AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My wedding day is rapidly approaching. Luke and I have rushed into this, but I know it’s the right thing for us to do. One of my only friends from my youth, Shelby Brooks is coming to stay until the wedding is over. She should be arriving any minute. I haven’t seen her in person in a few years, but we’ve remained close, despite the distance between us. Another of our friends, Hillary will arrive a few days before the ceremony.
Shelby lives in Bethesda, Maryland just northwest of Washington, D. C. It’s only a few hours drive, but my car wasn’t in any shape to make the trip in recent years, and Shelby works all of the time. I honestly haven’t known her to even take a vacation in years. I know she has an important job, but she doesn’t ever talk about it.
I’m beginning to get a little stir-crazy staying in the house all the time. Luke has hardly even let me outside since we last left Invictus to come hide with the two FBI agents. Honestly it’s un-nerving, having them all here all the time. They have taken over the living room. They have a couple of cots set up and take turnssleeping, keeping watch, which has prompted Rosco and Dalton to also insist on staying so they can keep an eye on the agents.
Ace and Daisy are staying here as well as my mom and Luke’s mom. The two women are getting along much better than any of us suspected. They seem to have bonded over the troubles they’ve both had with men. It’s almost comical to see them together.
My phone alerts to an incoming text.
Shelby:Boarding my flight, should be there in under an hour
Me:Yay! Can’t wait to see you!
Shelby:I can’t wait either! Will you be picking me up? Or do I need to call an Uber?
Me:I won’t be able to come myself, but Luke asked his brother, Bo to pick you up. I’ll let him know your flight information.I send her a picture of Bo out on Luke’s patio. He’s laughing at some silly joke he’d told us. I smile at the memory as Shelby responds.
Shelby:Oh, okay, but I really don’t mind getting an Uber or Lyft. I don’t want to be a bother.
Me:You aren’t a bother! Bo doesn’t mind at all. He’s a nice guy and totally hot.
Shelby:All the more reason to get an Uber. Me and hot guys…not a good combination. It’s like oil and water; we don’t mix.What does that comment mean?
Me:Hey! I said he’s nice, and you are the kindest person I know, so I know you guys will be fine together for twenty to thirty minutes.
Shelby:That long?? I’ll get an Uber.
Me:No! Don’t be ridiculous. Bo will be there when you land.
Shelby:Fine! I have to go. The attendant has already made the announcement, and now she is glaring at me.
Me:Okay, see you soon!
I sigh as I reread my conversation with Shelby. What’s her deal with hot guys? They don’t mix? I’ll have to ask her about it when she gets here. We haven’t talked a lot about our personallives recently. Not since my disastrous relationship five years ago. To say she was shocked when I told her I was getting married would be an understatement. Luke is working on his laptop next to me. He looks up at the sound of my heavy sigh. “Is something wrong, baby girl?”
“No, at least I don’t think so. Shelby has texted to say her flight is about to take off,” I tell him. “Bo is going to pick her up right?” He nods, picking up his phone.
“Oh, good. Yes, Bo is supposed to pick her up. I’ll text him and let him know she’s about to take off,” Luke comments as he beings to type on his screen. “He needs to head that way with traffic and all. I don’t want your friend to wait on him.” I smile at his thoughtfulness.
“I sent her a picture of Bo. I guess I should send him one of her, too?” Luke dips his head in assent. I pull up my text conversation with her. She sent me a picture a few weeks ago after she got a new hairstyle. I send it to Bo. “Be sure to tell him to be on his best behavior.” Luke gives me a look like I’m asking him to get me the moon. “I know he’s harmless, but Shelby is really shy. I don’t want him to make her a nervous wreck before they even get here.”
“I’ll tell him, baby, but you’ve seen how he acts.” Luke lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s like his maturity level stopped around age twelve. I don’t know how he survived his years in the service. I expect he was on KP duty all the time.”
“What’s that?” I ask. “I’ve heard the term on television shows or movies.”
“Kitchen patrol,” Luke grins. “It’s the like the lowest of duties. Often assigned as a punishment for misbehavior.” Luke’s phone vibrates on the table. He reads the incoming text. “Bo is on his way, and he’s promising to behave himself.”
“Good,” I reply, but I have the feeling we should have sent Dalton, Kelvin, or Rosco instead. Any of them would be a betterchoice. I like Bo. I really do, but I don’t want him to upset Shelby with some offhand comment.
An hour or so later, Luke’s phone alerts to someone pulling into the driveway. He confirms it’s Bo arriving with Shelby. I hurry to the front door, being mindful not to run outside. Agent Morris grumbles his annoyance that I’m standing in the open door, but he doesn’t try to force me away.
I hug Shelby to me tightly when she steps inside the house. It’s been entirely too long since we’ve seen each other in person. FaceTime calls just aren’t the same. “Shelby! I’m so happy you could come visit before the wedding. Luke’s sister Daisy is here, but we need all the help we can get to get ready for the ceremony.” Shelby pulls back to grin at me.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Shelby says, her face beaming with the truth of her words. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” We hug again, before stepping further into the foyer to give Bo room to carry in Shelby’s suitcase and bags. I notice her body stiffening when Bo comes to stand next to her.
“I’ll just take these up to her room,” Bo announces after a few seconds of tense silence. I nod. I’m about to tell him which room to give her, but he hurries away from us toward the stairs. I frown as I consider both Bo’s and Shelby’s odd behaviors. They seem tense around one another. Worry runs through me. Has something happened on the drive here? I really hope not because it will make for an awkward week not to mention wedding ceremony in a couple of weeks.
I hear Luke approaching us. I turn as he comes up to my side. “Shelby, this is Luke,” I say to introduce them. “This is Shelby Brooks, my best friend. Luke holds out his hand in greeting. Shelby takes it, giving him a firm shake.
