The Wedding Party (The Wedding Date, #3)(95)

“Theo, I’d like you to meet my mom, Vivian Forest. Mom, this is Theo Stephens. You’ve, um, heard a lot about each other.”

Maddie’s mom had a huge smile on her face.

“Theo, it’s so nice to finally meet you.” She took his hand in both of hers. “I know you all have a million things to do today, but I look forward to getting to know you better.”

He put his other hand over the top of theirs.

“So do I, Ms. Forest.”

She shook her head.

“Vivian.” She winked at him. “Now, I’m ready for some champagne. See you two over at the reception.”

The photos were endless, but thankfully the photographer seemed very happy for Theo’s hand to be in Maddie’s the entire time. Alexa had a smug smile on her face whenever she looked at them, which . . . okay, fine, he would give that to her.

Olivia jumped in his car for a ride over to the reception and proceeded to tease them the entire ten-minute drive.

“Lex had already told me she knew something was up between the two of you, but I could not believe how bold you were at the bridal salon. You just sat there texting each other, with me just feet away. Did you somehow think you were getting away with that?”

He and Maddie looked at each other.

“We really did think that,” he said. “But don’t ask me to explain why. In retrospect, it makes no sense.”

“My mom knew, too, even though I didn’t tell her,” Maddie said.

They had really thought they were so slick, and yet everyone around them had known. Hell, the mayor had probably even known!

“Ah, that explains why your mom and Alexa had matching Cheshire cat grins today.”

He and Maddie smiled at each other.

At the end of the many toasts at the reception, he looked over at Maddie. Tears ran down her face. He leaned over and kissed her.

“I’m so lucky,” he said.

She picked up her napkin and dabbed at her eyes.

“We both are.”

Alexa poked Maddie in the shoulder.

“Hey, lovebirds. This is great and all, but I need you to help me bustle this dress so we can get the first dance over with.”

After Maddie and Alexa disappeared to the bathroom, Nik grinned across the table at Theo.

“Looks like someone talked about their feelings, hmm?”

Theo laughed.

“It was as terrible as I thought it would be, but then . . . sometimes good things happen after you do it.”

She smiled at Carlos, who put his arm around her.

“Hard agree,” she said.

When Alexa came back to the table, with Maddie trailing behind her, she winked at him. He opened his mouth to ask her what she needed, but she held her finger up in front of her lips. Oh no, what was she going to do next?

Alexa picked up her bouquet and turned around to Maddie.

“Oh, hey, Mads, can you hold this for me?” She tossed it right at Maddie’s chest. Maddie caught it, and then burst out laughing.

“You are the worst.”

Alexa grinned.

“You mean I’m the best. Come on, Drew. It’s time to dance.”

Once the official first dances were over, the party really started. Someone—he knew it was Maddie—got the DJ to play NSYNC, and managed to convince Theo to show off his moonwalk, to much cheering. They all danced, and cried a little, to Prince. And then when “Crazy in Love” came on, he grabbed Maddie’s hand and twirled her on the dance floor, next to Alexa and Drew, and Nik and Carlos.

When everyone around them shouted the words to the song, he leaned forward and whispered in Maddie’s ear.

“Tomorrow, can we sit on the couch in our pajamas for the entire day?”

She beamed at him.

“Absolutely.”