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“The weekend’s not over.”

“I see it this way. If I make a move, somebody ends up in jail. Either I see Brandon kiss her again and I kill him, or Dave sees me trying to get her back and takes me out. Odds aren’t in my favor on this one.”

He threw his head back as his deep laughter bounced off the building behind us.

“Odds aren’t in your favor? Have they ever been?

” He puffed again and looked over. “You’re the kid who ended up in foster care with no future.

But wait, a wonderful woman came along, adopted you, and set you on the right track changing things forever. ”

He nodded then continued, “Aren’t you the guy who hustled and kicked ass in college hockey?

” He inhaled and held the cigar between his teeth as he spoke.

“They say there’s a four in 10,000 chance to get a roster spot in the NHL, and you’re there, man.

The odds have never been in your favor. You’re a ball buster, and I have a gut feeling you’ll win this. ”

As if he pulled my sinking self out of quick sand, I threw my arms around him. “Thank you.”

He wiggled out of my hug as he laughed. “Get off me, dude.”

I inhaled. “Sorry, I’ve been beating the shit out of myself for hours?—”

“Cut it out. Just play it cool, stay in control, and steer clear of Fern. Tawnee said she’s here for three or four days after the wedding. But whatever you do, let it lie this weekend.”

“Okay.”

“Do you promise you’ll just be chill for the next day or two?”

I puffed. “Yes, I promise.” No, I don’t.

Brandon sat back in his chair and sipped his bourbon. “Do you think he’s coming back? Maybe I pushed him over the edge.” His smile boasted achievement.

“I think you’re having too much fun with this.

” I scanned the room. Gabe was still MIA after Brandon kissed me.

As friends, we do quick kisses every time we see each other so it wasn’t that weird.

It started as a joke in high school when people were trying to figure out if we were friends or more. It’s just our thing.

He chuckled. “The plan was to make him crazy for hurting you. Besides, there’s no other time in my life I can mess with an NFL hockey player and not have my ass handed to me.”

“The weekend’s not over yet.”

I felt a headache kicking in when I saw my mother walking toward me, shaking her head. Yes, I’d avoided her like gonorrhea for hours.

She reached our table and sat in the empty chair next to me. “What in the hell is going on here?” Her finger darted between Brandon and me.

“Nothing, Mrs. Novotny.” Brandon sounded like he did when she busted us for beer in the basement when we were sixteen.

She looked around before narrowing her glaring eyes at us. “Don’t give me that.” She looked at me. “La verita proprio adesso.”

“Mom, I am telling you the truth.” I crossed my fingers under the table. “We’re just, uh, dating a little.”

She huffed. “That’s a pile of garbage, Fern.”

I put my hand on hers. “Please, Mom, just let it lie. It’ll all be fine.”

Her wheels were turning. “This is about Gabriel, isn’t it?”

“Mother, I need you, for once, to just let it go this weekend. Please. We’ll talk when this is all over.”

Her head tilted, and her look was thoughtful. I’d spent my entire life with this little lady all up in my grill (yes, I’m aware I can’t really pull that off), but I couldn’t deal with it right now. My strength in all areas was sinking fast.

She gave me a nod. “Okay.”

I swear my ears blew right off my damn head. I looked to Brandon to see if maybe I’d misunderstood her one-word response, but he too looked a little flabbergasted.

I cleared my throat and looked back to her. “What did you say?”

She patted my hand. “I said okay.” She shrugged. “I know you’re a smart woman, Fern. And I believe you know what you’re doing.”

Whoa. I did not see that coming… ever . I wished I had an ounce of her sudden belief in my intelligence as my brain seemed to be giving me the silent treatment.

She kissed my cheek and walked away.

Brandon dramatically looked up at the ceiling. “And there’s not one pig flying?”

“Maybe she’s finally lost her marbles.” I shook my head. “She thinks I’m smart when I’ve made one fuck up after another since I’ve been home.”

I looked across the room to see Gabe and Ed enter, laughing, as Gabe brushed snowflakes out of his gorgeous hair. Goosebumps ran up my arms. His handsomeness was unfair to the universe.

His dark denim jeans, charcoal gray dress shirt that barely contained his amazing chest muscles, topped off by a black sports coat left me wanting to pluck each shirt button off with my teeth. He didn’t want you. Ever. He wanted sex.

He crossed the room like a Hollywood heartthrob entering a movie set.

He passed my table and shot me a look I was unfamiliar with.

His eyes were different. They seemed to be announcing something.

Were they saying he knew it was a matter of time before he breaks me down and has his way with me before kicking me to the curb yet again?

That I was like a wounded deer, the pathetic one in the herd, and he would circle and wait until I grew weaker and weaker, and then strike?

I wished I could say I was strong enough to stand up to the man.

He was just a human after all, but one look made my insides crumble like a stale cookie.

Sure, I was with Brandon, but Gabe and I both knew he could make my clothes melt right off.

Yes, that was his superpower with women. He was the Clothes Dropper .

Instantly, I scooted my chair a little closer to Brandon, grateful for the one who would keep my panties on at all costs this weekend. He had volunteered to be my plus one because he knew I was as strong as a kitten high on catnip when it came to Gabe.

Tawnee walked over and rested her hand on an empty chair beside me. “Hey, Maid of Honor.”

I reached out and squeezed her hand. “This has been a beautiful rehearsal dinner, Tawnee.”

She laughed. “You know my mom and your mom are the ones who put this thing together.” She winked at Brandon. “Would you mind if I steal Fern for a minute?”

“Of course not.”

I stood up when Brandon grabbed my arm and pulled me down to him before kissing my lips. Man, when he played a part, he wasn’t screwing around. Delight ran through my veins as I heard a fist slam against the table next to us. Again.

