Eliza and I had concluded our meeting on a good note and I was – somewhat – patiently waiting for the follow up phone call she'd promised me. Over the next several days, my mind was constantly occupied with thoughts of what I could've said differently or how I could've handled the meeting better, more impressively – less pleading for help... Waiting and wondering was an emotional rollercoaster, and one that I had yet to mention to Jesse or Erica, for fear that one or both of them wouldn't be thrilled with my behind-the-scenes business endeavors on their behalf.

Trying to focus my thoughts elsewhere so I wouldn't be glum for the big day, I smoothed the wrinkles in my satin dress and checked my appearance in the mirror one last time before leaving the hotel room.

Jesse was waiting for me in the lobby, sharply dressed in a navy suit with a shimmery silver tie that brought out the shine in his eyes. There were people scurrying everywhere but all I could see was him as I weaved my way through the congregation.

"You really are the handsomest man I've ever seen, Mr. Reese," I said in a flirty tone, leaning in for a quick kiss.

"You look amazing," he smiled sweetly, his hand finding its rightful place at the small of my back. "I'm glad you decided to come."

I was, too. When Jesse and I had decided to give our relationship a try, the last thing I'd expected was to be his date to a wedding at a stunning historic seaside hotel in Cape Cod where all our coworkers could see us together, but it was a beautiful setting with people I enjoyed being around – and it was a great way to throw back a couple glasses of champagne and get my mind off of the Morgan Taffey merger. Besides, we'd already given everyone enough to look at when we'd danced and disappeared together at the fundraiser. If all our coworkers hadn't figured it out by now, I'd be amazed.

"Me, too," I smiled and leaned into his side, relishing in the way it felt to stand beside him and breathe in the subtle scent of his cologne mixed with his aftershave. The two scents were intoxicating paired together.

"Why don't we go find our table?" Jesse suggested and gestured toward the ballroom where the ceremony was set to take place.

It was a bit unorthodox the way Kate and Alex had decided to set up the scene. Instead of the guests sitting in the usual rows of pews or chairs, everyone would be seated at beautifully decorated tables during the wedding. It was an unusual setup, but it was actually a pretty brilliant idea once Erica told me Kate and Alex had saved a ton of money by renting the one ballroom and using it as both the ceremony and reception room. I imagined the tab at a hotel in Cape Cod was sky high regardless, so that sounded like a great compromise.

Around four o'clock, guests started filtering into the ballroom in search of their seats. I'd followed Jesse to a table up front that had ours and eight other names listed. The bride and groom had chosen to sit at a sweetheart table after the ceremony and our table was directly across from theirs. Some of the names I recognized at our table were Erica, Selena, Jesse's sister, Lillian, and Mandy Cartwright.

"Can I get you something to drink, Vanessa?" Jesse asked as he pulled my chair out for me. "There's a cash bar."

With a headache brewing, I figured the champagne could wait until after the I Do's.

"Some water would be great."

He smiled and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You got it."

While I waited for him to return, I took in the room and all the decorations Kate had picked out, complete with perfect white linen tablecloths and thick bouquets of pink roses. Paired with the high ceilings and huge windows overlooking the private beach, it was a setting fit for a princess.

"Kate has great taste in wedding décor, huh?" Selena said as she walked up to the table, finding her seat across from me.

I nodded, glancing around the room again. "It's beautiful."

Selena smiled like it was the happiest day of her life thus far, and I could tell what a great, supportive friend she was to Kate just by the way she was admiring her best friend's decoration choices. She reminded me of Haley and how close we'd always been. I thought about how fortunate I was to have a best friend who would put up with all of my personal life drama and not love me any less because of it. I knew Selena felt the same way about Kate. It was refreshing to see women supporting and cheering each other on. It made me feel good.

My eyes traveled to the bar to see what was keeping Jesse and I was surprised to see him smiling and shaking hands with Alex. I hadn't imagined the two of them would be friendly after they'd apparently had quite a relationship rollercoaster when they'd both dated Kate, but I'd never brought it up because it wasn't my business. I wasn't going to quiz Jesse about their conversation either. It was obvious from where I sat that they'd made up and were now getting along well, despite all the guests assuming he'd only been invited by Kate.

