craving and curiosity.

She shyly nods her head.

"What did I say about using words?"

"Yes," she whispers so quietly I can barely hear.

"That's what I thought." I look down at her with a slight smirk. "Remember this feeling. And remember that I'm the only one to provoke it. Now, c'mon we're going to be late."

I walk past a now frozen Laney and pick up my bag, walking out the door and down the stairs.

The wedding is a little under an hour away and because it's pretty small, everyone is staying overnight. It's basically in the middle of the forest but the venue has cabins for all the guests.

I pack both our things in the trunk of my car and slam it shut. After saying goodbye to the guys, we hop into the car and start the drive.

I spend the entire car ride telling her about information she might need during the wedding. Basically just the plan for the weekend, what family is coming, and some information on Nancy and my dad.

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We arrive and Laney quickly changes into her heels, and touches up her makeup and hair.

I grab onto her waist and she steadies herself by holding onto my hand. We walk through the snowy grass slowly and I help her from getting stuck in the ground.

We walk into the cabin where the wedding ceremony is taking place. It's honestly beautiful. Decorated with fairy lights and rows of white chairs. "Alright, I think I have to leave you here," I say to her as she takes a seat. "I need to go find my dad but I have my phone on me so if you need anything at all, call me."

"I know, darling, But I'm okay. Now go find your family, and tell Charlotte I say hi."

I smile and nod my head, "Ok, I will. Bye, Laney."

"Bye, best man," she sings.

Reluctantly, I walk away and over to the cabin my dad is supposed to be in. It's tiny and barely enough room for the four of us in here, but it's only a change room so it'll do.

"Sterling!" Charlotte is first to spot me as I walk though the door. I bend down so she can jump into my arms and I pick her up, careful to not mess up her little fluffy white dress. "You look like a princess, Charles." I scan over the tiara sitting on the top of her head.

"I know! Daddy put it on me," she gushes.

I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and place her back down on the floor as I move my attention to my dad and Nancy. "You look good, dad." He pulls me in for a hug and pats me on the back.

"Thank you for being here, son."

"You look great, Nancy." I wrap my arms around my soon to be step mom and she reciprocates the hug. "Says you! You look very handsome, Sterling." She gives me a comforting smile.

"Now, boys, you go get out of here. Charlotte and I will be out in a second!"

The two of us listen and make our way to where I left Laney. I lock eyes with her as I walk down the aisle and the corner of her lips tug upwards as she mouths a 'good luck' at me.

I guess my dad notices us the two of us and whispers over to me, "Is that your girl?"

"Yeah," I confirm his suspicions. "That's my girl."

Suddenly, music starts playing and I watch as Charlotte makes her way down the aisle, placing flower petals on the ground in her wake. She grins from ear to ear, taking in the attention and loving the spotlight. If it's possible, her smile gets even bigger when she spots Laney in the audience. She gives her a slight wave which Laney returns and my heart squeezes at the two of them.

About half an hour later and the ceremony is finished. My dad and Nancy read their vows, exchanged rings, and got officially married. It was really well done and quite beautiful for how simple it was, yet, my attention wasn't on them at all.

I spend the entire time looking over at Laney. Admiring her, and imagining what our wedding might look like.

She, however, wasn't looking at me, at least not really. She occasionally glanced over at me and blushed when she realized I was already gazing at her, but for the most part her eyes were glued on Nancy and my dad.

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Now, we're seated in the reception hall, waiting for my dad and Nancy to walk in. Charlotte is seated in Laney's lap as they talk about all the dessert they're going to eat later. I just sit next to the two of them, occasionally joining into the conversation, but for the most part, I quietly listen to their conversation and admire how close they are.

The announcer interrupts us as he introduces the bride and groom. They enter, hand in hand, and I smile at how happy my dad looks. I know this isn't easy for him either. He loved mom more than life itself. We had a conversation after he told me about the wedding. He explained everything.

I still don't agree with how he told me, but he knows it was a mistake. He said he meant to tell me a while ago, apparently he kept putting it off and then it just slipped out.

He made sure I knew how much he still loves mom, but he needed to move on. He needed to be happy again, and I think I can understand that.

He hasn't always been the perfect dad. He was distant after mom died and, at times, he can be absent. He has a busy job and I won't lie, it's strained his relationship with me and Charlotte. But I know he's been through a lot too. He couldn't control losing mom, and it must've been seemingly impossible to work through his grief while taking care of two children on his own.

I won't ever excuse his actions, but I do have sympathy for the man. I love him despite it all.

The happy couple has makes their rounds and greets all the guests. They stop at every table, thanking them for coming and ours is the last one.

They make their way over to us and Charlotte immediately hops off of Laney's lap, jumping up to give my dad a hug. Laney and I stand to meet them and it occurs to me. That this is the first time either of them will officially meet Laney. Sure, my dad has seen her a couple times while picking Charlotte up, but that wasn't a proper introduction.

