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Tim finds Lucy at the bar, she’s leaning on her elbows grinning at Aaron who somehow got roped into bartending by Nolan because their bartender had bailed. It could be worse it could be Smitty. He stands back and admires her thinking back to last time they were at a wedding. He knew he felt something for her back then, but he didn’t know or realize how deep those feelings went.
And now
They were at Nolan and Bailey’s wedding as a couple. Something that even in his wildest dreams Tim couldn’t predict.
He goes behind her and wraps his arms around her waist resting his chin on her shoulder. She turns her head and grins when she sees him.
“Hi.” She says softly kissing his cheek and then turning around in his arms. “What have you been doing?”
He pulls her closer and kisses her forehead softly. “I was thinking about the last wedding we were at.” He says. “I owed you a dance.”
“Yeah you did.” She says smiling up at him. “And I guess I should return the favor. Let’s see if you still have those moves huh?”
She moves away from him and holds out her hand. He takes it and she leads him to the dance floor. He pulls her close as the song starts, some well known pop song. He doesn’t mind though because he’s dancing with the one person he always wants to dance with.
They just fit together like a puzzle, and quite honestly it’s always been that way. He spins her out and then pulls her back towards him. His hand on her bare back.
“What are you thinking about now?” She asks. He studies her for a second before answering. She’s always so beautiful and radiant but tonight? She’s absolutely glowing, and he gets to take her home tonight.
“Last time we danced like this.” He starts his voice soft and full of admiration. “I told you I was going to put you as the leading officer on all future reports.” She smiles softly at him and kisses him on the lips.
“Yeah. And you said I deserved to be recognized.” She says and her face glows under the twinkling fairy lights they are under. Tim’s heart flutters and it feels like it could fall out of his chest. He’s so in love with her, and this time he’s not afraid to say it to her. I love you.
“You absolutely deserve to be recognized.” He says fiercely spinning her around once her dress flowing in the breeze.
“Do I still crack the top five?” She asks him teasingly. Tim rolls his eyes at her but there’s no heat to it.
“Yes Luce.” He says simply. He pulls her in closer, and then the song changes and it’s slower. He holds her to him. She stares up at him in wonder and his heart flutters again as he looks down at her.
“What?” He asks her curiously. She tightens her grip on his neck, her heels giving her some height so she can reach.
“I didn’t know you could dance. Like this.” She says biting her lip. “Bradford does still have moves.” Tim laughs a little and lowers his nose into her neck.
“Only for you baby.” He says quietly. Lucy huffs our a laugh, and they stay like that for a few minutes, swaying back and forth it.
“Hey.” I have a question.” She says and looks up at her. She tilts her head so lightly and smiles at him.
“When we danced at Nyla’s wedding. I mean you were saying all these things, we danced and… did you know how you felt back then? I mean truly felt about me.”
Tim pauses his swaying and sighs. No. That’s the simple answer but he knows it’s much more complicated than just a simple no.
“I knew I felt something.” He admits and he resumes to sway with her. Their bodies pressed together as one. “I just didn’t know how deep my feelings ran. And I was with Ashley and you were with Chris. It never occurred to me you could feel the same way until later.” Lucy nods in understanding.
There was before Vegas and after Vegas.
“How about you.” He asks and then he does a surprising move and dips her which makes her giggle softly.
“I.. felt something too. I don’t think I could name it to save my life but yeah I felt something that I knew was more than a friend.” She says and then she worries her bottom lip. “And then you proposed to Ashley.”
“Fake proposed.” Corrects Tim wincing at his blatant disregard of Lucy’s feelings. Even if he didn’t mean to hurt her, he unintentionally did and it’s something he will always regret doing.
“Tim, you said you could see yourself married to her. What was I suppose to think?” Lucy asks softly and he knows she’s just curious. She’s not upset or frustrated. And that’s one of the many things he loves about her.
“I know.. I’m sorry for all that. It was a mess.” Tim says. “My mess but a mess.” Lucy kisses him gently on the lips and then puts her hand on his cheek.
“It’s okay Tim. It all worked out.” She says simply. “I know we are exactly where we were always meant to be.”
“God I love you.” He says. It’s not the first time they have said it. And really they have shown each other they love each other in so many different ways since the beginning. But something about saying it out loud in this moment has Tim’s heart beating fast. Lucy looks up at him her face full of admiration and love.
“I love you too Tim Bradford. So much.” She says fiercely. Tim knows she has his heart and he has hers. Their hearts haven’t been their own for awhile now.
“You have my heart Luce.” He says. “It’s yours. Forever.”
Lucy puts her hand on his heart like she always does and stops swaying. Tim’s half aware that the song has changed but he doesn’t care or pay attention. His focus is on Lucy, and the way her eyes light up when she looks at him. The way her smile makes his heart flutter, the way her touch makes his skin feel like it’s on fire.
“You have always had my heart Tim. This thing between us.” She gestures between them. “It’s forever. You are kind of stuck with me.”
Tim huffs out a laugh because if being stuck with her meant being with Lucy forever than he didn’t mind one bit.
“That sounds perfect baby.” He says kissing her on the forehead. Lucy rests her head on his chest as they continue to sway. He’s aware it’s a faster song and they probably stand out but he doesn’t care.
He thinks of the small box in his closet in a box filled with the tapes she made for him. He thinks how this time next weekend he’s going to be down on one knee and promising her forever. And then they will be dancing as husband and wife at their wedding.
He smiles to himself at that thought. She lifts her head and smiles at his expression and then he spins her around again. She giggles as she trips a little bit and falls into him.
Yeah forever with Lucy sounded like a pretty good thing.