Page 74 of The Best Man Wins

“Like what? Throw oil on top of them? No, they just have to work this one out on their own.”

Or kill each other. I run to them and wave my hands. “Stop! Braxton! Quit it!”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Ace barks when Braxton throws him to the ground. Ace cups his face, his nose bleeding. “I don’t even know you!”

“I know you,” Braxton pants, standing over him. “And what you did to Susie was unforgivable.”

“I love Susie,” Ace counters.

“No. You don’t. You love taking advantage of her. But that’s not going to happen again.” Braxton step in close and growls. “Get out of my sight.”

“What’s going on here?” A man steps up and—oh no. Sheriff Colburn. The man wears his badge on his chest and stares accusingly at the bloodied pair.

“He attacked me!” Ace spluttered. “He’s mad!”

Braxton’s shoulders square off immediately. He knows he’s screwed.

“Sir—excuse me.” I quickly move my hand to the sheriff’s shoulder. “Braxton was just escorting this man out. Please. You know what an important day this is to Ray and…”

“Which is exactly why I have to make sure it doesn’t turn into a bar brawl,” Colburn retorts, but his eyes are apologetic. “Sorry, ma’am.”

“I’ll go,” Braxton says quickly. “Let’s just not make a scene of it.” His eyes flicker to me, and he says, “Like you said. This day is too important.”

“You’ll both be coming with me now,” the sheriff says.

“What!” Ace squeaks. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”

Braxton takes Ace’s arm, lifts him off the ground, and hisses, “Shut up.”

I feel like someone is poking needles into my chest repeatedly. I watch as the sheriff escorts Braxton and Ace to his car. “Braxton…”

“Stay here,” Braxton tells me. “Don’t tell Cora.”

My heart sinks. There’s nothing I can do—this isn’t a broken corsage or a ripped wedding dress. This is too far above my jurisdiction.

Thom gives my back a pat. “Cheer up. It’s not a successful wedding until we’ve had one big blowout. At least we kept the bride and groom out of it.”

“This is all my fault,” I say.

“They’ll be fine,” Thom says. “They’re big boys.” Thom looks over my shoulder, and then his spine stiffens. “Incoming.”

“Susie!” Cora flutters up to me, her wedding dress flowing behind her. She squeals and pulls me into a quick, tight hug. “I did it!”

“You did it!” I push a smile on my face even though I’m no longer feeling quite so celebratory.

Her hands rest on my shoulders, and she looks around. “Have you seen Braxton? We’re trying to get a picture of all of us.”

“You know how much he hates pictures.” I move my hand to her arm and steer her away, lest she catch sight of Braxton climbing into a cop car. “Let’s go over here…I have the perfect place to take them…”

34

Braxton

“Hey! Sheriff! I can’t be in here! I have an audition in the morning!” Ace clings to the bars of the holding cell like some cartoon robber. He’s been shouting for the past ten minutes, and I’m starting to get a headache.

“No one’s coming,” I tell him from my spot on the bench. I know I look a fright. I’ve loosened my tie, at least, but my nice clothes are now dirty and disheveled on my body. I can feel my eyebrow start to swell where Ace’s class ring cut me. The small cell is too warm, barren, but I could handle all of that if it weren’t for Ace.

“I need to call my lawyer.” He sticks his face through the bars and shouts, “I have that right! I’m injured!” He sniffs and touches his nose. “I think I broke something.”

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