Page 58 of My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

He was.New.Exciting.Fun.Different.Tori gave him a smile and took his face between her hands.“All the more reason for you to believe me when I say that Andrew was just trying to let me down easy.”

“Let you down?”

“He was starting to believe some of the stuff Paisley is worried about.About me wanting him and trying to break them up,” Tori said.“He wanted me to know that he cares about me but notthat way.”

“So he believed the kiss too?”Josh asked.

She shrugged.“I don’t think he did at first, but then Paisley wouldn’t shut up about it.So he felt the need to talk to me about it.”

“What did he say?”

“That the kiss was amazing and that he always thought he wanted to end up with a girl like me—not me, of course, but someonelikeme.Someone from back home.He’d always envisioned himself living and working in Iowa.But then Paisley came along and changed everything.”

Josh was frowning up at her now.“He said the kiss was amazing?”

“Yeah.”She had to admit, even if she hadn’t meant to kisshim, it was always nice to be told you were a good kisser.

“And he said he’d always wanted to end up with a girl like you, but not you?”

“Well, he didn’t say not me.That was implied.”

“So he said he’d always thought he wanted to end up with a girl like you.Period.He didn’t qualify it?”

Tori gave Josh a look.“He didn’t mean me.”

“You’re sure?”

“Josh, Andrew has had every opportunity to be with me if he wanted to be.And he’s never said or done anything about it.”

“He’s had every opportunity?What’s that mean?”

She winced.She hadn’t really wanted to confess all of this.But hey, Josh knew about her crazy menagerie and that everyone at the wedding disliked her, and he was still here.

“Well, we’ve been friends forever.Spent a lot of time alone.But the only kiss was one New Year’s Eve.”

“And one in eighth grade,” Josh said.

“You’ve been keeping track.”She felt a little flutter in her stomach.

He gave her a single nod.

“Well, then…” She blushed in spite of herself.“I wrote him a letter when we graduated, basically suggesting that if we both were still single when we turned thirty, we should just get married to each other.”

Tori felt Josh’s fingers dig into her hips again, a little firmer this time.“What did he say?”

“He…let me down easy that time too.Said that our friendship meant a lot to him and he wanted to be my friend forever, and that he knew he’d end up with someone like me but he didn’t thinkweshould get married.”

“So you don’t think he could have feelings for you now?”Josh asked.

She laughed.“No.Not only has he never before, but clearly he’s actually ended up with someone verynotlike me.”

Josh didn’t look convinced.“I talked to Paisley while you were talking to Andrew.You should be aware that she thinks Andrew is getting nervous about how different his life is going to be now and that you represent…comfort and home.”

Tori thought about that.“Well, that makes sense.But he’s approaching the biggest day of his life.It’s natural to think about all of that.It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Or maybe the kiss at the bar made him realize he’s attracted to you after all and it’s got him thinking,” Josh said.

For a second, she flashed back to the bar and the kiss with Andrew.He had kissed her back.And he’d known who she was.Yes, she’d surprised him with the kiss, and possibly his reaction could be chalked up to instinct.When someone kissed you, you just automatically kissed back.But she immediately knew that wasn’t right.If someone suddenly kissed her without her expecting it, she was certain her instinct would be to push them away.She frowned.“Well, maybe there was a second or two where he realized I’m not gross or something,” she said.

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