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“Yeah, Wendy too.”
I kick my feet up on the coffee table and flip the TV on. I settle onImpractical Jokers,my go-to when I want pure entertainment and laughs.
* * *
“This is where the wedding will take place. Darius and Evie will be married under the trellis in front of the pond,” Jasmine, the wedding planner, points up ahead. “So you’ll walk down the aisle, which, in this instance, is this brick path. You’ll be arm in arm with your partner and when you get to the end, the bride’s party will go to the left and the groom’s to the right where you’ll line up single file. You.” She smiles, pointing at me. “Help me to demonstrate.”
I can’t really say no, so I meet her at the end of the aisle where she curls her hand around my bicep. We follow the bricks to the trellis where we part ways. I line up as if I’m not the only groomsman standing there.
“Very nice,” she says, looking me over.
“Thanks.”
We start back down the aisle. My eyes seek out Calista in our friend group, and when I find her, she doesn’t look happy. Her eyes are narrowed in on Jasmine’s hand gripping my arm.Great.
When we reach the end of the path, I remove Jasmine’s grabby hand and position myself near Calista.
“Once the wedding is over and the bride and groom have exited, you’ll simply meet your partner in the middle of the aisle and follow the pathway all the way back to where you began. Does everyone understand?” Jasmine asks.
“Yes,” we chorus.
“Okay, that means it’s time to eat.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!” Murphy yells.
Jasmine leads us inside to a small private dining room that’s used for small receptions and events like this. With a handful of round tables set with shiny white dishes and crystal, it’s the perfect size to accommodate both Darius’s and Evie’s families.
I find my name tag at the same table as my teammates and Calista. Murphy deftly swaps out two of the tags without anyone noticing so Calista can sit next to me.
I bump his fist. “Thanks, man.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Servers immediately begin pouring wine into glasses and buckets of beer are set in the middle of the table. I’m guessing the beer was Darius’s idea and one I appreciate. I pluck out a bottle for me and one for Murphy.
“Here you go.” I hand it over.
“Thanks.”
Calista slips onto the seat next to mine. I smile. “Hi, beautiful.”
She gives me a cool look. “Hi.”
What’s this about? She can’t possibly be jealous of Jasmine, right? Would I be irked if the situation were reversed and some handsome guy was pawing at Calista? Fuck yes. I’d be a jealous jackass.
I place my hand on her thigh beneath the table and squeeze. “I missed you.”
“You sure about that?”
“One hundred percent, baby.”
She looks at me, and I see the moment she lets go of the jealousy. “I missed you too. It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages when it’s only been since lunch. I made your dad some meals for this weekend so he won’t go hungry,” she says.
“You do know he’s a grown-ass man and can cook for himself for a couple of days, right?”
“You mean like you are?” she tosses out. “If I recall correctly, you said the two of you might starve if I didn’t become your chef.”
“Yeah, but I missed you and wanted not only your food but your company.”
