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“Thank God.” Emma wiped her brow in faux relief. “But since you’re here, I wanted to ask if it’s okay if Kyle rides with us?”
He paused in the doorway. “Kyle?”
“Yeah.” Emma ran her palms down her skirt. “Georgia said I could have a plus-one because I wouldn’t know anyone at the wedding besides you.”
Her voice grew hesitant when he didn’t speak. “Is that okay?”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah.”
It made perfect sense. Garrett was in the wedding party and would no doubt be occupied for a big chunk of the festivities, posing for pictures and giving the toast.
“Good, good.” Emma swung her brush around, accidentally smacking it into the doorframe of her room. “But if you need to leave early because you’re in the wedding party, don’t worry about it. You and your date can take the car.”
His what? Had she saiddate? No. He must have misheard.
Emma misinterpreted his confusion because she held up her phone.“Don’t worry. We won’t take the bus. I signed up for that luxury Uber like you asked.”
He nodded absently, wondering if he should ask her to repeat herself.
“Is everything all right?” she asked when he stayed quiet too long.
“Yeah. Don’t worry about the car service. I do have to be at thechurch early, but the car can come back for you and Kyle with plenty of time.”
“Okay,” she said and hesitated, waving her phone. “We can still get a ride after if you and your date want to go out afterward.”
Christ. Shehadsaid date.
Garrett needed to nip this in the bud. “No need. I don’t have a date.”
“Shit,” Emma muttered under her breath, her cheeks turning rosy. “Were we supposed to go together?”
“No,” he lied. “I figured we’d carpool but given my best man duties, it makes more sense to have you hang back with Kyle. I don’t think George is going to require that many photos, but she hired some big-name photographer so never say never.”
Emma put her phone away, her relief obvious. “Okay, great. We’ll have your car come back for us if it’s not too much trouble.”
He pasted a smile on his face. “No trouble at all. And it’s a good idea to take another friend along since I’ll be busy. I should have thought of it myself.”
At least she had invited Kyle. He’d rather pluck out several nose hairs than willingly spend time with Bethany. And God forbid Emma try and bring a real date.
Wait, why hadn’t she asked Pedro?
“Are you upset—” He trailed off, deciding it wasn’t in his best interests to point out the rift he’d caused.
“Upset about what?” Emma asked in a lower voice.
He thought quickly. “That Georgia didn’t ask you to be a bridesmaid.”
Her features relaxed, making him wonder what she thought he was going to say.
“Oh, no. I completely understand. She’d already chosen her bridal party before we met. And Judy has been doing an awesome job as maid of honor. I’m just happy to be invited.”
“Yeah, Judy is great.”
And now that Georgia’s top salesperson and businesspartner was dating someone, she’d finally stopped hitting on him. Which was utterly fantastic as far as he was concerned.
Not that there was anything wrong with Judy. But staring at Emma in that dress now, he realized why he’d never responded to the petite Filipina’s flirtation.
Garrett had a type. It had been stamped into his psyche during his most formative years.