I still remember the day I asked him, keeping it private, like I’ve done most things between us. I didn’t ask him in front of the whole school, didn’t make a huge spectacle of it. No, instead, I invited him over and had him sit at the kitchen table blindfolded.
I made a simple sign out of construction paper that read, Don’t make me go Solo to Sadies, please. Will you go with me? and completed the proposal with red Solo cups forming the shape of a heart and cake pops shaped like beer pong balls. I even framed it. Not the cake pops, of course, those I left out.
He was so ecstatic that he didn’t fully read the question before yelling, “Yes!”
Which leads us to now, a few weeks later. I’m looking at myself in the full-length mirror, making sure I’m not missing anything. I’m wearing a simple halter-style dress with two thin straps on either side of my neck that’s fitted from the waist up and flowy around my thighs. Two small pearl studs adorn my ears, and a single pearl pendant rests against the center of my collarbone. I even put a little more makeup on than usual because it’s a special night.
“Sweetie, Julian is here…” My mother’s words falter as she enters my room, pausing to look at my appearance from head to toe. She smiles slowly, and I cross my arms across my middle, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“He’s early,” is all I say, my words breathy.
“Don’t hide yourself, Dev, you look beautiful,” she says softly before correcting herself. “No, scratch that, you don’t look beautiful, you are beautiful.”
“Oh, Mom, you have to say that, I’m your daughter,” I joke, shaking out my limbs to rid myself of the anxiousness setting in.
“Eh, right now, we’ll pretend that you’re not,” she says simply, shrugging.
I laugh. “You’re so goofy, thank you for easing my nerves a bit.”
“What’s there to be nervous about?” she asks, head tilting to the side with concern in a way that only mothers have seemed to master.
“I don’t know how to dance,” I say suddenly. “I’m actually really horrible at it. And what if while we’re dancing, because that’s inevitable, I break his foot by stepping on it too hard or something?”
Mom laughs and places her hands on my shoulders in reassurance. “Just have fun, okay? Don’t let fear or anxiety rule you. It’s going to be an amazing night, even if it does end with one of you in the emergency room with a broken bone.”
I stare at her, eyes wide. “Was that supposed to be helpful, Mom?”
She just laughs. “Come on, your date is waiting for you, and I left your father to keep him company, so we may want to head to the back now.”
“To the back?” I ask, following her out of my room.
“Yeah, I want you two to take a photo out by the gazebo,” she tells me, sounding excited about the idea. “It’s the perfect setting.”
“Fine,” I mumble, butterflies taking flight right on cue when we step outside and my eyes lock on to Julian, who’s wearing a loose-fitted, deep grey baseball T-shirt with black jeans.
His eyes are soft on mine, and I smile, walking up to him slowly while I note how his scruff is more evenly grown in than it was the last time he let it grow out this much.
“You look so handsome, scruffy beard and all,” I comment, fingers reaching up to tap along the prickly surface. “I see you decided to keep it.”
He just smiles, shaking his head at my words, no doubt wanting to argue about it being his best feature right now, which he did the other night. “I worked too hard on this thing to let it go to waste, ya know?”
I roll my eyes and lean up to press a kiss against his mouth, smiling when his lips move against mine. The kiss is cut way too short by the clearing of a throat, which clearly comes from my dad.
“Let’s get these photos over with,” Dad grumbles, camera ready in hand, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, you two lovebirds have a dance to go to,” Mom agrees, looking and sounding way more excited at the idea than my dad, which only makes me laugh harder.
And as Dad snaps photos of us together beneath the gazebo, my mother directs us on how she’d like us to pose—which we follow flawlessly. Well, as best we can, anyway.
“Can you two please take this seriously?” my mother yells, and Jules and I give each other wide-eyed looks before bursting into laughter.
“Sorry, sorry,” we both apologize, still laughing.
But for the next ten minutes, we take it a bit more seriously, and by the time we’re done, his lips graze my ear as he whispers, “You look beautiful, Dev.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I shoot back, cheeks heating at his compliment. “This is going to be fun, right?”
“Right,” he promises. “And if it’s a total bust, we can always leave. At least we can say we went.”
“That’s true.” I nod.
Jules holds his hand out, and I take it, letting him lead me to his car. And then we’re on our way to the dance, where we’ll hopefully have the best time ever.
The car fills with the harmonies of One Direction, and I look over at him, a huge smile growing on my face. “You really do know the way to my heart, don’t you?”
“Eh,” he shrugs like it’s no big deal, “I’m definitely learning.”
“Okay, I’ll admit, this night hasn’t been so bad,” I breathe out, body exhausted from all the dancing that’s happened since we got to the dance two hours ago. “It’s actually been pretty great.”
“Great?” Erin questions, shaking her head vigorously. “It’s been incredible. I’m so happy you two came and stayed longer than the standard fifteen-minute appearance rule.”
“So am I,” Jules agrees, lips pressing against my temple tenderly. “It’s definitely one for the books.”
“I honestly had no idea you could go that hard on the dance floor,” I tell him, laughing. “I’m impressed.”
