Page 124 of Peaks and Promises

The jeweler had said I could return the rings. Maybe I’d take them back.

It was the damn wedding throwing me for a loop. Why did Theo want me to be a groomsman? Being his brother didn’t automatically qualify me for the spot. Didn’t mean I deserved to stand up with him on the most important day of his life. I hadn’t done anything to earn that.

I’d spent so many years believing I’d burned down all the bridges. Coming back and finding them intact didn’t make any sense. I still didn’t know how to handle it.

The store was on a side street, with mannequins dressed in suits displayed in the window. I found parking, grabbed my phone, and went inside.

Theo and Luke were already there, chatting with the salesman. I took off my sunglasses and tipped my chin to them.

The salesman’s mouth opened as he looked me up and down.

“Told you he was big,” Luke said. “Good luck with that.”

“Do you have anything that will fit him?” Theo asked.

“Hmm.” The salesman’s expression shifted from surprise to determination. “I’m sure we can make something work. Give me a few minutes.”

I glanced down at myself. “Why does everyone look at me like I’m a freak of nature? I’m not that big.”

“You’re the size of a barn,” Luke said.

Theo tilted his head. “Yeah, you could’ve played football.”

“I sucked at football.”

“No you didn’t,” Theo said. “You weren’t big like you are now, but you didn’t suck.”

“I was uncoordinated and slow,” I said. “I wasn’t any good at sports. Not like you guys.”

“Is that why you did this?” Luke gestured up and down. “Put on all the muscle?”

“Because I was bad at sports when we were kids?” I asked.

“Nah, I bet it was deeper than that,” Theo said. “More like changing the way he looks physically in an attempt to become a different person.”

Nodding slowly, Luke rubbed his chin. “Makes sense. Leave the old Reese Haven behind. Be someone new and unrecognizable.”

I glowered at both of them. “Are we here to psychoanalyze me or find a suit?”

“Why not both?” Theo asked with a subtle smirk.

“How are we not supposed to try to figure you out?” Luke asked.

“All right, gentleman.” The salesman returned and gestured to the back of the store. “I have a fitting room ready for you.”

Grateful for the interruption, I followed him back. Theo and Luke waited nearby while I started trying on suits.

The first was so small, I couldn’t get my arms in the jacket, and the pants wouldn’t fit over my thighs. The second fit better, through the shoulders at least, but the rest was huge. I stepped out to show the salesman, and he agreed no amount of alterations would make it work.

After trying on a few more options, I was starting to wonder if I should get Gunnar to make a trip to my house and ship my suit to me. It never would have occurred to me to bring it. Why would I need a suit in Tilikum?

Finally, we found one. It didn’t fit off the rack, but it was close enough their tailor could make the necessary alterations in time for the wedding.

Luke suggested we grab lunch before heading back to town. Nate was still at Annika’s house, and Summer was shopping for a bridesmaid dress, so I agreed. We found a place around the corner, were seated at a table by the window, and the server came and took our orders.

We chatted a bit about a car Luke was restoring and how the upcoming football camps were looking for Theo. Right as the server set our plates in front of us, my phone buzzed with a text. Luke pulled out his phone, and Theo did the same.

“Must be in the group chat,” Luke said.