“They’d have made a pretty crappy something new,” her sister agreed, pulling a pair of flats out of her bag.

“Thank God you brought backup shoes,” Audrey said as she slipped on her sister’s stilettos.

“A habit I picked up during my swollen-feet-during-pregnancy phase, and I can’t bring myself to break it. Blisters just aren’t worth it.”

“Oh, they so are,” Audrey said, extending her feet and wiggling her toes, delighting in her sister’s light pink satin pumps. They weren’t quite as perfect of a match with the white Stella McCartney cocktail dress Audrey had chosen for the rehearsal dinner, but they had the distinct edge of not being broken.

“I owe you big,” Audrey said as Adele picked up the broken shoes and stuffed them into her huge, but stylish, diaper bag.

“I’m just glad we have the same size foot,” Adele said.

“Really? I remember you being not so thrilled about that in high school.”

“Because my pesky younger sister stole my shoes without asking.”

“Borrowed. I borrowed them,” Audrey clarified, opening the bathroom door so they could head back to the party.

As was tradition, the groom’s parents had hosted the rehearsal dinner, and Clarke’s parents had gone above and beyond, renting out the entire rooftop bar of a brand-new hotel not even open to the public yet. Audrey had been pleasantly surprised that instead of a formal sit-down dinner, the Wests had opted for a buffet, allowing groups to mingle among all the elaborately decorated indoor and outdoor spaces of the rooftop. A different cuisine and band played in each room, creating a lavish around-the-world experience.

“You seem happy,” Adele said with a knowing look as she and Audrey moved back toward the music and laughter.

“I am happy.”

“You should be. Clarke keeps getting hotter each year. How is that even possible?”

“Hard to say,” Audrey said. “We could ask Joel. He’s a doctor.”

“Hmm.” Adele pursed her lips. “Let’s leave my hubby out of this particular debate. If he asks, I don’t even remember what Clarke looks like.”

Audrey heard a familiar laugh and paused outside a partially open door to one of the private rooms. Seeing Clarke chatting with someone, she waved her sister on. “I’ll find you later. I need Clarke to remind me of his old boss’s name so Alton doesn’t chew me out for not memorizing the company org chart he sent over.”

Adele waved in acknowledgment, heading back to the party, and a smiling Audrey headed toward her fiancé.

Her future husband.

The love of her life.

She smiled. She may not be able to tell him yet, but she would someday. And someday, she felt in her heart, he would tell her, too.

Patience Love is patient. Love is Clarke, however I can have him.