Page 79 of Stay With Me

“I dunno what you’re talkin’ about,” I deadpan.

“Oh, really? You haven’t been pining over my best friend for seven years? Or hell, maybe it’s been longer.”

Shrugging, I break my gaze from staring at Magnolia and take a sip of my warm beer.

“You aren’t concerned that if we date and break up, it’d make things weird between y’all?” I ask because even though we’re sneaking around, it’s been a genuine concern about going public.

“Maybe. It could. But it could also be a forever kind of thing. You’d have to risk more than your heart to find out…”

“And I suppose you’re the expert now, huh?” I tease.

She waves out her hand. “Well, I mean…exhibit A, your honor. We’re at my wedding.”

“Is this where I make fun of you for not being able to find a man your own age?” I flinch in anticipation of her smacking me.

“Ha! I’m not breakin’ a nail to hit you. But I could get Landen to do it for me.”

I snort and then decide it’s a good time to throw him under the bus so she stops focusing on me. “A little birdie told me he’s into Ellie. You hear anything ’bout that?”

Her jaw drops as her eyes widen in surprise. “Not uh! Are you just sayin’ that so I stop buggin’ you about Magnolia?”

I make a face that neither confirms nor denies. “It’s just what I heard.”

“He’s too immature for her. Plus, last I knew, she couldn’t stand his annoyin’ ass. Told me that herself.”

“Isn’t there a lovey-dovey phrase that goes with that? Something about there being a thin line between love and hate. Maybe herhatecomes from liking him.”

She bellows out a laugh. “Okay, Mr. Romantic.”

Smiling, I look at Noah in her wedding dress. “You look really pretty, by the way. Not used to seein’ you without dirt on your face and clothes. You clean up nice.”

She tilts her head as if she’s contemplating scolding me or thanking me. “Well, I guess that’s better than Wilder’s,‘Hey, sis, you look bangin’’comment.” She deepens her voice to talk like him, and I bark out a laugh.

Of course that dumbass would say something inappropriate.

“Imagine the day Wilder walks down the aisle,” I muse. “He’d probably be loaded before the ceremony started.”

“I seriously can’t. He’s gonna be a bachelor until the day he dies.”

We laugh at his expense even though he’s nowhere to be found.

“May I steal my wife for a final dance?” Fisher approaches with his hand out and Noah takes it.

“You absolutely can, my husband.”

I make a show of rolling my eyes at their flirting. “God. How long are we gonna hear that now?”

“Probably the next forty or fifty years?” Noah lifts her head and presses her lips to Fisher’s.

“And that’s my cue to go.”

“Go ask Magnolia for a dance, chickenshit!” Noah arches her brow as if she’s daring me to deny I want to.

Before I can come up with a witty response, Fisher drags her away.

Well, at least now I won’t have to be anxious about asking Magnolia.

I find her near the bar with Landen, Waylon, and one of our other cousins, Harrison. She’s gripping a drink that’s half empty, but she’s been sipping it for the past hour. They’re laughing at something, but I invade their group circle without a second thought.