“Uh, yes, Lia. This is your wedding. You should have a say in what happens at it.”
“I just become a doormat when she’s around. It’s hard to get my opinion in, you know?”
“It’s hard to overcome strong personalities, and I get that. I deal with my brothers every day.”
“And I was already steamrolled about the date, and where the reception will be held, I attempted to challenge the decision but fell short. I think I’m going to just end up resenting this whole thing because I’m going to be pushed around, and that’s taking the excitement out of it.”
“That’s understandable. Can you make the decisions without The Beave?”
I give him a look. “That would never happen. She already has appointments made.”
“Well then . . . take me with you,” Breaker says, the suggestion making me laugh.
“Come on, Breaker, be serious.”
“I’m being serious,” he says. “I can go with you. It’s not like I have anything going on right now. I have to stay away from work. This might give me something to do to keep me busy.” He smirks. “Maybe I can be your wedding planner.”
“Oh my God, stop.” I push at him.
“Or your maid of honor . . . ooo, your man of honor. Or, better yet, man in waiting.”
“Can you stop being ridiculous?”
His brows tilt down. “Uh, do you have another best friend I don’t know about that would take the title of maid of honor?”
I pause and give it some thought. “Uh, not really, no. But I guess I never really thought about it.”
“I’m your best friend, correct?”
“You are,” I answer.
“And best friends always claim the title as best man or maid of honor, correct?”
“Yessss,” I drag out.
“Therefore, by process of elimination, I’m your man of honor, but I believe man in waiting has a better ring to it, don’t you think?”
“You’re not being serious, are you?”
“Of course I am,” he says with all sincerity. “Listen, Lia. I know this is going to be tough without your parents. Losing them was so hard, and they wouldn’t want you to do this alone. I have the time, and even if I didn’t, I would make the time for you. I can help. I can be your backup, your wingman, your bodyguard, your bruiser.”
“Bodyguard? Do you really think I need protection from The Beave?”
“I’ve met her before. Her stare alone is terrifying, let alone the manipulation. Trust me, you will need a bodyguard, and I’m your man.”
“But what about Brian?”
“What about him?”
“You guys don’t get along.”
Breaker shifts on the couch and then offers me a smile. “Well, he’s going to be your husband. Better late than never to build on that relationship because I won’t let any hard feelings or awkward tension with your future husband get between you and me, got it?”
As I listen to him and his words of affirmation, my emotions tighten again, causing more tears to fall.
“What’s going on?” he asks, concerned.
“Just . . .” I look him in the eyes. “I’m so glad I told you. You looked like a pervert with your mustache so many years ago, but I’m lucky to have you in my life.”
He lightly chuckles and says, “You know, if you’re lucky, I could bring back the mustache for your wedding.”
I push at his face. “Don’t even think about it.”
Chapter Three
BREAKER
I pace at the door of JP’s house, the morning dew freshly clinging to every blade of grass as the sun just starts to tilt into the sky, warming the temperature for the day.
I got about one hour of sleep last night. One if I’m lucky.
Once I calmed Lia down and we finished our tacos, we played a few rounds of glass Yahtzee, but neither one of us was paying attention. I think both of our minds were somewhere else. We called it a night, and when I went to bed, she knocked on the wall, I knocked back . . . and then I didn’t go to sleep.
My mind kept whirling over and over again.
She’s engaged . . . to Brian.
When she said she was going to have a relationship status change, I really thought she was going to break up with him. And fuck, I almost said THANK GOD! Could you imagine if I’d let that fly? She cut me off right before I could. And sure, were they kissing in the hallway when I arrived? Yes, but body language is telling, and, at the moment, Brian was the one leaning into her while Lia had a slight lean away. That kiss was all him.