Page 71 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

Chase nodded. “Certainly keeps me guessing. I’m pretty sure this is the part where I tell you it’s your turn.”

“Oh, I’m sure some lucky turd will earn that privilege at the garter toss.”

“Garter or not, there’s a woman in your future. Better this time. Let’s hope she doesn’t like horses though. I don’t think they’re quite your thing.” He elbowed me in the side.

“Shewon’t, becauseshedoesn’t exist. I’m free as a bird.” I leaned over to whisper. “Hey, where could you two be going tonight that’s better than here? You don’t have to tell me, but tell me anyway.”

Chase grinned. The guy looked so unbelievably happy, I wanted to puke. “Thanks to your video and the huge surge in stocks, I bought another island just north of here. Equally beautiful, but far more secluded with only a single bungalow. I named it after her.”

The cheesiest thing I’d heard all night. “Smart. I’m happy for you, man. Really.”

“You know I’ll be there when your big day comes. Pretty sure that’ll be sooner than later. Don’t skip the garter throw, though, just in case.” Chase slapped me on the back and walked over to join Daphne.

I did skip the garter toss. I even left early and wandered the island with bare feet, gazing up at a sky full of incredible stars. But it wasn’t until the next morning at the airport that I really let Chase’s words sink in.

He didn’t understand. I’d done the dating thing, nearly gotten married to the woman of my dreams. Even sent Chase a wedding announcement.

Turned out those dreams were actually a nightmare.

Later I found my seat on the plane and gazed out the tiny window at Chase’s island. I knew better than anyone else what I wanted in life, and it wasn’t what Chase thought I needed. Or my mom, or my brother, or anyone else.

I’d never be rich enough to own an island, but I could direct my own life. And that seemed really nice right now, after years of captivity with the wrong woman.

Nope, Tanner Carmichael was a free man, traveling wherever and whenever he wanted. I would show Chase and everyone else that I could be single forever and still be happy. Bachelor life suited me.

They’d see. Every last one of them.