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“We don’t have a choice,” I said.
“Well, I think—dude, look out!”
I looked down just in time for a spray of urine to come up, soaking my clean sweats, my arm, the changing table, and the fresh sleeper I’d just put out. I looked down in time to see Benny give me a huge toothless grin, as if spectacularly pleased with himself.
It was going to be a long-ass afternoon.
I was going to be late to the wedding.
I stared at the sea of red brake lights and leaned on the horn impatiently, glaring in frustration at the ten-car pileup in front of me. Lauren and Hadley were going to kill me and this was all Ben’s fault. Not that I’d throw my best friend under the bus on his wedding day, but how the hell did these things happen to us?
At the next exit, I got off the highway and zigzagged through a bunch of back roads, speeding across school zones and residential areas because I was running out of time. If they had to delay the wedding because the best man hadn’t shown up, I would never hear the end of it. I pressed harder on the gas pedal.
After what seemed like an eternity, I skidded into the parking lot of the church, turned off the car, and ran inside.
“Where have you been?” Nash demanded, meeting me just inside the doors. “Ben’s about to have a heart attack.”
“There was an accident on the highway.” I huffed out as I smoothed down the lapels of my tux and took a breath.
“You got the ring?”
“Yeah.” I patted my pocket. “Fuck, I could use a bottle of water. I’m dying.”
“I’ll run and grab you one. I think they’re about to start everything. You literally got back in the nick of time.”
“Thanks, man.” I’d just started to breathe normally again when I heard her. Oh, yeah, Hadley had been waiting for me, so I steeled myself before slowly turning around.
“About fucking time.” She was walking down the hall in my direction looking hotter than Hades in her skintight bridesmaid’s dress, but it was the look on her face that made me start to sweat all over again. Jesus, she was pissed and since I couldn’t tell her Ben was the one who’d forgotten the ring, I was going to have to stand here and take it.
“There was an accident—” I began.
“Save it. This was such a dick move, Kirby. You do realize it’s their wedding day, right? And that the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“I know that!” I snapped. “I can’t control traffic, lady. Give it a rest, will you?”
“Lauren’s been in a total panic and it’s my job to keep everything running smoothly. You just about single-handedly ruined everything!”
“Well, if you have the power to control traffic, you should have!” I turned my back on her and headed toward the room where Ben and the rest of the groomsmen were waiting, but she wouldn’t let up. Her high heels made a click-click-click noise on the tiled floor as she followed me.
“Okay, I get it,” I said, picking up speed and hoping she’d go away. “I was late but I’m here now and everything’s fine.”
“I truly don’t understand how someone as reliable and considerate as Ben has you for a best friend.”
“And I can’t understand how someone as sweet and thoughtful as Lauren has a shrew for a best friend.” I opened the door to where the other guys were, stepped inside, and then closed it in her face. That probably pissed her off even more, but I needed to calm down a little before we got this party started.
Ben met my gaze across the room and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“You owe me,” I called to him.
“Did Hadley ream you a new one?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I’ll tell her what happened and—”
“Forget it. You’re the groom. You don’t have to think about anything but that beautiful woman you’re about to marry. I can take one for the team and handle Hadley.”
Nash snorted out a laugh as he handed me a bottle of cold water. “From where I’m standing, you can’t handle her at all.”
“Just the sound of her voice makes my dick shrivel,” I admitted.
“You two are definitely oil and water,” Ben said, shaking his head. “But really, she’s worked incredibly hard to make today perfect for Lauren and I, so don’t judge her too harshly. She doesn’t know the real reason you were late, which makes her think you aren’t taking today seriously.”
I downed the whole bottle of water and tossed it into the recycling bin.
“Look, it’s over and done. Let’s go out there and do this.”
Ben held up his fist and bumped it against mine.
“Thanks again,” he said quietly. “You saved my ass.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?”
“You and me until the end.” Ben pulled me into a quick hug, slapping me on the back.
