The convention wasn’t far from shutting its doors for the night. Well-dressed attendees drifted toward the exits, their laughter warm and loose, their breaths touched with alcohol. A few still lingered in the ballroom, unwilling to let the evening end, taking in one last dance with their partners.

For April, the night couldn’t end fast enough.

Being a vendor at one of the biggest fantasy ball conventions had wrecked her sleep schedule, and she could barely keep her eyes open anymore. Her gray steel flatbed cart was packed to the brim with boxes of jewelry, folded tablecloths, plastic merch stands, price signs, and a cash box.

She scanned the room and spotted a few friends she wanted to say goodnight to before making her exit and the long haul to her car.

Gathering the side of her blue dress in one hand, she carefully stepped around the edge of a display. The gown had cost her a fortune—a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline, straps adorned with appliqués, and a sheer overlay embroidered with delicate botanical patterns that fell into an airy tulle skirt with a high slit.

“Hey ladies. I wanted to say goodnight. I am going to be heading out soon.” She said looking to all four of the women. All of them holding wine glasses in their hands.

“Aww come on. We’re going to the after party. You should join us.”

April’s mouth dropped. “Girl. It’s 9:00. I am tired. I have been here all day, working.”

“We have too!” Another one of her friends, stated.

“And you’re all crazy. Goodnight.” She said with a smile as she turned her back on them and made her way to her cart.

She glanced at their tables, still not packed up, and shook her head to herself. Her friends, all extroverts, had far more energy than she did.

“April.” A male voice said from behind her.

“Ye—” she said as she turned around and her mouth gaped open in shock looking at the man in front of her. “Wes?”

For a second, she just stared.

The man standing in front of her was around five-ten with a slim build, shaggy light brown hair, brown eyes, black-rimmed glasses, light scruff, and a well-fitted black suit.

“What the—you…you’ve changed…” She couldn’t hardly speak correctly stunned.

“I have.” He gave a close grin.

“Um, wow…you look fantastic.” And she meant it. The words left her before she could soften them. She was still trying to reconcile the man in front of her with the version of Wes she remembered—who was an oversized man with baggy clothes, and unkempt beard. 

“Thank you. I finally got serious about my health a year ago and haven’t felt better. I wanted to thank you for helping me push myself to do better.”

She furrowed her brows. “How did I do that? We lost communication a year ago.”

“Because of what you said before we did. I know it was uncomfortable to have that talk with me, but it was necessary and it helped.

“I really thought this whole time you were mad at me…”

He shook his head once. “Not mad at you, but at me. I went through the depression and all the self-pity, after you turned me down, but it made me realize I had to be better, for myself and for you.”

“Um, I don’t understand. Why me? I—”

He stepped closer, close enough to pull her attention fully onto him, and before she could finish, he lifted a finger beneath her chin and tipped her face up. His eyes held hers with an ease that caught her off guard. Her breath hitched before she could stop it, and a nervous flutter moved through her chest.

“Because I knew you loved me but weren’t attracted to me.” He removed his finger and slowly traced the back of his fingers down her bare arm until he reached her hand and took it gently. “I can only imagine how many times you wished I went on those hikes with you or joined you in the 5k’s. You always wanted to be outside, traveling and enjoying life while I sat in my room wasting away, wondering why you didn’t like me like that.”

“Wes...” She held her head down, but he picked it up with her hand cupped under her chin.

“April, you showed me nothing but love, and always being there for me, since the day we met at the library, years ago. I had no reason to ever approach you, but you were just so beautiful I needed to know you. I am glad you wanted a friend just as much as me that day.”

“I am too.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “You were the only guy that I could talk to that didn’t creep me out and actually listened to what I had to say. It hurt when you stopped talking to me…”

“I know. I was angry, and I really had to work on myself. But that anger helped me get here and I hope you can forgive me and allow me to give you a dance before the night ends.” He stepped back and raised his hand out and bowed his head.

She smirked. “You’ve always been such a romantic.” She took his hand. “Of course I will.”

He smiled, and together they walked to the dance floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught her friends gathered in a little circle, all four of them openly staring with wide mouths and raised brows. Heat rushed into her cheeks, and she fought back a laugh.

Wes turned toward her and gently guided her into place. One hand settled at her lower back while the other held hers aloft. She rested her free hand near his shoulder, and for a moment neither of them looked away. They swayed to the music, slow and easy, and the flutter in her chest only grew.

“How did you know I was here?” She asked.

“I still followed your pages and saw you posted about the event. I knew you would be super stress and thought you might need a friend.”

She smiled and glanced away for a moment, suddenly too aware of herself. “Who are you and where is Wes? When did you become so smooth?” she asked eyes back on him but also staring at his soft lips.

“I think he’s always been here but just hidden under self-doubt and bad self-esteem. Crazy how things change when you actually love yourself.” He gave her a spin, and her long brown waves fanned out around her before she came back into his arms with a laugh.

“You really made my night Wes. I missed you.”

He nodded. “I missed you too.”

She let herself lean against him as they continued to sway, the music low around them, until an announcement came over the speaker asking the remaining guests to make their way out.

Her head lifted from his chest and she sighed. “Well at least we got a small dance.”

“It doesn’t have to end here. But come on, let me help you with your stuff.” He walked away and she followed.

They both grabbed the handle of the cart and pushed it out the door together.

He chuckled. “Wow, and you were going to do this all by yourself? This is heavy.”

“I was. Slowly and with a lot of struggle, but I make it happen.”

By her car, she opened the trunk and together they began loading everything inside. Once the last box was in, she lowered the trunk and shut it firmly. She dusted off her hands and turned to him “Well thank you fo—"

She didn’t finish.

His hands came up to cup her face, and his mouth was suddenly on hers. His body pressed against her, sent her back a step until the backs of her legs met the car. That same rush of punching butterflies swept through her again, quick and tight. 

Her hands caught at his arms as she kissed him back, and the moment deepened before either of them seemed willing to stop. By the time they finally pulled apart, both were breathing harder, lingering only inches from each other.

“Wes, my…goodness…” she said out of breath.

Their foreheads touched. “I can no longer stay away from you, April. I will show you, you belong with me.” He whispered. 

To be continued….