Page 106 of My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

No.No, he wasn’t.

Because Andrew had just declared his feelings for her.In front of a church full of people.People who were here to see him marry someone else.

And Josh thought she would choose Andrew.

Her chest hurt as she thought about that.She hadn’t told Josh how she felt about him.She hadn’t floated the idea of her moving to Louisiana.She hadn’t let him in on all of those thoughts because they seemed crazy and too fast and too spontaneous.She’d convinced herself—with some help from Andrew—that she was overreacting.

Maybe she had been.Maybe he didn’t feel the same way.Maybe this whole scene had convinced him he was in overhishead with this pretend-boyfriend-wedding-date thing and had gotten the hell out of here before everything went nuts.

More nuts.

Or maybe he was trying to be chivalrous.Maybe he thought ducking out and giving her the chance to really be with Andrew if that was what she wanted was the right thing to do.

Heck, she’d chosen Andrew over Josh before.More than once.She’d stopped Josh from carrying her straight up to her room two nights ago because Andrew had been concerned.She’d come back to the plantation because of Andrew yesterday rather than going out on the town with Josh and his family.

Josh didn’t know that she’d been ignoring Andrew’s calls and attempts to get her alone to talk.He didn’t know that in her heart she’d definitely chosenhimalready.

He didn’t know that right now, here, in front of everyone, that she’d declared her feelings for him.

Because he wasn’t here.

Damn, this was even worse than cupcakes and pig poop in the high school hallway.

A lot worse.

“You justleft?”

Ellie was staring at him like she’d never seen him before.

“What the hell, boy?”Leo added.“You just walked out?Without saying anything to her?”

“Andrew is herbest friend,” Owen said, jumping to Josh’s defense.“He’s been taking care of her all their lives.At her father’s request, by the way.He knows her.He’s been there for her.And now he stood up in front of everyone, including his parents, andGod, and said that he loved her and wanted to be with her.He called off hisweddingfor her.”Owen paused and looked up and down the bar.“Josh couldn’t just storm up the aisle and say ‘me too.’That’s weak.He needs something better than that.”

Josh clapped his cousin on the back.“Thanks, man.”

Owen had summed it up pretty well.Actually, almost word for word what Josh had said to him when he’d slammed into the office, his tie hanging loose, his heart pounding, a tiny kitten tucked inside his suit jacket.

“I think you’re an idiot,” their grandmother informed Josh.

Josh had expected that reaction from her.But for just a second—and certainly not for the first time in his life—he wondered what it was like to have a sweet grandmother who baked cookies and knitted socks.

“I need something more.Something huge,” Josh said.He frowned at his family and friends.“Come on.You all are supposed to be the experts here.I need a plan.Agoodplan.Abigplan.”

Could he have stomped up the aisle?Sure.Could he have shoutedI love you, Torifrom the back of the church?Of course.But…dammit…Andrew had done the in-front-of-God-and-everyone thing.Josh had to top that.He felt more for her than Andrew did.Josh was absolutely positive.So that meant that Josh had to do more to show her.

Yes, he’d left.He’d heard what Andrew said, saw Tori’s shocked expression, flashed back to her agreeing to go back to the plantation with Andrew rather than out with him, and he’d decided that he’d never wanted to one-up another man as much as he wanted to outdo Andrew.

Tori deserved to have two men fighting over her, trying to win her over, making asses of themselves.

Andrew had done his part.

Now it was Josh’s turn.

No pressure.

Thinking hard, Josh stroked the head of the kitten who, surprisingly, didn’t seem upset about being in a bar or surrounded by strangers.After taking a stool, Josh had pulled her out of his jacket, set her on top of the bar, Ellie had brought her some finely chopped fish, and the kitten settled right in.Now she was sleeping in the crook of Josh’s arm.

Taking a detour past the barn to get her had been purely spontaneous.But last night Tori had said they were definitely old enough to leave their mother and…hell, he’d wanted a souvenir, he supposed.And no, Mardi Gras beads or even her panties, which were still in the pocket of his jeans, weren’t enough.He’d needed something more.Something uniquely Tori.Somethingalive, warm, loving.Just like her.

---