Page 46

Trust

S he disappeared into the elevator without a word. I was grateful to my core for the fact I was able to lay it on the line to her, but she gave no clue as to my odds.

I paced the lobby, ten minutes of my life I’d never get back, and realized I needed to come clean and make things right with Dave.

I’d said my piece to Fern, and it was out of my hands. Should I keep quiet as she may’ve cut me loose already, and my best friend would never have to know I’d gone back to try to get his sister a second time? I could...but I couldn’t.

Eight hours later, I was up, showered and ready to take my licks like a man. The wedding wasn’t until five, so I’d have a good chunk of the day to deal with and attempt to conceal any bruises or broken bones from Novots. That was a plus.

I arrived at room 612, my blood pressure at a new high. I knocked, and Liv appeared.

“Good morning, Gabe.”

“Good morning. Is Dave awake?”

“Come on in.” She grabbed her purse from the table by the door. “Dave! Gabe’s here.” She patted my arm. “I’m grabbing Scooters Coffee. See you later.”

I entered the living room area and braced myself as Dave came in from the bedroom. He wore sweats and a hoodie, definitely a good option if you were going to attempt to do bodily harm to a friend.

There’d been strong tension between us since he found out, and I longed for the days when Dave and I were like brothers. I inhaled, realizing that bond would likely never return after the words I was about to spit out.

“Hey, Dave.”

He walked to me and crossed his arms over his chest. “What brings you by? Is there some groomsman thing I’ve missed this morning?”

“No, you’re not missing anything. I’m here because I need to clear the air between you and me.”

His brow arched. “That does not sound good, Gabe.”

This was it. My last chance to make a run for it. My eyes looked toward the door, knowing I wasn’t going anywhere. “I wasn’t up front with you when I had interest in Fern, and that made me a shitty friend, Dave. I should’ve come to you. And the way you found out was unfair and unforgiveable.”

“Nice to see we agree on a few things.” His resting I want to kill you face was on point.

“That day in the locker room you reminded me of every flaw I have. Every shitty thing I’ve done, and as her brother, I understood. You told me to say whatever I had to in order to end everything, and I did. I told untruths and hurt her so she wouldn’t want to know me anymore.”

My former best friend had daggers coming from his eyes, and the temperature in the room shot up quickly.

“But she’s like nobody?—”

“Shut your mouth.” He took a controlled breath I was thankful for.

“I went to your parent’s house two weeks ago, persuaded her to speak with me, and we hung out. She’s amazing, and we kind of just get each other. Then something from my past that happened over a year ago presented itself and scared her.”

His teeth gritted. “Son of a bitch! I knew?—”

I wanted to step back but stood firm. “No, this was someone I haven’t spoken to or seen in well over a year.”

“Stay the fuck away, man.”

“I’m not trying to make the moves on Fern.” I braced for the punch I knew might be heading my way. “I love her.”

He shook his head, turned, and walked towards the patio door. “This is bullshit?—”

“You know I’ve wanted nothing with any woman I’ve met. Nothing.”

He kept his back toward me.

“I begged for a conversation with her last night. I told her I was crazy about her and wanted to move forward with her by my side. I told her if she didn’t want to see me again, I’d walk away without a word. And I will. If she doesn’t speak with me today, I’ll have my answer.”

He was still, and my mind begged him to turn to me. But no.

“I don’t want to know what it’s like to not hear her voice every day. Or to miss out on the way she turns everything under the sun into a contest and can throw a punch like a dude. To be in the same room with her and hear her thoughts on things is the only thing I want to do.”

He shook his head. “Gabe?—”

“I sincerely apologize for not coming to you first. I was unprepared for what this woman would become to me. The way I want to protect and take care of her like nobody else.” I took a step back.

“I know what she deserves, and I can be that. I know I can, and I would spend my life proving that I’m good enough for her.

I also know your forgiveness may never come, but I had to come here and lay it on the table.

I pray I hear from her today, but if not, be assured I won’t contact her again. ”

I waited for any reaction, but nothing. His back stayed toward me. After a long minute, I walked out with the sinking feeling that my best friend and the love of my life might both be gone forever.

After the one-sided conversation with Dave, and waiting until I would hopefully hear from Fern, the minutes were moving as fast as water through a hair-clogged drain. I needed to burn off some of the energy that was pulsing through me so a brisk morning walk was the ticket.