“You think all that was impressive?” He shakes his head, hand reaching for mine and lacing my fingers through his. “Nah, that was just me warming up. There are way more moves where that came from.”
I widen my eyes, body still recovering from all the moves we just did several minutes before. “Oh my gosh, there’s more? Jules, I’m not sure my body is even capable of more at this point. My limbs are all but fried.”
“Oh, come on, best,” Erin interrupts, a small whine to her voice that makes me roll my eyes and laugh. “We only have a few more months to be ridiculous and carefree before life hits us hard. The least we can do for our future selves is dance so hard tonight that it leaves a lasting mark that’ll be felt and remembered months or even years from now.”
I groan, knowing how right she is. We’re more than halfway done with senior year, and it feels like only weeks have gone by. So, taking advantage of nights like this and making them last actually sounds like a pretty smart idea.
“I know that look,” Erin points out over the loud music still playing. Our school has had the same playlist on repeat blaring through the speakers since the dance started. “That look says she’s going to give in and that we’re going to get our way.”
Jules gives her an amused look before turning to look at me, brow raising as if waiting for confirmation.
I sigh, standing on my feet and slowly starting to sway my hips to the music. “Let’s go do this damn thing.”
“Whoo!” Erin claps and cheers, following Jules and I onto the dance floor. She decided to come alone and appointed herself as mine and Jules’ third wheel, further solidifying that this night will hold a special place in my heart forever. My best friend and my boyfriend pulling me from my comfort zone and encouraging me to make a fool out of myself? Yeah, definitely memorable.
I sneak a few Altoids into my mouth just as we’re about to hit the center of the dance floor. Old habits and all, my trusty Altoids addiction hasn’t steered me wrong yet.
I laugh at the thought before I shove it from my mind and focus on keeping myself from tripping over my own two feet and dragging anyon
e else down with me.
If you would have asked me at the start of the year where I pictured myself six months from then, this definitely wouldn’t have crossed my mind.
Life has a way of surprising you and testing your limits, I know it has mine. And I’ve never been more grateful for it.
“Thank you, Dev,” Jules whispers against the side of my neck, lips lingering. “Thank you for everything you’ve given me so far in such a short amount of time, including tonight.”
I move my head, lips skimming against his. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’m so happy we met when we did. Everything has its own time and a purpose, and you’re mine right now, hopefully for forever, though I know that’s a bit naive and jumping the gun, but whatever.”
“It’s not naive,” Jules denies, kissing me softly. “It just made me love you a little bit more. I didn’t think that was possible, but I’m confident that with you, I’ll always fall deeper.”
I groan, his words hitting every part of my soul. “When you talk like that, with your heart all open, it’s hard for me to believe that you’re real. I mean, how are you so comfortable with expressing your feelings and basically baring your soul?”
“Simple,” he shrugs, offering me another kiss, “it’s because it’s you I’m doing it with.”
“Lovebirds,” Erin scolds, hands clapping loudly over the music to capture our attention. “As much as I adore how deeply you two embody the term goals, it’s hard to third wheel when you two get in your own little world and start being all sweet. So, stop that. It’s dance time.”
I pull from Jules and reach a hand out for my best friend, pulling her into a tight hug and swaying offbeat to the music. “Love you always, you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah,” she mumbles, pretending to shove me away before returning my hug. “Love you always, too.”
And then we spend the rest of the dance huddled together, dancing like the uncoordinated lunatics we are. Or, at least, the one I am. Jules and Erin seem to have this dance thing down pat.
I take a snapshot of each moment, storing it in my heart to revisit when I’m older and wiser and reflecting on the good old days of seventeen.
Epilogue
Eighteen
“I can’t believe that this time next month we’ll be on opposite ends of the state,” I say, fingers tracing Jules’ forearms as he holds me close to him. “Since graduation, it just feels like everything is happening lightning fast.”
“I know what you mean,” he murmurs, pulling in a deep breath. “Man, do I know.”
“But we’ll talk, right? And we’ll see each other on holidays?” I ask in a rush, stomach sinking as reality starts to really set in. I ramble on, “It’s so bittersweet because I’m so stoked about starting this next chapter of life, but starting it without you is so painful.”
“You won’t be starting it without me,” he promises. “I’ll be there with you, just, ya know, a few hundred or so miles away.”
I snuggle further against him. “I know, and I’ll be there with you too. Long distance is no match for us, right?”
“Right,” he confirms, tone determined. “Long distance has got nothing on you and me. Besides, I’ll still get to see your gorgeous face every night on FaceTime. Or weekly. Whatever you want.”
He sounds so vulnerable, and it makes my chest expand with happiness at his love for me. “Weekly, for sure. I think we’ll be too exhausted to talk every night, but please prepare yourself for the tons of messages I’ll probably send you daily.”
“I’ll be looking forward to them, Dev.”
“Me too.”
One step closer to forever
The concept of high school sweethearts has always seemed a little like wishful thinking to me, like something that was really only successful in books or movies; aside from my parents, of course, they were the exception. And I guess now Jules and I are too.