Selena had noticed the pair as well and I didn't miss the subtle smile on her face at the sight of Jesse appearing to congratulate Alex, who then gave him a pat on the back and went on his way to mingle with other guests.

When Jesse returned with my water, Selena was beaming and couldn't help telling him she was so happy to see them getting along.

"You know, I'm glad, too," Jesse told us. "It was a long time coming, but I'm glad we're on the same page now and the past is in the past. He invited me to go horseback riding after they get back from the honeymoon."

"That's great!" Selena grinned. "You'll love Beeswax."

I nearly spit my water across the table and choked on a string of unladylike laughter, which made Jesse laugh, too.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Beeswax?!" I was practically gasping for air between laughs and Selena was about to fall out of her chair, too.

"He's a horse," she clarified, giggling uncontrollably. "I'm pretty sure Kate had that same reaction when she first heard his name."

"Well, that explains it then. Why wouldn't a horse be named Beeswax?" I burst out laughing again.

Just as I'd hoped, attending the wedding was bringing my mood up and giving me something to smile about. It felt great to think about something other than work or my ex for a change.

It wasn't long before the remainder of the guests who'd been mingling in the lobby had filtered into the ballroom and located their seats. Kacey, a close friend of Erica, Selena and Kate sat on my right, while Jesse sat on my left. She and I were getting to know each other, talking about where we grew up and how we knew the bride and groom. Erica sat on the other side of Jesse with her husband, who was a complete gentleman and super friendly to everyone around us. I watched the two of them and how happy they were together, and I wondered if someday that could be Jesse and me. I started to say something to Jesse about it, but then the officiant, a colorful man named Joseph, made his grand entrance with a brief backing track of the chorus to Rock You Like A Hurricane, which garnered a roar of laughter, and the audience anxiously awaited the entrance of the bride and groom.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and those who have yet to decide," Joseph wiggled his eyebrows with a grin and clapped his hands together. "I'm honored deep in my glitter-covered heart that Kate Crawford and Alex Stephens have asked me to officiate this union today. Some of you may remember me, but for those of you who don't know me, I used to work with the bride and groom at Satisfaction Magazine. Kate and I have been dear friends for years now and I couldn't be happier for her on this special day!"

"It's so good to see Joseph so happy now," I heard Selena whisper to Kacey who nodded.

"I know you're all anxiously awaiting the festivities – and the cake, of course – so I'll conclude my ramblings," Joseph joked, giving his bright blue blazer a tug at the bottom. "Now, I promised the happy couple I wouldn't announce their entrances like this is a fashion show, but I have to put some flare into it. Please welcome our handsome groom, Alex."

He pointed toward the back of the room where a red-faced, laughing Alex emerged from the lobby in a sharp looking charcoal tux and started making his way toward the makeshift stage the hotel had set up.

"Sorry ladies! He's off the market," Joseph proclaimed. "That goes for you, too, boys."

Jesse snorted a laugh and slung an arm over the back of my chair, obviously loving every second of the embarrassed smile on Alex's face.

Once Alex reached the stage and gave Joseph a one-armed hug, Joseph pressed a button on a remote he'd been holding and cued up the traditional wedding song for the bride to enter. The whole room shifted to watch Kate appear in the doorway, clad in the most beautiful sleeveless wedding gown I'd ever seen, and carrying a bouquet of pink and white roses. Her hair was done up in a partial bun with curls cascading down on her left side. She'd opted not to wear a veil and it suited her perfectly.

While everyone else was focused on Kate, I glanced over to Alex, the look on his face telling the whole world that he couldn't possibly be happier than he was in that moment. I was pretty sure I could see tears in his eyes as he watched his bride walk toward him. That was the look of a man who was totally and completely in love, and Kate wore the same expression. It was so emotional for me to witness, I was beginning to feel tears welling up in my own eyes. I wondered if someday that could be Jesse and me.

