Page 36 of Marry Your Best Friend

She instantly shakes her head. “No, I’m fine to drive. I’ll meet you over there.”

I want to argue with her. Hell, I don’t want to let her out of my sight, but I’ve already upset her enough. “Okay, well, I’ll be right behind you, and I’ll see you there, okay?”

She sniffs and nods again, and I open her car door for her. I help her in, put her seatbelt on and then kiss her cheek. “Be safe. See you in a few.”

“You too,” she says, and I close the door. I watch as she drives off and I’m completely unsettled. Did I completely fuck up? I thought the other night was perfect, but she obviously doesn’t see it that way. If I've messed up our friendship and gone about all this the wrong way, I’ll regret it until my dying day because I can’t lose Chrissy… I can’t lose my best friend.

17

CHRISSY

Cat reaches for my hand. “Talk to me. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her for the third time. I give her a big smile, thinking that’s going to convince her, but I should realize by now she’s not falling for it.

She squeezes my hand. “I don’t believe you. And I know everyone is grieving for Ledger, but it’s more than that.”

When I don’t answer her, she leans toward me. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

I force a smile. “I know I can.” I look around the Whistler. “I thought we were coming for the five dollar appetizers.”

Right at that moment, Malcolm comes overwith a tray of food. “I’ve got fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, nachos, chips and spinach dip, and naked chicken wings.”

My eyes widen at all the food. “Dang, Cat, is all this for us?”

She laughs. “I have a grown man and teenage boy at home that will happily eat whatever we don’t.”

I nod and try not to let my jealousy show. I’m so happy that Holden and Cat found each other. I remind them every chance I get that I played a big part in them getting together since I am the one that asked Cat to be Holden’s physical therapist when he hurt his shoulder. They are so happy together, and Cat’s son, Cole, is a perfect fit for our family.

We both dig into our food, and for a second, I think she’s going to forget she’s worried about me, but I should know better.

She takes a bite of the mozzarella stick, stretching the cheese with a laugh. She’s smiling as she chews, and then she laughs at me. “Spill it, Chrissy.”

I shrug as I take a bite of the chicken. I make a big to-do of chewing and swallowing it. “I’m okay. Really. I mean everything with Ledger andknowing I’ll never see him again and then work is crazy and I’m worried about all my brothers. It’s just… a lot.”

“And?” she asks.

I grab a fried pickle, dip it into the ranch, and pop it into my mouth. “Isn’t that enough?”

“Well, after the funeral when everyone was at our house for dinner…” She lets her voice trail off.

“What? Just say it.”

She scrunches up her nose. “It’s just… I don’t know… you and Gabe seemed off. I don’t know, are you two okay?”

I dip a chip into the spinach dip and eat it as if I’ve never eaten before. “Wow. This is good. Did you try this?”

She gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, I’ve had the spinach dip here at least ten times, Chrissy. If you don’t want to answer me, just tell me it’s none of my business.”

I stare at her, and she waves her hand between us. “Forget it. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

I shrug my shoulders. “What are you talking about?”

“You and Gabe.”

Like a fish, I open my mouth and close it. “Uh, whatabout him?”

I swear she rolls her head as hard as she rolls her eyes. “Oh, I dunno. The fact he loves you.”

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