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“What about for my wedding? Will you still come to that?”
His eyes flash to mine. “I already promised you I would.”
I gather my nerve, suddenly doubting myself for even considering this. “Actually, I was going to ask you if you’d do something for me.” I hesitate.
“Spit it out. It can’t be any worse than what you’ve already asked me to do for you.”
My cheeks flush. “Idid not ask you for that.”
“You didn’t complain about it either.” He chuckles, but it dies off quickly. “Do you regret it?”
After a beat, I shake my head.
“Me neither.” He picks lint off his shirt as if we’re having a casual conversation. “So what do you need me to do?”
“Be in my wedding party?” God, we’ve come so far. There was a time, only a few months ago, that I pegged him as a depraved soul, raised by criminals and drug addicts and only after one thing.
He cocks his head. “What? Like a bridesmaid?”
“I think the technical term isbridesman.” I hold my breath, and with each passing second that he doesn’t answer, I worry he’s going to decline. Maybe Margo was right about Ronan’s feelings. Is it fair to ask him to stand beside me at the altar while I marry another man?
“Why me?” he finally asks.
“Because you’re one of my very best friends, and you’ve been there for me through a lot of this.” As a shoulder to cry on, a distraction, and a knight in shining armor when I thought I’d lost Henry for good. The most important people in my life—Mama, Jed, even Henry—have hurt me. But Ronanneverhas.
“Do I have to wear a dress?”
I giggle, sensing him shifting from a rare display of seriousness to the version of Ronan I recognize. “Yes, definitely.”
“Are you asking Connor too?”
“No.”
“That alone is worth it.” He shrugs. “Sure, I guess I can do that.”
“Gee, don’t sound too thrilled,” I mutter.
“I’ll do it. Of course, I’ll do it. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but there that day.” Our eyes meet and it seems like a thousand thoughts are conveyed in that look. “Will you need me for the wedding night too?”
“No!Thatis not happening again.” My cheeks burn with a new fury as I give him a playful kick. He grabs my foot, holding on to it for several long moments, his fingers searing against my ankle.
He releases me, his throat bobbing with a hard swallow. “I’m happy for you, Red. Really. You deserve the best.”
“So do you.” And I truly mean it. There’s nothing I want more than for Ronan to find someone who deserves his loyalty. “You seeing anyone?”
“Nah. Same old. Rachel and Katie came down to party with us in Miami last weekend.”
“I guess I don’t need to ask how that went.” I’ve seen firsthand how those three party.
He grins. “They asked me to give you a big fat kiss from them.”
Mention of my cabinmates triggers other thoughts. “Have they gotten any calls from reporters?”
“If they have, they didn’t say anything about it. Why? Have you heard from that douchebag again?”
“Nothing.” It’s been weeks. “Maybe I’m worried for nothing.”
“I say fuck ’em all and enjoy your life.”