Liv indicated there was a coffee somewhere so I thought I’d head north since I had a few hours before the Groom’s lunch at Mahogany’s Steakhouse.

I’m the first to admit I can drop the ball on stuff, but my Best Man duties weren’t one of them. I had a limousine picking up the guys for lunch followed up by a stop at my favorite cigar bar, all before the ceremony.

I found Scooter’s Coffee and sat in a chair, staring into space, wishing the moments would tick by a little quicker. Then I flipped through a Cosmopolitan Magazine.

After reading The orgasm that almost killed her, The undiscovered joys of taking a Chinese lover, and killer cocktail; how a popular drink could kill you in your sleep , I was left with an after taste of fear and concern. Yup, no more reading.

As I headed back toward the hotel, my mind wouldn’t leave Fern alone. I even tried to recall the betrayal of a popular cocktail that could kill me while I sleep, but she was on my frontal lobe non-stop. It was so bad that as I crossed the street, I swore I heard her calling my name.

I stopped dead in my tracks, searched the city street, but nothing. This could be the day I’d finally lose my freaking mind.

Son of a nutcracker! I’d spent every moment since I awoke searching for Gabe, and there he was in the street.

I wanted to run and hurl myself into his arms, but no.

It was not happening because a security guard had tackled me to the floor and was sitting on my back inside of a jewelry store. Damn it.

I decided when I woke up that I couldn’t talk to Gabe on the phone.

I had to see him in person. Brandon was still in his room sleeping so I’d roamed the hotel, the street, and Scooters Coffee but didn’t see him anywhere.

Then I had the brilliant idea to check out a fine jewelry store on my way back to the hotel while I sipped on my delicious, caffeinated beverage.

I tried on jewels, bracelets, and a stunning topaz ring.

I remembered Gabe’s birthday was in December, and that was his beautiful birthstone.

Then my eyes popped up and right outside the window Gabe was crossing the street.

What luck! I bolted to the door, and yelled out his name just before the enormously strong female security guard jumped me.

I watched him walk into the hotel at the same time I was questioned like a common thief. In the end, Christina Watt realized immediately she didn’t have to taz me because I cried and laughed at the same time.

It turns out I get nervous and overly talkative when felt up by security. I went to second base with her as she had to make certain my brazier hadn’t become home to any of the precious jewels.

She was a woman with her own problems when it came to men because she thinks she’s too tall, and her security gun freaks them out. After filling her in on the talk last night, she thought Gabe sounded too risky. “If you have one single doubt about the man, I say run the other way.”

“I’ll take that under advisement, Christina. I appreciate your advice.”

“Anytime. Good luck to you, Fern.”

I hauled my hinny into the hotel to find Gabe’s fine self nowhere.

Forty-five minutes later, I had not found the hot one so I watched Brandon shave as I leaned on the vanity in his bathroom.

“So he did a strip dance in order to talk to you?” He dragged the razor down his cheek.

“Well, technically, I said he had to win in order to have a chat.” It did sound cool when I heard it aloud. The drop-dead gorgeous NHL heartthrob used smooth and sexy as hell moves to get me to speak with him.

“And?” He dropped the razor on the counter and dried his face with a towel.

“And he won.” I tried to reel it in but failed. “You should’ve seen him, Brandon.”

“Let me get this straight. I go to bed while you and the man you’re supposed to be staying away from chase down a missing bride, hit the top dance club in the city, and ended up with a strip tease champion?”

“Can you even believe it?” I couldn’t get the smile to disappear.

“Nope.” He splashed on some aftershave. “So from your sunny disposition this morning, I take it you heard the boy out?”

I nodded. “Yes. He apologized for the naked chick in his apartment and said that was him before he met me. He’s different now and wants to be with me.”

“You’re certain he didn’t mean for a weekend pass thing?” He leaned against the counter.

“He said he wants to start a journey with me.” My heart was flying. “A real thing.”

“What was your response?”

“He didn’t want me to respond last night. He told me to think it through, and if I want to be with him, I talk to him at the reception. If I don’t, he’ll take that as a no, and he won’t reach out to me again.”

“Wow. I am impressed by that.” He shrugged. “We both know if he hadn’t requested you use your brain, you could’ve been whipping off your shirt right there in the lobby.”

“I know, right? But he was a responsible grown-up by asking me to use my noggin, huh?”