Page 35 of The First Best Man

When I pull into my driveway, two golf carts arealready parked there. Penny has a spare key to my house and a never-ending invitation to use it, so they must all be inside already. Slumping back in my seat, I take a few deep breaths before climbing out of the cart, grabbing the grocery bags from the back, and making my way inside.

I find the three of them laughing and talking in the kitchen when I walk inside. They’re already in their swimsuits, so I pass Logan the bag of pre-made burger patties and ask him to put them in the fridge while I go change.

I don’t have to look at him to know Tucker is watching me. I can feel his gaze burning against my skin, and why is it so hot in here all of a sudden?

Penny must notice I’m off, because she takes my hand and pulls me out of the kitchen, saying, “I’m just going to help Kate find her bathing suit. You two…entertain each other, or something.”

As soon as she tugs me into my bedroom, she closes the door behind us and crosses her arms over her chest, asking, “What’s going on with you today? You’re acting weird.”

I fall back against my bed with a long sigh and close my eyes. “Would you believe me if I said nothing?”

“Not a chance,” she says, falling back against the mattress beside me. “Now, spill.”

I roll onto my side, and she does the same so we’re facing each other. “Tucker found me at the Grill last night, drowning my sorrows in chili-cheese fries after that whole scene with Blaine at the bridal shop.

“I assumed that’s where you went,” she says with a small nod.

She knows me better than anybody.

“He cheered me up,” I go on, my lips rising in a ghost of a smile. “We had a great time, and when he walked me out to my cart, I…I asked him if he wanted to come here for a drink.”

“You didwhat?” Penny barks, levering upright to stare down at me with wide eyes.

“Relax,” I sigh, sitting up to face her, head on. “He turned me down. No harm, no foul.”

“He didwhat?” she growls, so loud, I hurry to shush her so the guys won’t hear.

“Why are you angry? You should be happy nothing happened. Wasn’t it you who insisted I keep my hands to myself?” I ask, arching a single brow at her.

“Yes, of course,” she says, waving a hand as if to disperse my words. “But you’re supposed to be the one turninghimdown, not the other way around. Who the hell does he think he is?”

An unbidden laugh bubbles out of me, and I tilt my head as I hold her gaze. “I love you so much.”

The steam rolls out of her, and her spine relaxes as she reaches over to take my hand. “I love you, too. And I know I drew a hard line before, practically ordering you not to fall for J.T.’s charms, but what exactly is ityouwant?”

“I don’t know,” I say on a rough exhale. “He makes mefeelthings, Pen. Things I’ve never felt before.”

Penny blows out a long breath through loose lips, then reaches out her free hand to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear as she gently whispers, “You know he’s leaving in a few days. Who knows when he’ll be back?He won’t commit to you, Kate. He doesn’t commit to anyone.”

“I know that, Penny, but it still doesn’t change how I feel.” I shake my head. “It’s stupid, anyway. Tucker has made it perfectly clear where he stands. He’s just not interested in me in that way. I need to accept that.”

“Fuck that noise. You’re wrong,” she says.

“What? What do you mean?”

She takes my other hand, then pulls me forward so our clasped hands hover between us. “I haven’t said anything because I didn’t want to encourage things between the two of you, but Kate, he’s completely obsessed with you.”

My head rears back an inch, my face screwed up into a look of confusion and disbelief. “No.”

“Yes,” she snaps back, then sighs again. “You haven’t seen the way he looks at you when you aren’t watching. Logan and I have. Hell, even Blaine has seen it, which is why she’s been such a royal bitch all week. She knows there’s no hope for her while you’re in the picture.”

“That can’t be right,” I say, my heart pounding against my ribs. “You must be misinterpreting his expression, or something.”

“You mean the expression that screams ‘I’m starving and the only thing that will satisfy my hunger is a bite of Kate Reid?’ I’m not misinterpreting anything. I’ve never seen him look at another woman that way, and neither has Logan.”

“You guys have talked about this?” I ask, mortified.

“Only in the sense that we both felt the need to protect you from him. But I’m done with that. You wantJ.T. to be your first? Let’s make it happen. You just have to promise to guard your heart and keep your expectations in check.”

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