Austin thought they'd never leave. He'd danced with Grams and Irene and his sister, and God help him, Courtney too. Hours that seemingly stretched into days. They'd had just as many hours of small talk, catching up with the Warners. Then there were the long goodbyes and good nights until he thought he would implode.

He strode down the long hallway upstairs with his hand firmly in Courtney's, and prayed this wouldn't be over in five minutes from the want of her. The ...