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“What?Where’s the lie, Dad?”
“At least I’m not related toanyof the bridesmaids.Maybe they’ll take pity on me,” the far too confident teen adds.
I snort and pull Jake into a headlock, mussing his hair before letting him go.“Yeah, you’re right.Chicks dig the underdog.You know, the quiet loner left sitting at the table, waiting for his turn.If Scotty can get himself a nice girl, there’s hope for you yet.”
I smirk as Jake’s eyes narrow at me, and I know I’m gonna pay for that jibe later.He’s a good kid though.He fancies himself as a bit of a dating guru, even though he’s told all of us he’s waiting for his one and only, and he won’t settle for anything less.If I was ever to have a kid, I’d want one just like him.
“Okay, getting back on track.Renee and I decided to go with this, which will match the bridesmaids’ dresses.”Marco holds up a blue-green—maybe it’s apeacock-colored tie.
“Do you know how you sound right now?”Gio teases.
Rhodes shoulder-bumps him.“Just you wait, G.Iowa and you will have to do all of this one day.Thenyou’ll know just how importanttiecolor is.”
“Notice how the only ones caring about matching colors and keeping the women happy are thenearly marriedones?”I ask, shooting a wink to London who just shakes her head at me.
“Your turn will come, Luc.Just you wait,” Marco says.“Untilthen, how about you wow us with your tie tying technique?”
I puff my chest out and step forward, reaching for the tie hanging from my brother’s fingers, running through the steps of tying a Windsor knot in my head.
Then, in what must look hilarious to anyone looking in, four grown men and a teenager, try—and fail—to get the ties to look right.Of course, Val, London, and my dad just sit back and laugh at us until I shoot desperate puppy-dog eyes to my best friend.
“Please, Lonnie.Help a bestie out?My ties are usually the already tied type,” I explain, not missing the snorts from the guys and Dad’s disappointed groan.I bat my lashes at London in one final plea.She sighs, then seems to take pity on me.She crosses the room, her eyes dancing with humor as she bats my uncoordinated hands out of the way and gets to work.I smile at the deep concentration on her face, and my chest warms when the tip of her tongue darts out to touch the corner of her mouth as she twists and folds and threads the material through the loop.
The problem is, when she lifts her eyes to mine just as she slides the knot up to my neck, there’s this moment where the whole world stands still, and it’s like we’re the only two people left moving.I notice gold flecks in her deep blue eyes that I’ve never seen before.My gaze drops to the perfectly curved Cupid’s bow on her top lip.
My head goes a little fuzzy, and I have what I can only think of as an out-of-body experience because it feels rightfartoo right.Like it’s not just my best friend smoothing her palm down my chest making sure the tie is perfect.
As if sensing my confusion, Lonnie jerks her chin up.Her eyes lock with mine before she quickly steps away, and the moment is gone as she slowly makes her way down the line of groomsmen, helping them, one by one, too.
But I’m frozen in my spot, my heart racing as I try to comprehend what thehelljust happened.
My eyes drift over to Val, who’s studying me closely.Then a slow-growing, all-knowing smile appears on her face, and she lifts a single brow my way.
“What?”I mouth, not trusting myself to speak.
She shrugs ...suddenly looking like a cat that’s got the cream.
But whatever Val is grinning about, she’s wrong.London is my girl, my best friend, ten years my junior,andthe Cap’s daughter.That means hands off, no touching, and nothinkingabout anything even remotely inappropriate.No wives, exes, sisters, or daughters—that’s our rule.
Whatever thatthingwas between Lonnie and me just now was nothing?
It has to be.
Right?
