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12
The stupid shot bag had put Corey back on edge. He’d almost gotten over Danny bringing Taran as his date before the shot bag. It was an Evans tradition, and he didn’t know how it started, but at every Evans wedding, the best man—this time being Grant—brought a bag filled with one-shot booze bottles. All the guys had to grab a bottle, and then together, they toasted the new life ahead of their brother.
Corey didn’t hate the tradition. He hated none of the Evans family traditions. In fact, he always felt honored to simply be a part of them. But at the moment, he resented the hell out of the bag of booze. Especially since none of the guys were in any hurry about it. And he was in a hurry to get back to Taran.
Corey craned his neck to see where Taran was. Her appearance was still a bit jarring because he looked for the short-haired girl in cutoffs every time he scanned the room for her. He wasn’t lying when he’d told her, although she looked jaw-droppingly beautiful today, he preferred less makeup and the shorter hair. The gorgeous version of Taran was talking to Morgan, but he couldn’t decipher what they were saying. He’d guessed by the look on Taran’s face it was the same thing all the wives of Nick’s SEAL team had said to her.
“Cor, can we clear the air?” Danny asked while the other guys got their mini bottles out of the bag.
Corey sighed and turned back to Danny just as Grant passed him the brown paper bag. He didn’t even look at what he pulled out before he tossed the bag to Luke and gave Danny his attention.
“I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about bringing Taran, but you didn’t ask her. Did you really want her here with anyone else? Because Nick wanted her to come. At least this way I got her here. I get that your trust issues are a hot button, and you overreact to things, but come on. You know you can trust all of us.”
He might overreact. Danny wasn’t the first person to point it out to him. Corey’s gaze flicked around the group. The Evans men had squeezed around the high-top cocktail table. Joey punched Clayton for flicking his ear for the third time, forcing Marc to grab Clayton by the arm to switch places with him. Will shook his head, watching them while Luke laughed about it. Nick was telling Grant that his black wedding ring was far superior to the titanium one Grant wore. Grant’s face said without words that his brother was an asshole.
Danny’s words were true; these guys were trustworthy. But a small voice in his head reminded him that he’d never truly been able to trust anyone.
“Cor, seriously, I like Taran. She’s cool. We’ve all been having fun with her pretty much every day, but we’re all on the same page.”
Corey’s eyebrows shot up, and he clenched his jaw. He had no idea Taran had spent that much time with the Evanses while he was away.
Danny flung his arms out. “Look, I get it. You’re another asshole who’s taken the plunge and can no longer take a joke.” Corey was confused by the statement, even as Danny continued. “Although you’re all falling like dominos.”
Corey caught Will’s headshake at Danny out of the corner of his eye. He turned to Will, shooting him a questioning look. Will grimaced.
“What are you talking about, Danny?” Corey asked.
“One,” Danny pointed at Marc. “Two.” His finger moved to Grant. “Three.” Then Nick, “Four.” He settled on Corey. “Mark my words, you’ll all be dragging me to another jewelry store within six months.”
Corey reared back. He had no idea what Danny meant, because although he was interested in Taran, he wasn’t anywhere near marriage. He was hesitant to even say he was interested in a relationship. But he did want to get to know her better so he could decide.
“You’re ten steps too far into a future I don’t want,” Corey informed him.
“Hmm,” Danny said sarcastically. “Marc told Will the same thing, then Grant told Luke that, and Nick said that to me less than four months ago. Yet I’m almost certain we’re at Nick’s wedding.”
The guys around them all shrugged.
“Pick your bottle,” Corey snapped at Danny. “You and me—we’re good. But I’d like everyone to butt out of anything going on with Taran and me.”
“Um, dude, do you know us?” Luke asked. “Because although Danny does need to pick a bottle, none of us are ever going to butt out of anything.”
Danny smiled but did as he was told before handing the bag off to Clayton.
“Grant, why in God’s name would you put schnapps in the bag?” Clayton asked. Although it was a good question, because schnapps sucked, it meant that everyone had their bottles. Groom, then oldest to youngest. Always the same order, and if Clayton had his bottle, everyone did.
Corey had hardly glanced at his scotch, confirming it wasn’t a schnapps too, before turning back to Taran. She was talking to the grouchy guy who worked with Nick, or he was trying to talk to her. Corey didn’t know Seb well, but he didn’t seem the type to harass a woman.
“I’m not one for long speeches,” Grant said, gaining Corey’s attention. That meant open the bottle, which he did. “But Nick, we wish you all the happiness that comes from family. From seeing the woman you love next to you every step of your forever. Even if some of us don’t realize that’s a good thing yet.”
Corey almost rolled his eyes, but he didn’t. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe being with the woman you loved was the best kind of forever. He could easily toast Nick’s happiness, and he held up his bottle and clinked it with the other guys’ before the burn of scotch slid down his throat.
“Cor,” Nick said before he could escape. The rest of the Evanses started to disperse, but Corey stayed by the groom. “Danny might be a moron, but now that I finally figured out who Taran is, I’ve got to say this. Taran’s my sister in arms, and I would protect her as fiercely as I would protect Beth or Bex or Trish. Be careful with my girl.”
He didn’t want the story from Nick. If she wanted him to know what happened, she’d be the one to tell him. Corey frowned and then turned back wondering what exactly Taran had been through, but he couldn’t find her.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she was gone,” Nick said. “She didn’t want to come. I used our history to force her hand.”
Corey nodded. That was probably for the best. Nick smirked and then headed for his bride.
