That word. Home. It stirs something deep inside me. I’ve never had a place that felt like home. I envy her that she’s found hers at last, even as I’m so happy for her I could burst.
“Fuck,” I huff with a laugh. “We should have written that down.” I look around distractedly.
“What are you looking for?”
“Your phone. You just wrote your vows. Say exactly that, and you’ll have the whole house in tears.” As I snatch up her phone and unlock it, there’s a scuffle out in the bedroom.
“Ouch, you’re shoving me,” Harrison grumbles.
“Well, then, walk,” Jake huffs. “Just don’t let me see Rachel.”
“Jake, you’re being a little dramatic right now,” says his twin sister from behind them.
Both the guys are dressed to kill in suits that fit them so well it looks like they were poured in. And Amy looks gorgeous in a little black number. She’s got Jake’s coloring—the dark hair and pretty hazel eyes. But the line of her jaw is more feminine, the features of her face softer. And, of course, he’s almost a foot taller.
Harrison calls out, “Rach, we’re coming in!”
I block the doorway with my body. “Absolutely not. He’s not seeing her before the wedding.”
Jake stands between Harrison and Amy, both hands covering his eyes. “I don’t wanna see her, Tess. I just need to talk to her. Babe, I need to talk to you! I’m kind of freaking the fuck out!”
My protector mode surges. “Jake Compton, are you having second thoughts?”
“What?” he squawks. “No. Fuck no. Get out of my way, and I’ll marry her right here, right now. I wanted to marry her the night we met. Rach, tell her I’m not backing out!”
Deep inside the closet, Rachel laughs. “What’s wrong, angel?”
“Shit, can I drop my hands?” he says.
“I wish you would,” Harrison mutters.
“You look ridiculous,” Amy laughs.
Jake drops his hands, blinking at me as he takes me in. Then his face splits into a wide smile. “Whoa, Tess, you look dynamite. Green is definitely your color.”
I smile, soaking in his compliment. But I know I look great in green. And the cut of this dress really does wonders for me. It’s got these cute off-the-shoulder sleeves and a structured bust that gives the girls a great lift. The silky skirt flows down to the floor, fluttering around my ankles.
“Nice try, handsome,” I say, crossing my arms. “But you’re not getting past me.”
“I don’t want to get past you,” he replies. “And I swear I don’t want to see her before it’s time. I just—Seattle, I need to talk to you about something!”
I glance over my shoulder to see Rachel standing there with a sappy, lovesick look on her face. God, they’re both hopeless. “What do you need, Jake?”
“I just talked to Caleb, and apparently he asked Mars to stand in as his best man when Cay and I get married,” Jake calls.
“Well…I think that’s really sweet,” Rachel calls back. “Cay’s not really close with anyone else but you.”
“Yeah, and then Mars asked Cay to stand in as his best man when he gets married to you,” Jake goes on.
“So, what’s the problem, angel?”
He groans. “Alright, well, I’ve got our twins out here because I really think we need to settle this once and for all,” he calls, one hand each on Harrison and Amy’s shoulders. “Seattle, I know you may want me to be your best man but—”
“What?” Harrison cries, slapping Jake’s hand off his shoulder. “No fucking way, asshole. Rachel is my twin. I will literally stab you in the throat if you try and take this from me. I’m best man.”
“See, this is the problem,” Jake calls. “Your brother is threatening to murder me if I’m your best man!”
Inside the closet, Rachel is laughing. “Jake, you know I love you, but Harrison is my best man.”
“Damn fucking straight,” says Harrison. “You’ve been a Price for all of three hours. I’ve been a Price for almost thirty years. You want a job, be their ring bearer.”
Jake holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man, that’s cool with me. I totally agree. You should be her best man. That’s what I wanted to say. I’ll hold the rings. I’ll hold her flowers—”
“I’m holding her flowers,” I say, my hands back on my hips. “Best friend holds the flowers.”