Page 15

CHAPTER 15

Henry

“Okay, so the only thing we’re missing really is snacks,” Mia said as she ticked off more items on her list.

While I traveled much lighter than my sister, there was a part of me that still felt like an outsider. For starters, some of the wedding party were bringing their significant others—Lane and Lacey obviously came as a pair—not to mention my sister and her boyfriend, and of course, Giselle and Aaron. Even Julie was bringing her beau of only three months, Marcus. Riley, Aaron’s brother was even bringing his co-worker!

Not only would I be spending the weekend—which I couldn’t get out of now, because Grayson had taken it upon himself to tell my sister and Giselle that I was indeed coming—with my sister and her well-to-do friends slash party members doing yuppie stuff I had no experience with, but I was going to have to see Grayson all weekend.

Which should have been a good thing, considering the man was like Grade A Certified Eye Candy, but it seemed like every time I got near him, I lost my damn brain.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the other night. The night he showed up to M’s Place, looking lost. When I drove him home—for real, this time—and how close I was to kissing him on his front porch.

Or when he’d smirked at me at the cafe prior to that, teasing me for being simple.

Or when he’d tried to kiss me when he was drunk, or the fact I seemed to have no filter around the man.

“I’m sure there will be enough food to feed an army at this thing,” I said as I zipped my suitcase. I probably could have gotten away with just a duffel, but I liked to be prepared, especially if we were going to be staying outdoors in tents. The mountains were usually pretty cold at night.

I’d been camping a few times as a kid, mostly summer camp.

While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the woods and hiking, Mia and Giselle said this was glamping and not actually camping, but I still didn’t want to take any chances.

At least, if all else failed, I knew how to pitch a tent and start a fire. Besides, it was just a weekend. Surely, I could survive a few days in the mountains with my sister and her friends. I’d survived worse.

“Oh, I’m sure there will be, but sometimes it’s just nice to have your favorite comfort snacks after a long day of drinking or hiking, you know?” Mia said as she nudged me.

“So just how many bags of hot fries are you bringing then?” I teased.

Mia rolled her eyes. “Obviously the family size bag will be enough to keep me satisfied all weekend,” she said, and she stuck her tongue out. “I can’t believe we leave tomorrow morning,” she said, her lips turning up into a genuine smile.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Yup, thrilled.”

“It’s going to be amazing, Henry, I promise. You’re going to have so much fun!” she squealed. “Maybe you’ll even meet your own prince charming!”

I sighed as I rolled the suitcase to the side of my couch. “I doubt it, but I’m glad one of us is optimistic,” I grumbled.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, you know that, right?” she said as she took a seat next to me, her perfectly highlighted hair bouncing as she did so.

I sighed, knowing the conversation that would follow, and I knew I didn’t want to talk about my perpetual singleness.

“Not everyone is your ex,” she said softly, and my shoulders fell.

I knew my sister wasn’t trying to pry or be a pain in the ass. She genuinely wanted me to be happy, and was my biggest cheerleader in life.

I wanted those things too, but...

“I’m a thirty-one year old man waiting tables at a dive bar, renting an apartment, and I don’t even have a fucking goldfish, Mia. Pretty sure I’m a low man on the totem pole.”

Mia frowned, her gaze sympathetic. “You never know, maybe you’ll meet a Richard Gere type and sweep him off his feet,” she teased.

“Please. You’d look much better in a Vivian dress than I do,” I shoved her with a laugh, trying to ease my way out of the conversation with compliments. But my sister saw right through me.

“That may be true, but you are a thirty-one year old man who has a heart of gold, who makes enough in tips to afford your rent and then some, and goldfish are a pain in the ass. You have to, like, clean their tank every forty-eight hours or something or they stink to high hell,” she said with a grin, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“All I’m saying, is you are way too hard on yourself. Let up a little. Maybe go into this weekend with no expectations, and just... see what happens. For once, don’t try to predict the outcome. Live in the moment, Henry.”

Her words sunk in, melting my cold heart and resolve just a fraction.

Maybe she was right, maybe I was too hard on myself.

Maybe I did need to just... let go a little bit.

Three days.

I could relax for three days, right?