Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(174)

Jade reaches high above her head and grabs the bouquet by the white silk ribbon that is tied around the stems as it goes above us. I know Maggie was aiming for me, but she sent the flowers a little too high.

Kim, Jade and I stand off to the side of the dance floor as Henry takes off the garter from Maggie’s leg. Jared, Nathan, Jimmy and Allen are standing behind me claiming that they are taken. I argue that I’m taken too, by B.O.B., but they tell me that B.O.B. doesn’t count. Henry hurls the garter into the air at all of the single men. You can see the disappointment on their faces knowing that Jade is the bearer of the bouquet. A hand shoots up and attains the prize. It belongs to Joe Covelli.

I lead Jade over to the chair that is now back in the middle of the dance floor. As Jade gets settled, Henry gets on the microphone. “Joe will be putting on two garters tonight. One for the lovely Jade who caught the bouquet. And . . . because there needs to be someone of legal age to properly receive the garter, Emma will be getting the other one that Maggie is wearing.”

My body freezes and my heart stops. “No!” I protest.

“Our wedding, our rules,” Henry rebuts.

My eyes narrow. “I’ll remember that.”

Jade gets up and lets Maggie sit. Henry reaches up to get the other garter rather quickly this time. More whistles and cheering erupt from the giant crowd. When I lead Jade over to the chair, she insists that I sit with her.

Joe sweetly walks over and kneels before the two of us. “I need your arm,” he instructs Jade.

Jade extends her right one.

Joe dances the circular object up Jade’s arm and over her shoulder. He lifts her up in the air as everyone cheers and before lowering her to the floor, he kisses her on the cheek. When Joe kneels back down, Jade walks up and kisses Joe. I’m barely able to see it because of all of the flashing lights.

“You ready?” he grins knowingly.

I stick out my arm like Jade.

“No,” Joe chuckles.

“The right way, Emma,” Henry announces.

Everyone watching laughs.

“You won’t get it that high with this dress,” I comment.

“Wanna bet?” Joe’s grin widens. He removes my right shoe before coming a little closer.

Henry gives a play by play over the microphone as I bite my lip and look away. Joe deliberately torments me, moving ever so slowly inch by inch. As his hands reach the bottom of my knee, I use my left foot to slide back in the chair away from him. I manage to get the chair to go back a few inches.

“You can’t move,” he claims, sliding closer.

I feel the chair get stuck and notice that Jimmy and Jared are holding it in place with their feet. “No moving,” they say at the same time.

I hold my breath and wince as Joe tickles my leg with his fingers, heading back up to my knee. In one quick movement, he rounds my knee cap and stops. I look to him thinking he’s done, but the wicked smile on his face tells me otherwise. He nudges the garter with his fingers, getting further up my thigh. My lips clench as Joe’s hands climb higher. Somehow Joe has managed to reach the middle of my thigh. I shake my head no, hoping that he doesn’t dare to go any further. Winking, Joe gives one last nudge before he seductively slides his fingers back down to my ankles and returns my shoe. Joe helps me to stand and plants a kiss on my cheek.


“You’re a dead man,” I proclaim when we are surrounded by just our friends.

“Ohh come on, Emma. Joe was just having a little fun,” Jimmy defends.

“Looked like you were enjoying it too,” Allen antagonizes.

“I need a drink,” I say, turning to Jared for a rescue.

“Follow me, Kitten.” Jared takes my hand leading the way to the bar. “Be thankful it wasn’t Lee, Richard or any of the other single and horny men in the room,” he comments once we are off the dance floor.

I refrain from replying.

The rest of the night is a blur. We dance, we drink and I watch everyone gab the night away. At some point, I’m not sure when since I don’t have a watch, Maggie plops herself next to me. She rests her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her. We sit not talking for a long while, just enjoying the moment.

“What is it with men and babies that is so freakin’ hot and sexy?” Maggie exclaims.

I laugh at her comment, but don’t verbally agree. I know that she’s been watching Henry dance with Rey from her statement. Ironically, my thoughts were on the same thing. I was busy watching Joe dance with Jade.

“Thank you, Emma!” Maggie slides closer giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“For what?”

“Everything. All of this. And, what you said earlier. It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to Henry too,” she confesses taking my hand in hers.

“You’re welcome.” I avoid looking at her because I don’t want to cry.

Running her fingers back and forth over the top of my hand, Maggie asks, “Can I tell you something?”

“Sure,” I agree.

“I haven’t told anyone . . . not even Henry,” she begins.

My attention is caught. I turn to look at her. “What?”

Maggie’s face is beaming. No. Glowing. She leans in and whispers, “I’m pregnant!”

“What?!” I blurt in shock.

The music is so loud that no one near us hears me.