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SEVENTEEN

LENNOX

“Oh my god. He almost kissed me,” I yell as I stumble over the blue silk train of my gown into Sara’s entryway.

Sara’s blue eyes pop, and her jaw falls slack. “Ryder almost kissed you?”

Mid–shoe removal, I pause and frown at my best friend. “Wait, how do you know about Ryder?”

From the couch, she shrugs. “The hot singer from the wedding you crashed?” She looks away from me then, avoiding my stare.

“Yeah,” I say, stomach sinking. “How do you know about him?”

“From you.”

“Me?” I suck in a breath and toss off my other shoe. “What do you mean from me?”

“You called me from the Uber and told me all about him and his sexy forearm porn.”

I stalk toward her, my bare feet thanking me for being released from their confines. “I did?” Am I losing it?

“Yeah, you told me that your boss wanted you to convince him to play at a client’s wedding and that he had sexy arms.”

“I remember saying that to my conscience, but I have no memory of talking to you.”

I yank my purse from my shoulder, set on checking my call log, but Sara grabs my hand and pulls it into her lap. “I am your conscience. Now tell me, what the hell did you do when Ryder almost kissed you?”

I shake my head, confused. “Ryder didn’t almost kiss me. We chatted after his set, and he asked me out for drinks this weekend.”

“Are you going to go?” she asks, her tone almost judgmental and so unlike my friend who’s always got my back.

“No, I have that family party this weekend and—” I shake my head. I’ve completely gone off topic. “That’s not why I came over here.”

Sara smiles, her eyes too bright. Too knowing. What the hell does she know? “Well, then, why did you come over here?”

“Because Aiden almost freaking kissed me.”

“ Oh .” Sara claps and bounces in her seat, though she quickly tries to temper her reaction. There’s no use trying to swallow that smile, though. It’s so bright that it lights up the room. “Really? Did he now?”

“Yes,” I hiss. This conversation is making my head spin.

“Well,” she chirps. “That’s something, isn’t it?”

My stomach twists at her strange reaction. Sara was unwittingly the other woman in a cheating scenario not all that long ago. Why isn’t she furious with Aiden?

“Stop smiling like a lunatic. I’m planning his damn wedding, and he almost kissed me.”

Sara pats my hand, her smile placating. “The two of you have history, and Jill is awful. This could be fate stepping in and making things right.”

“I’m not JLo. This is not The Wedding Planner. This is real life, Sar. I can’t kiss the groom.”

My asshole best friend leans over, scoping out my derriere. “You definitely have JLo’s ass. Actually, yours may be better.”

“Saraaa.” I throw myself back against the cushions. “I’m being serious.”

With a huff, she tosses her hands up. “So am I. Grade-A piece of ass. I’ve seen you shake it. Aiden would be lucky if you let him anywhere near that ass.”

The door flies open as she utters that last word. “Sara.” Brooks groans as he throws his keys into the little pumpkin bowl on the table in the entry. Yes, a pumpkin. In June. My best friend is so basic. “What have I told you about discussing anal and my brothers in the same sentence?”

“But it’s not my anus,” Sara whines.

Brooks darts a look at me, his green eyes bugging out.

Of their own accord, my cheeks clench. “Don’t look at my anus like that.”

Brooks scowls. The bastard is a giant, but most of the time, he’s like a big, sweet teddy bear. Right now? He’s all ogre. “Will the two of you stop saying anus?”

“Bro, weird.” Aiden appears in the doorway, making my heart jump. “Who the fuck says anus?”

“I told you to stay upstairs,” Brooks grits out, roughing a hand down his face.

Sara points to her fiancé. “And I told you to go to his apartment. What are you doing back here? I was just getting to the good part.”

“What’s the good part?” Aiden asks. He drops his shoulder to the doorframe and crosses one ankle over the other, then zeroes in on me.

My face heats at the memory of the last time he was looking at me like this. How he licked his lips. How the world around us went still. How he almost freaking kissed me.

Heart lurching, I jump off the couch. “I’ve got to go.”

“Wait, what?” Sara hops up too. “Brooks, I’m going to kill you.”

Clutching her arm, I fight back tears. “Don’t kill him. It’s me. I have a long day tomorrow. I’ve got to go home and dye my hair anyway.”

“Why?” Aiden straightens, his jaw hardening.

With a shrug, I let out a caustic laugh. “You know the Kennedys. Can’t have their daughter showing up to a family event with pink hair.”

“Len,” Sara says softly, reaching for me.

Sidestepping her, I shake my head. It’s official. The day has caught up to me, and my emotions are taking me off-guard. “I’m okay.” Head down, I beeline for the door. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I breeze past Aiden, silently praying he doesn’t follow and knowing I’ll never be that lucky.