I followed Tawnee to the corner of the room when she turned back to me. “Can you give me some codeine, morphine, or something?”

“Okay, I’m a nurse, not a drug peddler. What’s going on?”

She huffed. “I normally run on caffeine and inappropriate thoughts, but it’s not cutting it today. You’re my Maid of Honor, and I need you to do some shit for me right now. It’s your sole duty, as my relative and Maid of Honor, to keep me safe and happy. Do you remember making that promise?”

I did not. I suddenly regretted my acceptance of this role. That’s a lot of pressure. “Let’s take a breath.” I pasted on my best Maid of Honor smile. “What’s happening in the world of Tawnee?”

She spoke through gritted teeth. “I have a bone-crushing headache and feel all wonky. I need at least a Xanax or hydrocodone. You’re a nurse, God bless you. Now let’s get those fingers dialing your phone.”

There was an uneasy urgency about her. “Honey, I can’t write prescriptions, and besides, any of those would make you crazy.”

She lunged and grabbed my upper arms in her hands. “Do I seem crazy to you?”

Crap, was I supposed to answer? Her eyes were blinking at an alarming rate, and there was a little drool on her lip. Maybe?

She leaned in closer. “Listen, cousin, my blood family, I need help now. Certainly, you know a pharmacist in the area who’s a little shady and could hook me up. Right?”

I looked behind her to see everyone laughing and talking while Tawnee was losing her shit right in front of me.

Then a brilliant idea did a stunning ballet leap into my cranium.

“Well, I do have some Tylenol with codeine in my purse.” Total lie.

“And they’re strong, the strongest allowed in the United States.

It will get rid of that headache and jumpiness.

” I looked at her fingers gripping my arms, and she released me.

“Come back to the table with me, and I’ll give them to you.

” Plain Tylenol, but as a nurse, I’ve seen how the mind can grasp things and make changes on its own with a lie.

Yes, the only time a lie is helpful would be in a medical emergency.

She let out a sigh and threw her arms around me. “Oh, Fern, thank you so much. I know it’s just wedding stress, but I’m kind of a mess.”

I pulled back and tucked a piece of her hair into her up-do. “This will do the trick, I promise. Let me get you two.”

Desperation was swimming in her eyeballs. “I need three. Please give me three. For the love of God, two won’t cut it. I need all I can get.”

I could almost feel her heart beat outside of her body. “Of course, but that’s really too much so it’ll work fast.” I nodded as she hugged me again.

Her smile returned. “Thank you.”

After Tawnee took her magic pills, Ed clinked his spoon on a wine glass. “We wanted to thank everyone again for being here tonight. We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow for the big day.”

Tawnee waved me over. “Let’s go chill in our room, okay?”

“Nothing sounds better.”

Tawnee and I sat on the dark beige couch in the light-beige hotel suite living room filled with medium beige décor. I would’ve paid money for a splash of any color.

“Is your headache gone?”

“My head is better. I’m just feeling a little jittery.” She chewed on her thumbnail that I immediately pulled out of her mouth. The fuck I’m not the queen of the Maids of Honors?

“That’s normal. You’ve been planning and dreaming of this day, and it’s finally here.” I hugged her. “You just need a good night’s sleep and some more of my magic Tylenol.”

“Or magic mushrooms? Can you get mushrooms?”

I pulled back. “I don’t know where you’ve gotten the impression I dabble in drug dealings, but I do not. And you will not either.”

“Fine.”

I stood and pulled her to her feet. “I know something better. Let’s go put on our matching shorty jammies that Mama Sharon ordered for us and meet out here in ten minutes. Let’s enjoy a hot fudge sundae from room service before bed. Okay?”

Her smile turned up, and she nodded. “That sounds perfect. But I definitely need double hot fudge.”

“You got it.”

We scurried off to our bedrooms where I pulled on my hot pink and white polka dot shorty pajamas.

I sprung out into the living room, picked up the phone, and ordered two hot fudge treats with triple the hot fudge. Boom.

“Tawnee! They’ll be here soon.” My cell phone pinged, and I snatched it from the coffee table.

Fern, I’m sorry. I’m not sure what to do.

Ed and I started dating and got engaged so fast, and now I’m just feeling like I won’t be enough for him.

He hasn’t even seen me at my worst, and we both know I can be a total bitch.

I’ve been fighting this all day, and I think even feeling this way tells me I might be wrong for him. I need some time to think. I’m sorry.

I had spots in front of my eyes as I read it three times. What was I going to do? Should I call Ed? Or my mom?

Tawnee, please come back, and we can talk this through. He’s crazy about you. You’re the most amazing woman, and he’s lucky to have snagged you. This is normal. Just wedding worries. Let’s talk okay?

Her lack of response answered every question I had. We were up a shit creek with no paddle in sight.

My legs were stuck as I assessed the horrid situation unraveling before me. Okay, she’d only been gone a few minutes. I knew I could outrun her if I could find her and sit on her chest until she came to her senses.

I’d been gone most of her relationship with Ed, but we FaceTimed every week, and she was over the moon for him. And anyone with eyes could see he felt the same. I just needed to find her.

I yanked on my Ugg boots, grabbed my purse, keys, coat, and headed down the hall while my mind traveled to all the places where she might have run.

I decided I wasn’t going to call Ed, my mom, or anyone.

It was just after eleven, and the wedding wasn’t until tomorrow afternoon.

Surely, I could scour the city and find her by then, right?

My lungs tightened, remembering she flew by the seat of her pants most of the time. She wouldn’t head to the airport and jump on the next flight to anywhere, would she? My temples started to throb, and I suddenly wished I did have magic mushrooms or morphine. Son of a bitch.

I tore around the corner in the lobby, running toward the door. I had to save my cousin from the biggest mistake of her life.