"Dad, Nancy, this is Delaney Lawrence." I place my hand on her lower back and she relaxes into my touch.

I can tell she's nervous right now, but she hides it well, with a sweet smile adorned onto her plump lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both, it was a lovely wedding by the way, congratulations."

"Please, honey, the pleasure is ours," Nancy says as she shakes her hand, holding onto it for a few seconds in a comforting manner.

"My wife speaks the truth, I've heard so much about you, from both Sterling and Charlotte. You don't know how much you mean to this family, so thank you."

Laney doesn't respond, she just blushes and gratefully smiles.

"Well, it was great meeting you Delaney, but I'm afraid it's time for our first dance," my dad remarks, clasping his hand in Nancy's and pulling her to the dance floor.

As the music starts, we take our seats once more. "They seem great, Sterling," Laney refers to my dad and Nancy.

"You were great," I counter.

"You give me too much credit, I said like ten words."

"And you said those ten words perfectly," I joke a little. "But I'm not just referring to you meeting them, what my dad said was true. What you've done for me and Charlotte," I pause, not able to find the right words to express my gratitude for her.

She doesn't make me finish my sentence, she gets it. "I know, darling. I know." Laney squeezes my hand currently resting on her thigh, somehow saying everything with no words.

The two of us sit there, in silence, just looking at each other. While everyone else in the room is currently watching my dad and Nancy — what the two of us should be doing — I can't help but only watch Laney. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, I can't pry my eyes of her, I won't be the one to break the eye contact.

Sitting here, admiring her, it's as if we are the only two people in the room. I swear, everything disappears when she's with me. All my worries and problems are gone.

I don't know how long we sit like that. It feels like hours, but realistically it's only about ten seconds. It probably would've been longer, but my sister has other plans.

"What are you guys doing?" Charlotte squeaks in confusion, snapping my out of my daze. "Is it a staring contest? I want to try!"

Laney is the first to look away, and she redirects her line of sight to Charlotte.

She clears her throat, "No, not a staring contest, I just forgot what colour your bother's eyes were, I was just checking." Laney affectionately pinches Charlie's cheeks to which she scrunches up her little face in response.

The three of us spend the next half an hour eating dinner and checking out the dessert bar. Hopped up on an insane amount of sugar, Charlotte jumps out of her seat to go join people on the dance floor.

Laney and I watch her as she frolics to one of her favourite songs. She continues dancing for an impressive amount of time but retires back to the seats to get another round of mini cupcakes when a slower song comes on.

All the couples in the room start to populate the dance floor. I watch as they hold each other close, every couple a little different than the next.

To my surprise, Laney stands up in front of me. "Do you want to dance?" she asks.

I've never been a dancer. Frankly, I hate it. I think it's awkward and, to put it bluntly, unpleasant. The idea of people you don't really know watching you, it's weird to me. The thought of having to know exactly what to do and how to move with your partner, it stresses me out.

So, I reply, "no."

She whispers a small 'oh' to herself and turns around to sit back down. Before she can, I stand up, grabbing her waist and pulling spinning her into me. "Ask me again."

She furrows her brows in confusion and sighs, but does as I ask. "Do you want to dance with me?"

Yes, dancing is usually unappealing to me. But doing it with her, sounds perfect. Holding her close to me, breathing in her delicious scent, having an excuse to touch her, it all sounds perfect.

"With you? Always."

And with that I hold her hand in mine and pull her with me onto the dance floor. My arms find their way around her waist and her's wrap around my neck. She looks up at my through her long lashes, and smiles. A genuine smile. Of pure happiness.

We rock back and forth to the song, letting ourselves relish in the feeling of being close to one another. I tighten my grip around her waist and bring her even closer to me, and she mirrors my actions with her clasp around my neck.

I slightly dip my head down, making it easier for her to reach as she rests her head on my shoulder. I place my chin on the top of her head and close my eyes, just savouring the moment.

Suddenly, I find myself wanting to kiss her. My brain tells me not to. We can't keep doing this; kissing and acting like nothing happened. I won't add to whatever is going on between the two of us.

So, I decide to end it. I break free from our previous position and leave the dance floor, taking her with me.

I know I said I could wait. But I guess I can't. I love her too much to not do something about it as soon as I can. I want her too much.

"What– Sterling, what are you doing?" She asks as she follows me through the door of the cabin and outside.

I shut the door behind me and continue walking away with her still in foot behind me.

When we're far enough away from the cabin and anyone who could potentially hear us, I turn around, facing a very confused Laney.

"I've given you your time, but enough is enough. We need to talk, now."

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Also it's 3:30 AM and I'm so hungry so I think I'm going to go eat an eggo waffle lol.

Question of the chapter: Whats your favourite quote? (If I love it, I might use it at the beginning of a chapter!)

Please vote and comment!

Stay safe and healthy <3

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If you guys were curious, here's how I imagined everyone this chapter.

Delaney

Sterling

Charlotte