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What the hell am I doing?
Jenny responds well to my words, though, blushing and biting her lip. She doesn't say anything else as she heads up the stairs, the blue skirt trailing behind her like she's a fairy tale princess.
Her prince is out there somewhere, doing heroic deeds before he comes back to her. And I'm just the--
"Hey, man," someone says from behind me right before the slap their hand against my back with a thud.
I snap my eyes over to find one of the Hart brothers--my extended family, thanks to Tasha's marriage to Chance. I think it's Jesse, the youngest sibling, closest to my age.
"Hey," I say, reaching out to shake his hand. "It's good to see you, dude. Jesse, right?"
He snorts. "Glad you remembered it this time," he says. "We're all just gathering at the bar outside for whiskey and cigars with Evan before he ties the knot. You in?"
"Yeah, of course I am," I say. "Let's get to it."
I follow him out through a side door and toward a pond. It's cool by the water, a trickling waterfall babbling beside us as the guys talk and laugh. Evan Hart--Sam's fiance--is there with most of his siblings, including my brother-in-law Chance and a couple guys I don't know. I go to stand by Chance, shaking hands with everyone and congratulating Evan on the way. One of the strangers stands next to me, snorting as the guys start to talk about their families.
"Jesus...it feels like they're all hitched, huh?" he asks.
I nod and sigh. "Yeah, it really does."
"You bring a date tonight or do you need a wingman?" he asks. "I'm flying solo and don't want to get stuck with the dads."
I laugh and look over at him. "I'm down," I say, sticking out my hand. "Finn Carson."
"Johnny Playfair," he responds. "Great to meet you."
I didn't realize it before, but the guy is huge--built like a fucking lineman. I even think I recognize him, and the name helps me realize who I'm talking to.
"Holy shit," I say. "Johnny Playfair--from the Portland Pucks?"
"Yeah," he laughs. "Jeez, you must be in deep to recognize me."
"I coach hockey at the high school," I grin. "How the hell do you know all these guys?"
"I'm a friend of Jake's from work," he says, gesturing at one of the Harts. "He and his wife drove me so I could get drunk."
"Awful sweet of them," I snort. "But I have to admit...I don't know which one Jake is."
"Yeah, they all look the same, don't they?" he mutters. "Well, it's good to know I'm not theonlybachelor here."
"I guess I should admit I kind of ended up with a date," I tell him. "But we're just friends."
Johnny smirks. "Friends...right," he says, taking a swig of his whiskey.
I roll my eyes and elbow him playfully. "Seriously, man. We're just friends."
"Sure, sure," he says, his tone teasing. "Well, at least you're not alone tonight."
I take a sip of my own drink, feeling the warmth of the whiskey spread through my chest. "Yeah, it's good to have some company," I say, glancing around at the other guys. They're all married or in serious relationships, it seems. I'm starting to feel like the odd man out.
"So what's the deal with you and your friend?" Johnny asks, nudging me with his elbow.
I hesitate for a moment, trying to figure out how much to tell him. "We've known each other since we were kids," I say finally. "Like--we werebest friendsthrough all of middle and high school. Now she's engaged to some doctor who's doing vaccine research in South America."
"Tough competition," Johnny says. "But you're here and he's not, so..."
"That's not what I'm saying," I interrupt, shaking my head.
