AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She disappears through the door, and I lift my cup to my lips and draw in the last drops of tea.
Is she right about Cole? If she’s right, what should I do about it?
Chapter 24
Cole
I hate tuxedos.
Can’t wait to get this thing off. The collar’s too tight. I pull at it, trying to make room so I can breathe. When my phone rings, I stop working the knot of my tie to pick it up.
I already know it’s Trent, so I get right to it.
“Hey dude, I’m gonna be there in five minutes. I just stopped by the office real quick to scan that leasing contract in.” I’m supposed to be at the wedding venue, the Silver Creek Alpine Center, by now, and I’m sure Trent’s calling to check up on me.
“No worries,” he says, “I’m running a little late too. I’m on Briar Street. I can swing by and pick you up if you want.”
I glance out through the Adventure Bro’s windows to check on my truck, parked on the curb out front. It’s in a good parking spot, one it’ll be fine in for the rest of the day. So I agree, and then get off the line and lift the lid on the office’s dinky portable scanner.
Trent and I work great together, but one thing we’ve never nailed is administrative work. I’ve barely managed to plug the scanner into my laptop when Trent pulls the door open.
“You done?” he asks.
“Almost. I couldn’t remember how the thing connected, but I got it now. Give me like two minutes.” I click the ‘scan’ button and the machine starts whirring.
When I stand up to give Trent a hug, I get my first look at his groom’s attire. “You look good,” I tell him. “Ready to start a new life?”
He pats my back a couple of times, nice and hard. He’s amped up. “Yeah, man. I’m ready. I’m ready. I’m ready for this.” He lets go of me, then shakes out one hand. “Whew. I got the jitters, bad.”
I chuckle. “You got this. You’re a lucky guy. She’s a great person. You two are going to be happy.”
The machine’s whirring stops. I check the screen to find the document and then take thirty seconds to get the scanned document out to the guy I’ve been working with, over at Aviation Suppliers in Wyoming.
“Okay, all set.” I close my laptop. “You sure you’re okay with driving, or you want me to get us over there in my truck?”
“I’ll drive,” he tells me. “I want to have my wheels there in case Maggie needs me to run back to the house for anything.” He checks his watch. “Two hours to go before this thing starts… Why do I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff?”
He shakes out his right hand again, then flips the office lights off.
We head out onto the sidewalk side by side. “Because it’s a big deal,” I tell him. “You’re promising the rest of your life to her. That’s no joke. So, she’s had you running back to the house?”
“First for her bobby pins. Then for her phone charger…”
I chuckle. “She’s got the jitters, too. You’ll both be fine.”
We load up into his truck, and he pulls out onto the street. “Is Danielle meeting you there, or what?”
“She’s not coming.”
“What? No way. She bailed on you?”
“I bailed on her. Called it off. It didn’t feel right.”
He nods. “Hey, that’s fair. Maybe you’ll meet someone there. Maggie’s friend Sharon has always had a thing for you. Remember her? She and Maggie went to grade school together in Washington.”
Silver Creek’s Main Street slips past. Everyone’s out there, going about their Saturday routines. I nod, not sure what to say to Trent,
I haven’t told him how hard I fell for Olivia, back at that ranch in Desolation Valley. It’s been easy enough to stay quiet this past week. He’s been running around town, busy showing distant family members around town and getting ready for his big day. His dad Jack arrived early in the week, same with a couple of aunts, uncles, and cousins on his dad’s side.
