Page 77 of The First Best Man

“Speaking of nervous,” he says, nodding in my direction, “J.T. looks worse off than I feel.”

“You do look a little green around the gills,” Sam says before I can respond. “Lose the rings already?”

I pat the bulge in my pocket created by the ring box and shake my head. “Nope. Got them right here.”

“Heard you spent all afternoon searching the island for Kate,” Logan says, jarringly changing the subject.

“How’d you hear that?” I ask, hedging.

Logan rolls his eyes. “Small town. Big mouths. Why don’t you just tell us what that was all about?”

I shake my head, lifting my palms into the air. “Not until I talk to her, first.”

Logan opens his mouth, no doubt to insist, but is interrupted by a knock on the door. The door swings open, and Blaine walks in without waiting for a response.

“Come on, sis. We could’ve been naked in here,” Logan gripes.

“If you’re all hanging out naked together, you’ve got bigger problems than me seeing your junk,” she snaps back with a wicked smile.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, thinking of Kate and her avoidance of me today.

She wouldn’t skip the wedding just to continueavoiding me, right? Shit. Logan and Penny would never forgive me.

“Everything is fine,” Blaine says before I can spin out any harder. “Better than fine, actually. Guess who got arrested?”

“Who?” Logan asks, and my mind reels.

It couldn’t be Kate, right? No. That’s stupid. What would she even be arrested for?

“Kaylee Harper.” My eyes flash up to Blaine’s face, and her smile widens. “She’s the one who broke into the bridal shop and destroyed Penny’s dress. In fact, Penny and Kate helped the chief solve the case.”

“What? How?” I ask.

“Video footage shows someone using a hidden spare key to get into the shop. And Peggy’s assistant is Kaylee’s roommate. Kate and Penny told the chief about the ice cream incident and how hard Kaylee has pined over Logan. The roommate folded the instant the sheriff took her in for questioning, pointing the finger at Kaylee and begging for leniency since she’s cooperating.”

The three of them discuss it further as my mind spins, then Blaine hugs Logan. She turns to me, and I accept her hug, freezing when her hand slips into mine. But before I can jerk away, I feel the scratch of paper in my palm. She pulls back and gives me a nod before hugging Sam and leaving the room.

I step aside and unfold the paper, finding a note from Kate. My brow furrows as I read it.

It’s been a perfect week, and I just wanted to thank you for everything. You’re an amazing man, Tucker Gibbs. I’ll never forget you. Love, Kate.

Is this goodbye? Is she really trying to end this thing between us? With a note?

Oh,hellno.

I tear out of there, ignoring the shouts from Logan and Sam as I slam the door closed behind me. Running, I catch up with Blaine as she reaches for the knob of a closed door. She spins toward me, surprise etched across her features, and I point toward the door.

“Is she in there?”

“Yes, but––”

I lunge forward before she can finish, twisting the nob and flinging the door open while slapping a hand over my eyes and calling out, “Everyone decent?”

“J.T.? You can open your eyes. I’m not naked.”

I drop my hand and see Penny standing in the middle of the room, a glass of bubbly in her hand as she fiddles with the collar of her white satin robe. My gaze darts around the space, searching for the one I seek, but Penny appears to be alone.

Meeting her eyes once more, I ask, “Where is she?”

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