Erica caught my passing glance and smiled like she could read my mind.

The music faded to an end when Kate handed her bouquet off to Selena as she passed by our table and stepped up onto the stage. She and Alex looked into each other's eyes like the whole world had disappeared and it was just the two of them together in blissfulness.

"Alright, you can hold hands, but no making out yet," Joseph teased, triggering another round of laughter. "You'll have plenty of time for that tonight."

Jesse gave me a nudge and winked, and I knew he had a few plans of his own for tonight.

"Bear with me, as this is my first time officiating a marriage," Joseph explained. "But I think it goes a little something like this."

He proceeded to tell a couple short, endearing stories about when he first met Kate and Alex and the moment he knew they were meant for each other. I noticed Erica glance at Jesse and me a couple times like she was thinking up her own version of what Joseph was saying. I wondered what she thought about the two of us, but my curiosity ceased at the mention of vows.

"I wrote and rewrote and tried to memorize this speech so many times," Alex began, a barely noticeable tremor in his voice as he looked at Kate. "I finally decided the best speech is the unwritten, unrehearsed one. Kathleen Crawford, you are my absolute world. You've been the dearest person in my life since the first day you found me lost, wandering the halls of Satisfaction. When I came to New York, I never imagined I'd meet a girl, much less fall in love so quickly and be getting married not even a year later; but Kate, I can't picture my life without you in the very center of it. You make me laugh. You put up with the supposed snoring that I still don't think I do. And every day with you still feels like the first day, full of excitement and happiness. I never want to get off this high with you. I love you, Kate."

At the angle she stood, Kate's back was to me, but I didn't miss the subtle shake in her body that told me she was crying happy tears as Alex slowly slid the ring on her finger.

"I'm getting a little misty over here," Joseph announced, waving his hand to fan his face, earning a few chuckles from the audience.

"You think you are," Kate giggled, her voice cracking with emotion as she began to recite her own vows. "Alex, I didn't realize how unfulfilling my life felt before I met you and you introduced me to the love in your family and the happiness you surround yourself with every day. After my last relationship, I didn't think there was anyone out there for me. I threw myself into my job and excelled at it, which was amazing, but I had no idea how much life I was missing out on until you came along and opened up your heart to me. Alex, you make me so genuinely happy, and you listen to me, and you truly care about every aspect of my life. You also don't complain when I eat the last of the ice cream, which is one of those important qualities that's right up there with honesty and a sense of humor, so I know I picked the right guy! Wow. I'm rambling on now. Thank you for being the best part of my life in every single way, every day. Thank you for being my best friend and my safe place. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Alex Stephens. I love you so much."

Jesse's hand found mine and he laced our fingers together as Kate placed Alex's ring on his finger. I leaned my head against his shoulder, and he breathed out softly, a comforting sound that relaxed me more so.

My mind wandered back to the night at the fundraiser when he'd said he thought he was falling in love with me. I'd thought about it constantly the following few days and tried my best to avoid the subject coming up again because I didn't know what to say or how to handle it. Now that I'd had time to clear my head a little and gather my wits, the emotions I was feeling were driving me up the wall with passion for the man sitting beside me. Maybe it was ridiculous, and maybe we were both crazy, but in that moment, I realized I was falling in love with Jesse Reese, too.

"I'm not crying. You're crying," Joseph joked with a grin, wiping his eyes with a sparkly handkerchief. "Now, unless there's some nut ball in our presence who disagrees with this union – don't even think about it – by the power vested in me by the internet and the state of New York, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Stephens. You may now make out with the bride."

The audience erupted into cheers, smiles and laughter, clapping and whistling for Alex and Kate as he leaned in and gave her a long, passionate kiss.

Jesse gave my hand a soft squeeze and I looked up to meet his glossy eyes, the scene having obviously stuck an emotional chord with him, too.

"Alex got it wrong," he whispered to me. "I'm the luckiest man in this room... because I have you."

And then he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine right in front of Erica and everyone else.