Page 74 of The First Best Man

“Worth it.”

He chuckles, and leans in to kiss me again. I kiss him back for a moment, then jerk away with a curse.

“I’m meeting Penny at the bridal shop,” I say when he looks at me with questioning eyes. “I’m going to be late.”

“I’ll let you finish showering,” he says, popping the door open and grabbing a towel from the rack beside it. “Leave the water on, and I’ll clean up when you’re done.”

With another quick peck on my lips, he steps out and closes the door behind him. My hands are shaking as I pick up the shampoo bottle I dropped, squirt a dollop into my palm, and set the bottle back on the shelf before lathering up my hair. Scrubbing it quickly, I rinse it and apply conditioner before grabbing the shower poof, applying body wash, and scrubbing my entire body from neck to toe. After rinsing the conditioner from my hair, I open the door and peek out. I’m alone.

Grabbing the extra towel from the rack, I wrap it around my body and walk to the door. Tucker looks up from his phone. His towel wrapped around his waist, giving me a delectable view, and he smiles before dropping the device onto my dresser and walking toward me.

My hair is dripping all over the carpet as we pass each other, and Tucker’s hand snakes out, wrapping around my waist and pulling me in for another kiss before he releases me and saunters into the bathroom, whistling as he goes.

Snapping out of the daze he’s put me in, I rush to the closet and grab the first clothes I see––a pair of blue yoga pants and a purple t-shirt with a picture of a taco on it that has “Buy me tacos and tell me I’m pretty” scrawled underneath it. I pull the outfit on without underwear or a bra, then use my towel to squeeze the excess water out of my hair.

Picking up my phone, I check the time and breathe a sigh of relief. I’m going to make it.

Tucker’s still in the shower when I go back into the bathroom. Grabbing a wide-toothed comb and a hair elastic, I comb my soaked tresses into a high ponytail, then tie it into a messy wet bun.

Good enough.

“I have to go,” I call out loud enough for Tucker to hear me over the spray. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“I’ll lock the door on my way out,” he calls back. “Have fun with Penny.”

“Thanks,” I say, then skedaddle out of there before I do something stupid––like strip down and climb back into the shower with him.

The golf cart ride to the bridal shop is quick thanks to my lead foot, and when I rush into the shop in just the nick of time, Penny is already waiting. She takes one look at me, crosses her arms over her chest, and taps a toe against the carpet.

“What’s up with you? I’m not late,” I say, cocking my head as I study her rigid posture.

“Oh, no. You’re not late. But care to explain why you’ve showed up here looking so thoroughly fucked this morning?”

“W-what?”

“Don’t deny it,” she says, uncrossing her arms to point at me. “Logan tried to tell me something was going on with you and J.T., and even though I knew you were crushing on the man, I accused Logan of being insane because there’sno waymy best friend would lose her virginity and not tell me.”

My gaze darts around the shop, but it appears that, for the moment, we’re alone. I slump into the nearest chair with a groan. Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose before taking a deep, fortifying breath and meeting Penny’s gaze once more.

“I’m so sorry, Penny. I thought I was doing the right thing. It’s your wedding week, and I didn’t want to add to your stress.”

Penny sits in the chair next to me, her tone softening as she asks, “Why would I be stressed?”

“Because you warned me, and I didn’t listen. I thought you’d be mad. I swear I was going to tell you. Just…after the honeymoon.”

“Kate.” She pauses to sigh dramatically, then spears me with an intense look. “Look into my eyes.”

I straighten and meet her gaze as the command requires.

“I love you, but sometimes you drive me crazy. Of course, I want you to talk to me immediately about something as monumental as this. Besides, we talked about you going for it, right? Did I not agree that if you wanted him, you should take him?”

“Yeah, but––”

Peggy, the seamstress, walks in, and my words cut off abruptly. Penny asks her to give us a few moreminutes. Nodding, she heads back the way she came, and Penny meets my eyes again.

“Tell me everything.”

Relief rushes through me at those words. I didn’t realize how desperately I needed to talk to my best friend about all this, and I’m incredibly grateful Penny is so intuitive and called me out on my lies by omission. I start talking and don’t stop until I’ve told her everything that’s happened.

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