Page 124 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Ivy looks at him again, and she immediately looks like she’s going to cry. But she nods. “Yes,” she says quietly. “I love it here. And this business idea feelsright.”

“And Ford and Harrison?” Liam asks. “They’re part of you staying?”

She nods. “Yes.” She steps toward him. “I just don’t think there’s anything for me in L.A. anymore.”

Liam just stands there, looking like she slapped him.

“Ivy,” I say quietly.

It takes a second, but she realizes how that sounded. She reaches for Liam. “Liam, I didn’t mean…” But she trails off when he pulls away from her.

“Wow, I see what you mean,” Harrison says to her. “Now I’m kind of pissed atyoufor hurting him like that. That’s not cool.”

“Jesus, shut up, Harrison,” I mutter.

“I’m just saying that fighting is bonkers with four of us,” he says. “I’m annoyed with all of you, but I don’t want any of you hurting the others.”

Yeah, I get it.

“Fuck, Liam,” Harrison says, coming around the counter. “Just quit your job. You don’t need it. Stay here with us. We need to be together. I’ll give you double your current salary.”

And just when I thought Harrison couldn’t make it worse. I sigh.

Liam straightens. “For what?” he asks, his voice ominously quiet.

“What do you mean?” Harrison asks.

“What would you give me double my current salary for? What would I do?”

Harrison shrugs. “Nothing. Anything. Whatever you want.”

My friend means well. He really does. He loves Liam and wants to make all of his problems go away. That’s all this is. But…Harrison’s kind of an idiot. An idiot who doesn’t have an artistic creative side. An idiot who has never had to worry about money for longer than it takes him to remember where he put his platinum card. An idiot who truly thinks that money can take care of any problem. Because it always has for him.

Until now.

“What I want,” Liam says carefully. “Is to be a lead writer onMy Fellow Aliens!” His voice rises as he continues. “To get the show renewed! To win Best Writer!”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me? I love you!” Harrison shouts back at him. “And you’re worried about money and awards? That’s more important to you? Seriously?”

Ivy gasps. “Harrison! It’s not just money and awards to him. You know him better than that! This is his passion! He’s proud of it andso fuckinggoodat it. That show is huge, and it’s what it is, in large part, because of Liam. Theyneedhim and he lovesit. Just because you don’t have any truepassionfor anything, doesn’t mean you can demean what Liam does!”

“Whoa,” Liam says, frowning at Ivy. “I wouldn’t say Harrison doesn’t haveanypassion for anything. He loves his family and this town and the people who are important to him so much. He’s passionate about them being happy and provided for and supported. That’s what he does every single minute of every day. It’s why he offered me money.”

Ivy stares at Liam. “Are youdefendinghim to me while I’m defending youto him?”

Liam looks from her to Harrison, then back to her. “Maybe. Yes. I guess. I don’t like when you two fight.”

This is what the rest of my life looks like, I realize as I watch them argue and change sides and yell at and then protect one another.

These three are going to drive me to an early grave.

I’m here for it all.

I step forward and use my ‘dad voice’. I didn’t even know I had one of those, but that is definitely what comes out when I say, “Okay,enough.”

They all turn to look at me with wide eyes.

“Ivy, they’re…”

---