AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How do you determine someone is okay just through texts?”
“It’s not that hard. I’m basically looking for someone who can hold up their end of a conversation without saying a bunch of weird shit. You’d be surprised how many guys do not clear that hurdle.”
Xander looked like he wanted to push the issue, but Gus, oblivious to their conversation, interrupted. “Hey, Xander, I just wanted to double-check that you’re still not bringing a date to the wedding.”
Gia knew his question was for Alison’s sake. The bride was still trying to wrangle the seating chart for the reception into control, and the groom was anxious to get off the hot seat.
Apparently, Xander had originally planned to bring a date, but then he’d called Gus a week or two ago to say that he wasn’t. Gus—the typical “clueless about weddings” guy—told Xander that he could still bring someone if he wanted to, something that had led to a legit spat between the bride and groom as she tried to explain that she needed exact numbers for the caterer and she needed them like yesterday.
“I’m not,” Xander replied, though Gia felt him glance in her direction.
“Gotcha. Cool.” Gus slid a cautious am-I-out-of-the-doghouse look toward Alison, who looked only slight appeased.
“You going stag too?” Xander asked Gia.
“Yup,” she replied, popping the p.
Xander snuck another sip of her beer, looking strangely pleased, though she didn’t know if it was because he enjoyed jerking her chain or because he was glad she didn’t have a date either.
“So, you’re not seeing anyone these days?” Gus asked Xander. Gus and Alison were truly birds of a feather. Which meant Gus wanted to see his brother happy and in love as much as her best friend wanted the same for Gia.
“I date,” Xander replied.
“You know what I mean,” Gus said. “No special someone?”
Xander shook his head and once again, Gia felt his gaze drift over to her.
Gia was curious what Xander considered wife material. Given what she’d seen of the man, she’d venture to guess that his ideal wife hadn’t been built yet. Because the all-work-no-play man was probably looking for the same attributes in a mate. According to Gus, it wasn’t unusual for Xander to pull sixteen- to eighteen-hour days in the office, six—even seven—days a week. So unless there was some sort of fluke of nature where a female version of Xander did exist, much like Amy Farrah Fowler had been perfect for Sheldon Cooper, then only a robot would suffice. And the tech just wasn’t there yet.
“Want your own beer?” Gus offered, standing up. “I’m going to grab another one.”
Xander nodded.
“I need one too,” Gia said, raising her hand. “Someone drank half of mine.”
Alison, not surprisingly, said she was fine with just water. Her size-four bestie had been dieting the last month, needlessly worried about not fitting into her wedding dress.
“Everything set for the wedding?” Xander asked after Gus walked away.
Gia leaned back and let Alison field that question, since her friend’s excitement about the upcoming nuptials ensured no one else would get a word in edgewise. And, just as Gia expected, Alison went into great detail about all the plans, her giddiness contagious.
Gia couldn’t wait for the big day to arrive. She was looking forward to it so much, the holidays were taking a backseat, which was unusual for her. Typically, she lived for Christmas as much as a kid waiting for Santa, but this year, it was just one more day in between now and when she could stand next to her best friend and watch her marry her true love.
Alison launched into a discussion about the playlist, asking Xander for feedback about what dance songs were a must. Xander, as always, took the task seriously, even whipping out his phone and firing up the Spotify app to look through song titles.
“Business good at Sparks Barbeque, Brat?” Xander asked.
“Always,” she said with a grin. “You should stop in one day for lunch while you’re home. Jeannette’s making her brisket this week. It’s going to be the special tomorrow.”
“Damn. I’d walk twenty miles barefoot in a blizzard for that brisket,” Xander joked. “Are you working tomorrow?”
She nodded.
“Then I’ll stop by.”
She wasn’t sure why it mattered if she was there or not, but she decided he was probably just being friendly. After all, the two of them were going to be spending a lot of time together the next couple of weeks in the lead-up to the wedding.
“Here we go,” Gus said as he returned with the beers.