I think that’s part of the reason I freaked a bit in the beginning. I fell in love with him so deeply at such a young age, and having my first love be my forever love seemed like an idea too far-fetched to even hope for.
Yet, here I am—here we are—surrounded by our friends and family at a reception to celebrate our vows to one another. Today, in the same month we met six years ago, we got married, promising to spend forever with one another, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and all that other heart-stopping stuff.
We went to college hundreds of miles apart, and even though we had a crap ton of distance between us, our love and affection still grew and deepened, and we managed to turn our spark into flame. Those four years spent mostly apart taught us to really cherish and take advantage of the time we did have together, which is why I think we were able to overcome so many obstacles, not that there were many, thankfully. But verbal communication became a strength in our relationship, and we built a foundation on trust, understanding, and respect, and that little crush I had originally sought after turned into the greatest love of my life. It only continued to grow from there.
Which is why when he asked me to marry him a year after we started college, when we were both still trying to figure out our places in the world and what our futures looked like, I said yes. I didn’t hesitate. He didn’t either. We knew that the one thing we were certain of was each other, and it was the easiest yes I’ve ever said.
I hold my champagne flute against my chest, eyes watering as memories from our life together so far jump to the forefront of my mind, as I watch Jules and Erin compete in some sort of two-person dance battle on the dance floor. Our guests goad them on, clapping and yelling, cheering on one and then the other.
I roll my eyes, laughing at their competitive nature, especially when it comes to dancing, which started at the Sadie Hawkins dance all those years ago. Two of the most important people in my life are trying to one up each other, each dance move more over the top than the last.
“Devon, are you going to step in at some point?” Braxton calls from his spot near the chaos, smirking and knowing full well that is something I most definitely will not do.
I scoff and laugh, calling back, “Yeah, no, I don’t get in between those two, especially when they’re like this. They’ll end up calling a draw eventually, just like they always do.”
It doesn’t take long for that to happen either because as I’m working my way through my third slice of wedding pie—mmhmm, that’s right—Jules is walking up to me, all sweaty and happy with a full-toothed smile on his face.
“Mrs. Evans,” he addresses, his smile somehow growing even bigger. “Your best friend doesn’t know when to quit.”
I shake my head at their never-ending dance war. “From where I stand, neither of you do.”
“Wife, please at least pretend to be team me,” he begs dramatically, but I know he’s joking so I just shake my head. “Fine, you’re lucky I love you.”
“Oh, I’m lucky?” I ask, grinning. “You’re the lucky one, mister.”
He leans forward, sensually licking the small piece of pie hanging on the corner of my mouth from my last bite. “I look forward to showing you just how much I love you later.”
Goosebumps spread across my entire body, from head to toe, as anticipation for the intimacy we’ll share later grows.
“Speaking of, I don’t think I’ve said this, and in case I forget to again, thank you for being so patient with me when it comes to that,” I tell him softly, eyes misting with tears at the thankfulness I feel for him. “You’ve never pressured me or brought it up, you just waited and let me love you in other ways.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Dev,” he says softly, hands gripping my waist. “I’d wait longer if that’s what you wanted.”
I sigh, kissing him deeply, hands holding either side of his face as I press my body against his. I don’t even care about the half-eaten slice of pie now on the ground.
When we pull away, Erin is running up to us, holding something big in her hands.
Jules and I both face her and share a look, waiting for her to give us this gift of hers.
She flips the canvas around, and my heart drops at what’s written on it. The words From crush to love are displayed in thick cursive along with Julian & Devon Evans, crushing since age seventeen.
I gasp, emotion constricting my throat, and thick, heavy, happy tears start to well in my eyes before I blink them away, really not wanting to ruin my makeup because I sat in a torture chair long enough for it to get done.
Erin pulls me and Jules into a group hug, clearly pleased with herself. “I knew you two would love it.”
“Based on Dev’s reaction, I guarantee that’s the first thing we’re putting up in our new home,” Jules jokes, his own voice sounding thick and full with emotion. “Thanks, Erin.”
“Don’t mention it, just spend forever making our girl happy, okay?” she scolds at him, and I laugh, noting the way Jules’ eyes roll.
“With that, I am going to keep this safe, I just couldn’t wait to show you.” Another group hug and she’s skipping back to her table, holding our gift protectively in her arms.
Jules sighs before turning to look at me head-on. “Now, where were we?”
“I think we were talking about what’ll be happening later tonight,” I whisper, cheeks heating at all the possibilities. Six years in and this man still knows how to make me blush.
He gives me a small grin, love and lust darkening his gaze. “I love you, Mrs. Evans.”
“Likewise, Mr. Evans. Likewise.”
The start of forever…
Acknowledgments
Kimberly Reese — You are a freaking shining star. This book wouldn’t be what it is without you. I’m not even sure it would exist. Your constant support and encouragement made it possible for me to write this story. You inspire me. Thank you for that, and thank you for the time and energy you put into making this story be everything it is.
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