Page 18 of Gin and Bear It

I extend my hand. He doesn’t look at it—he just looks at me, those greenish brown eyes reaching parts of me that I want to keep hidden. But I can’t.

“Deal,” he says, finally shaking my hand.

SIX

ASH

The idea of telling Waylon that I’m marrying his best friend isn’t scary until we decide to meet up Wednesday afternoon after he gets off work early. Why did I think it would be any different, though?

Waylon is extremely nice, but we’ve never truly tested each other. The biggest conflicts we’ve been through were normal brother shit like arguing over a game or the brief moment when I hit on Bianca, not knowing who she was.

He’s closer to Jada than he is to me. Way closer.

I kicked vaping two years ago but the urge to take a puff yanks at me, hard. I bite my thumbnail instead and check my phone. Waylon says he’s going to be here at the trailhead in five minutes. I doubt he suspects anything, particularly not that I’m marrying his best friend out of nowhere.

Fuck.

I rake a hand down my face, then rest it on Lady’s back. I borrowed her from my parents for moral support, and I’m glad I did. I have to do my part to get the plan rolling.

Then I’ll move in with Jada. Monday, we’ll be married. And we’ll be married for as long as we need to be and not a second longer.

“Fuck,” I say out loud. This is way too fast.

A tap on my window makes me nearly leap out of my skin. It’s just Waylon with Bianca’s Pomeranian, Sadie, in a baby carrier on his chest.

“You alright?” he asks, putting his sunglasses on top of his head.

“Yeah, just zoned out.” I nudge Lady back from her attempt to lick Waylon’s face through the glass.

I get out of the car and let Lady greet Waylon’s other dog, Duke. He’s part lab, part husky, so he’s friendly, but not as friendly as Lady.

Waylon is slightly taller than me, and his childhood pudge turned into muscular bulk a long time ago. He has more than enough muscle to kick my ass and throw me into a ditch. I doubt Lady would save me.

We walk to the trailhead in silence that feels too thick for my liking. I’m not sure if Waylon senses it or not.

“It’s nice out,” he finally says. “Beautiful evening. Bet the sunset will be amazing later.”

“Yep.” I glance at Sadie, who’s asleep with her tongue poking out in the carrier. “She just lets you do that? Wear her?”

Most people would look ridiculous, but he looks completely natural.

“Yeah.” He scratches under the dog’s chin. “She’s a sweet girl.”

The trail is lined with trees that shade us. It’s humid for April, but in the shade, it’s just right. I spent a lot of time outside growing up, trying to escape the house and everyone’s bullshit. Being back in this specific kind of nature feels right.

“So what’s the deal with this hike?” Waylon asks after a long pause. “You look like you’re going to throw up.”

“Jada and I are dating and I’ve asked her to marry me,” I blurt.

Waylon stops, then stares at me. His eyes narrow for a moment before he laughs, an eyebrow cocked.

“What? Okay.” He keeps walking. “Anyway, Bianca’s parents’ friends are letting us use these villas at a resort in the Caribbean for the wedding in September. Feels a little extravagant, but it’ll be fun.”

“Wait, did you hear me?” I catch up to him. “Jada and I are together.”

“No, you’re not.” Waylon slows to let Duke sniff a tree branch. “I would know.”

I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “Not if we kept it from you on purpose.”