Page 33 of The Forever Match

Ash dreaded to think what they were chatting about.

“We’re ready to sub you off the second you blink wrong.”

Cam saluted.

Ash had never loved her more.

Right on cue, the DJ cleared his throat. “Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone else who doesn’t live their lives along narrow gendered lines. Please form a circle and welcome the happy couple to the floor for their first dance!”

Victoria appeared at Ash’s side like she’d been summoned. She slipped her hand into Ash’s and leaned in close. “Extraordinary composure under pressure,” she murmured, eyebrow arched. “You’ve got this, Captain.”

“I wish I had your confidence.” Ash shoved her champagne flute at Cam.

But it was now or never. Same as the ceremony. She was never going to feel ready: she just had to fake it until muscle memory kicked in.

She led Victoria into the middle of the floor with a flourish, lifted her hand, and bowed like something out of a Regency drama.

Victoria’s eyes went wide, as the room erupted in claps and cheers.

“Let’s GO, Woods!” Cam bellowed.

Ash slid an arm around Victoria’s waist and locked into frame. Deep breath. Eyes on her wife.

“Get the first step right,” Victoria said softly, “and you’re golden.”

Their final rehearsal had not gone well. But Victoria was all about positive affirmation, bless her. “You can do this, Ash.”

The music swelled.

She was going to hit the right beat if it killed her.

She closed her eyes. Stepped.

On the correct fucking beat. Party poppers squawked in her brain.

At last!

The next step landed, too. And the next. They twirled, and Victoria grinned, then relaxed into her arms. Ash guided her around the floor with an authority that had not been present in any rehearsal. Where the hell had this come from?

She had no idea.

However, she’d felt it before: in football, in the rare, golden moments when your body just took over and you were along for the ride. She’d felt it scoring the winner in the World Cup final. She felt it now, sweeping her wife across the dancefloor like she’d been born to it.

Ash wasn’t dancing.

She was flying.

They waltzed past Cam, whose face was set to stunned.

“What on earth is happening?” Victoria laughed.

“I’ve no fucking idea,” Ash said, shaking her head. “Apparently there was a dancer in me this whole time.”

“Saving the best for last. Always with the surprises, Ashleigh Woods.” Victoria’s eyes shone. “I look forward to a lifetime of them.”

The wedding was an unabashed success. Even the King had dipped the Queen on the dancefloor, which got a mighty big cheer, even if it did flummox both their children.

“Your mother is letting her hair down,” Ash told her wife.