Page 66 of Rum & Coke

“My best friend, Ryan, is going to die when she finds out I hung out with hot male escorts.”

“Aren’t you married to Brandon?”

“Yep, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make my best friend jealous.”

I grinned. “Totally understandable.”

“And I have to admit Vinny is the hottest Dodgers fan I’ve ever seen. I totally get it.”

We both laughed just as Vinny’s gaze met mine. He walked over to us. “Sweets.” He kissed my lips. “I see you’ve made a friend. I’m—”

“Vinny,” Spencer interjected. “And I’m Spencer.”

“Brandon’s wife?”

“How many female Spencers do you know?”

“True.”

“But we can’t be friends.”

Vinny balked. “And why not?”

The next three words out of Spencer’s mouth sealed our friendship.

“Fuck the Dodgers.”

Vinny’s mouth dropped open, and his gaze moved to me. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “Fuck the Dodgers.”

“Do you want to walk home?” he teased.

I grinned. “You know I can never root for the Dodgers, and you know you’d never let me walk home.”

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine again. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Everyone,” Mark called out, “the bride has arrived.”

One of mybest friends was married.

Holy shit, how did that happen? Watching my friends love their women, made me recognize that I wanted that in my life. I’d never realized it before, but I was lonely. That, of course, was before Tessa walked into my life. Now, she was all I ever thought about. Was that what happened to Gabe and Paul? Did Autumn and Joss consume their world so much that it made them want to settle down? It had to be, and honestly, it scared me, but I was going to see where things went with Tessa because I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

It all moved so fast, but what was fast? My group of friends seemed to be settling down at lightning speed, but I guess if you know, you know. Tessa and I hadn’t done anything beyond kissing, but that didn’t stop my desire for some kind of future with her. Everything was there. We got along, laughed together, had amazing chemistry, and the sexual tension was off the charts. I could feel it with every look, and I’d never had that connection before.

I knew she was a little hesitant at first because of Colton, but I had the knowledge, the skill, and the personality to help her with him, and I hoped she realized that, because I felt as though I was on the lightning speed roller coaster just like my friends.

“Your boss asked me if you were quitting,” Tessa stated as we were eating dinner in Mark’s backyard.

My fork stopped at my mouth as I looked over at her. “He was asking you?”

She shrugged. “I guess since you brought a date to the wedding and that’s not normal? And also because Gabe and Paul quit?”

“Well, I plan to talk to him on Monday about taking time off.”

“Okay.” She smiled. “Want to make dinner at my place on Monday too?”

I grinned. “You bet your sweet ass I do.” I wanted to have dinner at her place every night. “But, the Dodgers are playing the Padres, so ...”