Page 14 of The First Best Man

I narrow my gaze at her, but there’s no hint of humor in her expression, so I relax and nod. We move further off the road down a nonexistent trail, and every little rustle in the bushes has me jumpier than a jackrabbit.

Kate finally takes my hand, squeezing it in an offering of support as we slowly make our way east. I’m barely breathing as the bushes grow thicker and taller. Every second that we don’t spot a monkey has my nerves ratcheting up. I’m wound so tight, if something––anything–– jumps out of one of these bushes, I’m going to piss myself.

There will be no stopping it.

“Why are we doing this again?” I whisper without taking my eyes off the surrounding foliage.

“Because we want to win,” Kate shoots back just as quietly.

“I’ll buy you dinner and sing for you every night this week if we can go,” I offer.

“Don’t be such a––There!”

That last word comes out in a shout so loud as she flings out an arm, and an even louder shriek than before erupts from my diaphragm. I stumble back, my hand ripping out of Kate’s as I step on a round stone. The damn thing rolls beneath my weight, and I end up flat on my back for a split second before scrambling back to my feet in sheer terror that a monkey might take advantage and attack.

Grabbing Kate’s wrist and jerking her behind me, I hold up the phone that is somehow still miraculously in my grip, ready to get a shot of the damn beast so we can get the hell out of here.

But all I see is an open field filled to the edges with thousands of yellow and red flowers.

I turn to look back at Kate, and her face is crimson, her cheeks are puffed out, and there are tears pouring from her eyes. My eyes search her body for any injuries, but seeing none, I meet her gaze once more, and she explodes.

Peals of laughter ring from her lips as she bends over, bracing her hands against her knees for support. I remain still, watching her with my mouth hanging open until she gets her laughter under control. Finally, she straightens, looking at me with only the tiniest shred of remorse.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, then laughs again before forcing herself to sober. “I couldn’t help it.”

“Couldn’t help what?” I ask, my voice an octave lower than normal.

Stepping closer, she grips my shoulders and turns me around to face the field of flowers once more. “Those are Bush Monkey flowers.”

I turn my head to look at her with a narrowed gaze. “As in,Bush Monkey Isle?”

She nods, keeping her lips sealed tight as she tries, and fails, to hold in more laughter.

“So, youwerescrewing with me.”

She nods, more noises squeaking in her throat as she continues to try to stem her humor.

I nod in return, saying, “Good one, Reid. You got me.”

She breathes in deep from her nose and releases it through her mouth as I take a picture of the flowers. When I turn back to look at her, she has herself under some semblance of control.

“I’m really sorry,” she breathes.

“No, you’re not,” I say, one corner of my mouth lifting.

“I’m really not,” she says on a chuckle. “Are you mad at me?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t get mad.”

“Good,” she huffs.

“I get even,” I say, making my voice sound as ominous as possible. “Watch your back, Kate.”

At that, she grins, her pretty brown eyes alight with mischief. “Bring it,J.T.”

“Oh, I’m going to bring it. You’ll never see it coming.”

“Challenge, accepted,” she says firmly, holding out a hand for me to shake on it.

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