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Joe holds up his drink. “To my matchmaking skills.”
I grab Jen and a champagne from a passing server. “I’ll toast to that.”
From the corner of my eye, I notice Jen discreetly turn away to spit her champagne back into her glass. I bite back a smile.
Joe’s surgery went very well. The recovery was rough, but the surgeon was able to remove all the cancer from his stomach, which meant Joe didn’t need chemo. He’s been in remission ever since.
Clearly, he’s feeling like himself again. And that might be the greatest wedding gift of all.
We see Mollie next. She’s at the bar, looking pensive as she sips on a short and, knowing Mollie, probably very strong drink.
“You all right?” Jen asks, frowning. “I feel like you’ve been a little off this weekend.”
Mollie takes a sharp inhale. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rain on y’all’s parade?—”
“No apology necessary.” I hold up a hand. “What can we do?”
Mollie’s been to Bald Head often over the past few months helping us with the wedding preparations. We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well, and I’d definitely consider us good friends at this point.
“I didn’t want to say anything earlier, but now that y’all officially tied the knot, I feel like I’m not stealing your thunder.” Mollie glances over her shoulder, then looks at Jen and me. “Apparently I inherited a fuckingranch.”
Jen stares at her, eyes wide. “As in aranchranch? Like a Kevin Costner one?”
“Yes. Only my ranch is in Texas.”
I blink. “Wow.”
“It’s a long story.” Mollie waves us away and sips her drink. “But I have no idea what I’m going to do. I don’t know anything about ranches. Ranching. Whatever.”
“Does it come with cowboys?” Jen claps her hands. “Oh, I bet it comes with cowboys.”
Mollie takes another breath. “Somehow I doubt I’m going to like the cowboys.”
“I bet you will if they look like Kevin Costner,” I say.
“Even if they did, not my type,” Mollie replies. She has a point. She is very much a city girl, and a fancy one at that. She likes designer clothes, finance bros who drive Range Rovers, and expensive hipster-y restaurants.
I imagine there aren’t many of those in rural Texas.
“We’ll figure it out.” Jen rubs her back. “I mean, it’s kinda cool that this thing just landed in your lap. Maybe it’s a fresh start?”
Mollie looks like she’s about to cry. “What are y’all doing over here talking to me? Get your asses on the dancefloor.”
“Mollie—”
“I’m okay. Really.” She smiles. “Here, I’ll come with y’all.”
We dance until the Ocean Club’s manager literally pulls the plug on the band. Jen and I get a sendoff that includes sparklers and a golf cart decked out with flowers and a “Just Married” sign. Riley, who’s sober, drives us home.
I carry my bride up the front steps and into our house. Cher and Tai immediately jump onto our legs. While they were part of the ceremony, the Ocean Club does not permit pets to attend weddings as guests, so the girls had to come back here before the reception.
“Hey,” I say with a smile. “We missed you.”
Jen plops onto the couch and the dogs follow her, climbing onto her lap.
Taking off my cufflinks, I grin. “They’re not going to be able to fit on your lap like that soon.”
“I have no idea how we managed to keep that secret all day,” Jen says, glancing at me over her shoulder.
