Page 10 of The First Best Man

CHAPTER FOUR

Kate

Penny and Loganreturn to the living room with platters of food in the nick of time, saving me from having to come up with a response to Tucker’s version of last night. He didn’t really cut out while I was in the bathroom. He thought I lefthimhanging.

I don’t know how to respond to that.

I don’t know if Ishouldrespond.

No. That’s not true. I know I should avoid the subject of last night at all costs.

I know who he is now. He’s J.T. Gibbs. Serially single.

He loves them and leaves them, is never settling down, and has been unequivocally marked off-limits by my best friend. Penny knows him. TherealTucker.

And I can’t let him charm the pants off me, figurativelyorliterally. Right?

“No,” Penny barks, and for a split-second, I thinkshe’s developed some seriously impressive mind-reading skills.

But when I look over, I see her swatting at Logan’s hand as he tries to snag a handful of candy from the M&M bowl. His fingers wrap around her wrist as she swats again, lifting her knuckles to his lips for a sweet kiss before holding the hand hostage there and using his free hand to steal more candy.

Penny smiles through her attempt to look stern, and it’s so full of love and devotion, my heart hitches in my chest. Filled mostly with happiness for them but with the slightest twinge of jealousy, I watch them playfully squabble as I pick up the sub sandwich from my plate and take a small bite.

Will I ever have what Penny has? Will anyone ever love me as much as Logan does her?

Hell, at this point, I’d settle for a fraction of that.

I shake my head at the errant thought, mentally chastising myself. I will not settle. If I can’t find real love with someone who makes my blood sing, then I’ll just be single forever. It’s not so bad.Really.

I have a home, a business I love, and the best friend a girl could ask for. It’s enough.

It mighthaveto be.

Without my permission, my gaze shoots to Tucker. I’m startled a bit when I find him staring right back at me, like he was watching me while I wasn’t paying attention. I hold the gaze for several long beats, but he doesn’t look away. In the end, I’m the one who breaks, pretending to turn my attention to my food before plucking a potato chip from my plate and nibbling on it.

Images of last night streak through my mind likelightning, and I don’t even try to fight it. The smiles. The laughter. His impressive show of chivalry when he threw that little weasel Alex out of the bar for insulting me.

The almost-kiss I’m eighty-four percent sure would’ve happened if I hadn’t rushed off to check my breath.

Why was I so worried, anyway? Tucker was eating and drinking the same as me, so we would’ve tasted and smelled the same to each other, right? It could’ve been––

No. Stop it, Kate.

I’ve already decided the comedy of errors that played out was a good thing. I can’t be kissing or doing anything else with the best man. Not only could it cause possible drama for Penny’s wedding, but J.T. Gibbs is a one-way ticket to Heartbreaksville.

Unless I go into itknowingit’s going nowhere…

“Kate, can you help me in the kitchen, please?”

Penny’s voice snaps me out of the dangerous train of thought, and even though I’ve barely started eating, I push myself up, leaving the boys to our makeshift picnic on the living room floor to follow her into the other room.

I’m bracing myself for her to call me out for fantasizing about Tucker––because obviously, she is a mind-reader––but she only looks worried as she takes my hands and pulls me close so I can hear her whispered words.

“I’m worried about you and J.T. being paired up for the games. I can switch things up. You can be partners with Sam this week.”

I think about it for a moment, then shake my head. We spent so many hours planning out the week of fun and games, and I refuse to let her stir things up now, at the eleventh hour. I’m the maid of honor. He’s the best man. We should be partners.

“It’s fine,” I whisper back. “I talked to him, and he didn’t actually leave.”

---