Over the course of time, everyone walked around the place, conversing with different people. Even me. I talked to a few of Nick's and William's cousins. I talked to Finn's wife Allison a little bit too. She seems nice. And Elijah of course. He looked adorable in his little shirt and bow tie. I quite literally melted.

Right now, we were heading over to the huge, long table for dinner. The families had one huge table and the others got round tables across the hall. I took a seat with Zoey to my right and at the moment, nobody to my left. She had Landon to her right and was having a conversation with him, occasionally asking me something.

The seat beside me was pulled back before someone sat down. "Hey," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes and stared at the candle that was lit in front of me.

"Oh, I don't even get a hello? Ouch," he chuckled. Elijah was sitting in front of us and was concentrating hard on blowing out the candle. "Eli, don't do that. It's not a birthday candle," Nick chuckled and pulled the candle closer to us, further away from Elijah.

"Oh, okay," he shrugged before going back to playing with his Spiderman figure, making it run along the table, over the plates, over the utensils.

I smiled at his actions before turning to the front where Mr. Johnson and Nick's dad, Matt were clinking their glasses. A waiter went around passing drinks and offered one to Nick and me.

He reached out but I put it back and pushed the tray back gently, "No, thank you. We're meant to stay sober," I gave him a pointed look.

"At least you talked to me," he shrugged while Mr. Johnson began his speech. He and Matt had split their speeches, both of them taking turns to talk and it consisted of thanking all the guests, wishing luck to Madeline and Will before going back to this trip as a vacation.

I guess all the love from the speech is saved for the wedding speeches. "Oh, one last thing!" Matt said, "I would like to give a toast to the lovely couples here tonight. All of them. William and Madeline, Finn and Allison..." he trailed off talking about the younger couples before his eyes met mine. "And finally, Nick and Emma."

Nick choked. Quiet literally choked. I would have too. Everyone looked at us. And after Nick calmed down, we both froze.

"Now, now, I am aware they aren't a couple anymore," Matt waved his hand dismissively, "But they were beautiful and I hope to see them together again. Hopefully by the wedding, cheers!"

Glasses clinked, people cheered and I still didn't move.

"I didn't know he was gonna say that, Emma," he mumbled.

Play it cool, Emma.

"It's fine," I shrugged it off, "You're the one that choked," I snickered.

He rolled his eyes at me while chuckling before everyone broke out into conversation and continued with eating. This is going to be a long-ass dinner.

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We were halfway through dinner and I was talking to Zoey about her date with Landon. They shifted it to tomorrow after tonight's dinner came into plans and she seemed a little bummed out about that.

"Landon," I cleared my throat while setting my fork down. "Why don't you just take her out after dinner? I mean, unless you're taking her to a place that is likely to be closed, why don't you just take her now?" I asked in confusion. He looked at me skeptically so I placed my hands over Zoey's ears. "Where are you taking her?" I whispered.

"The beach," he whispered.

"So take her now," I shrugged.

"Now?" he asked in confusion.

"Picnic?" I questioned and he nodded. "Take her now," I shrugged again while taking my hands off her ears. "You're on a date," I declared.

"I am?" she asked in confusion.

"Yup," I nodded.

Landon shook his head while laughing but took her hand and they snuck out anyway.

I was in my head and I was enjoying my ice cream because we were all at dessert but I froze when I felt Nick's hand grab mine under the table. I pulled my hand out of his and continued eating, resting it on the table so he couldn't hold it again. So he just restored to resting his hand on my thigh. That sounds about right.

I almost choked while struggling to throw his hand off but he wasn't having it. So he grabbed my hand again and rested our held hands on my thigh. I huffed and slumped my shoulders in defeat while people began getting up.

"Come on!" Nick's dad pulled me out of my seat and up with him.

"Oh, there's dancing," I mumbled while he put an arm around my waist. "Hi, Mr. Heartwell," I smiled. He gave me a pointed look and I sighed, "Matt," I nodded.

Who dances after dinner? We do, I guess.

"You look, lovely dear, I haven't spoken to you in a while, you've stopped coming over since..." he trailed off sadly.

"Well, you've stopped coming over for dinner," I shrugged. I've always gotten along with Nick's parents and he's always gotten along with mine. When he cheated and I told my mom, of course, she took my side, my dad never found out because I didn't tell him, and when Nick told his parents, his dad was furious with him.

His mom was a little biased to him because that's her little boy but what kind of mom isn't biased for her kid? I didn't blame her. It was very surprising to me when I found out that Nick's dad went a week without talking to him after finding out what he did. His house was quite literally a second home. I used to stay there all the time.

"How do you expect to come to dinner after what he's done?" he sighed.

"There are no hard feelings," I smiled, "I suggest you go dance with your wife, Matt. Your son seems to have forgotten how to dance," I chuckled.

He smiled before leaving me to go dance with his wife.

I was about to leave but Liam came over. "Can I-" before he could even finish asking me to dance, Nick, cut in.

"Sorry," he shrugged while grabbing my wrist and putting his arm around my waist while the other held my hand. We're all out here ballroom dancing. This is what we do, I guess.

"Yes, can I help you?" I sighed.

"You can stay and dance with me for a while," he shrugged.

"You seemed to be struggling with your mom out there, did I catch you stepping on her foot? Never do that to a lady, Nick," I shook my head while giving him a pointed look.

"I didn't, I just almost did so she'd let me go, that way I could come dance with you," he smirked while pulling me closer.

"That's a shame. I was having fun dancing with your dad," I shrugged.

"Yeah right," he laughed while shaking his head.

"I'm not kidding. He dances better than you do," I taunted.

He placed his hands on the small of my back and pulled me against him. "You wish," he smirked.

"What do you want, Nick?" I sighed.

"Just a little time. With you," he nodded slightly while staring at me, straight into my eyes.

Into my soul. That went a little dark but obviously, that's not what I meant.

"What if I don't have time to give to you?" I questioned.

"Why? You don't have time to give to a cheating ex?" he arched an eyebrow at me.

"I hope you're not expecting me to forgive you for it, you know I can't do that," I sighed.

"I know," he nodded, "I just miss you sometimes," he shrugged lightly, "That's all."

He wasn't lying. He meant it.

"You said that when you were drunk, you know," I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"When you were drunk, and I took you up to your room, you said you missed me, that's why you weren't letting me leave," I explained.

"Did I say anything else?" he questioned.

"Not really," I shrugged.

"Nothing about the past? I didn't blurt out anything that you didn't know?" he interrogated.

Clearly, he's afraid he told me something that he's not supposed to.

"What are you talking about, Nick?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Emma," he sighed.

"No," I shook my head, "You didn't blurt out anything. You were only really able to stay up to convince me to stay, you fell asleep the second I stayed," I shrugged.

"Did I-" he sighed, "Did I do anything? Try anything? I don't think I'd do that with you, but did I?" he questioned. He was nervous and he looked adorable.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked in confusion.

"Nothing, Nick. You did nothing," I chuckled. He sighed in relief before his shoulder relaxed.

"I missed that smile you know," he smirked at me.

"Oh, do you now?" I laughed.

"Yes," he nodded while pulling me into a hug. We stayed like that for a little bit. Only swaying lightly.

God, I really do miss him. Like crazy.

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Chapter fourteen