Mine Would Be You (21)

He turns to follow Lewis as I begin making my way over to Harper and Sloan, but he turns around, eyes on me.

“Nina, you’re not leaving until I get your number tonight. So, don’t even think about it,” he says, walking away backwards, sending me a wink as he catches up with Lewis. My lip twitches, but I just shake my head as I continue to my seat.

I collapse next to Sloan and Harper, very aware of the guy on the other side of Harper. Sloan slides me a piece of cake she must’ve grabbed me and hands me a fork. There is also a handful of the SweeTarts she brought on the plate, and I pop one in my mouth. They’re staring at me, but I just pop more candy in my mouth and sip my champagne.

“So, I like him.” Sloan grins, and I roll my eyes, taking a bite of the chocolate cake.

“You don’t know him.”

She taps her temple with the end of her own fork. “I can sense it. Just like when I told you you’d see him again.”

I can’t argue, so I stick my tongue out and turn towards Harper. “So, who is this?’

Harper wiggles her eyebrows. “This is Roman. Roman, my friend Nina.” He reaches out a hand and gives me a smile as I connect them.

“Nice to meet you.”

He’s cute, and I see why Harper has been talking to him. He’s got this soft but stable energy around him, the exact opposite of her. Dark brown skin and a short, clean haircut that compliments her fair skin and fiery hair beautifully. But if I know Harper, she’ll hook up a few times and probably move on. Either way, he’s a solid choice. And if he’s still sticking around after being around these two, who I know have been talking about my drama, I like him already.

“Well, we’re gonna dance now that it’s picked up the pace a bit,” she says with a smile, but she leans down to whisper in my ear, “I like him too.” She finishes her cake and grabs Roman’s hand, drawing him up to the dance floor.

My eyes trail after them as they fall into step together. I take another bite of cake and rest my head in my hand. “Today has been a lot.”

Sloan gives me a soft smile and pats my hand, taking a candy for herself. “You’re doing great, babe.”

We sit there, eating our large slices of cake and drinking whatever each of us bring back from the bar for the next thirty minutes. Harper stays with Roman the whole time on the dance floor, and I’d be genuinely surprised if she doesn’t go home with him or vice versa. My eyes flicker between them and the rest of the reception. Jackson is mostly with the other groomsmen or dancing. Lucky for me, whenever I look at him, he can’t see me in the dim room under the hazy lights.

They flick to Myles and Emma every so often, and I hope they last. I hope they make it. I genuinely hope he’s grown up and treats her better. Because she seems great. She’s kind and inviting in the way she interacts with everyone, and he lights up around her. She lights up around him.

I’m brought out of my thoughts as Harper makes her way to our table, the tiniest beads of sweat on her nose. Roman follows behind her. She leans down and presses a kiss to each of our cheeks.

“Ladies, I’m heading out. I’ll text you,” she whispers, and she stands straight up as she grabs her clutch.

Sloan and I smile at each other and then at him. “Bye, Roman.”

Roman gives an easy shrug in response, twisting his nose in amusement.

Only Harper would leave this wedding with a hook-up—it’s impressive. As they leave, I lean back, exhausted from it all. Considering it’s almost twelve in the morning, I’m ready to head out, too.

I look at Sloan, who nods, and we both stand. My feet are screaming at me, and I really want to go home, cuddle under my blanket with Jenko, and watch TV until I feel better. My eyes flicker around at the tiring crowd, people taking their seats or taking off their shoes. Of course, some people are still going hard, this is New York after all, and I probably would be if I wasn’t drained. Physically and emotionally.

Jackson is nowhere to be seen in the dark room, so we both call our rides as we head toward the door.

As I exit the reception room, my name is called, and I turn around to see Jackson lazily jogging up to me. I glance at Sloan, who purses her lips to hide her smile as she steps off to wait near the elevator.

His cheeks are slightly flushed, the lightest pink haze on his tan skin.

“Wow, a guy can’t even get a goodbye?”

I roll my lips into my mouth before answering and raise a brow. “Goodbye, Jackson.”

Jackson shakes his head with a smirk and grabs my hand as I turn away. “If you thought I was letting you go that easily, you have a lot to learn.”

“Jackson.” My eyes flicker to Myles, who is standing with his arm around Emma talking to someone. “I can’t.”

“It’s just a phone number, Nina.” He pulls out his phone and holds it out, looking at me warmly. “Please.”

I hesitate for a moment before taking it out of his hand and typing in my contact information. His eyes flicker between the new contact and my face before he slips it back into his pocket.

“I’ll be contacting you about a real date soon.”

I watch him for a moment, and I realize I could stare at him all night. The dimples, the sharp cut of his jawline, his eyes, darker now, which are watching me, flickering between my lips and my eyes and everything else. I step closer and rock up on my tiptoes and adjust his crooked bowtie, my fingers just brushing his skin. I keep them there a beat longer than needed to feel the beat of his heart under my fingertips before I drop my hands back down.