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“You fuck off and die,” James yelled from outside, “right after you open the goddamned door.”
I staggered up and opened it. My best friend, James Preston, stood in the doorway. He looked lightly tanned, alert, and wore a custom suit. He scowled at me.
I was too hungover to scowl back. I blearily made my way to the coffee maker. “What’re you doing here?” I gripped the counter as my dark roast poured.
“Audrey mentioned something was up with you and Jenny. So when I texted you five times, and you didn’t answer, I had to come over and check.” James nodded toward the smashed bowl on the ground. “Housekeeping hasn’t been in yet, I take it?”
I shrugged.
James motioned to my coffee. “Can I have one, please? Or is that too much to ask?”
“It’s too much to ask, but sure.” As making coffee involved nothing more than hitting a button, I executed the task and slid the mug over to him.
“You look like shit,” James said. “And you smell.”
I scrubbed a hand across my face. “A few bottles of bourbon will do that to you.”
He winced. “I take it Jenny’s not here?”
“No.”
James frowned. “Is she coming back?”
“I don’t think so.” I shrugged.
We both drank some coffee after that.
“What did Audrey say?” I couldn’t stop asking, even though I felt like a middle-schooler.
“Not much,” James said. “She talked to Jenny, and Jenny is safe. Audrey didn’t share any other details with me.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” I swallowed some coffee over the lump in my throat.
James fidgeted with his mug, seeming distracted. “Listen, I came over to check on you, but I also need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay…?” I waited. James never wanted to talk. This had to be important—suddenly, there was a heaviness in the air. Something was up.
“Audrey and I have decided that we want to get married sooner rather than later,” James said. He looked uncomfortable. “Sorry about the timing.”
“It’s okay—congratulations, man,” I said. I felt so shitty about Jenny, but I was genuinely happy for my best friend. “Don’t be sorry. When are you thinking?”
“In a few weeks,” he said. “We’re going to hold the ceremony at the Gardener Museum.”
“Nice.” Personally, I was fucking miserable, but even that couldn’t stop me from being happy for James and Audrey. I’d seen them together: I knew they were the real thing.
James shifted on his barstool. “Cole… will you be my best man?”
I blinked at him. He blinked at me. My eyesmighthave started to sting a little but fuck that. “I’d be honored.”
“Thanks.” He grinned at me. “I’m happy to hear it.”
My stomach swooped with a mixture of hope and dread. “Who’s going to be the maid of honor?” I asked, but I already knew the answer.
“Audrey wants to ask Jenny. That’s part of why I’m here—I wanted to run that by you. Like I said, I know the timing sucks.” He blew out a deep breath. “But sheisher best friend.”
“I know.” Knowing I’d see Jenny again made me feel a little better, even though it hurt. “I’m fine with it—it’s your wedding. I won’t mess it up with any drama.”
James watched me for a beat. “I hope you two can work things out.”
