Page 16 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Ford uses that as a reason to walk past me and go to stand in front of her with Liam.

I’ve never seen my friend like this about a woman. Ford gets plenty of attention from the female variety. Sometimes male too, but he doesn’t care about that. Ford dates. He’s very romantic. He’s a great guy. He takes care of everyone around him. But I’ve never seen him actually enamored with any of the women he’s dated. It’s like none of them have really fit before.

But I remember the night he met Ivy. And how he reacted after he realized he shouldn’t pursue her.

I also remember the night he found out that Brad was dating her. I don’t think Ford has been that drunk since college.

He has tried to drink her out of his system, work her out of his system, fuck her out of his system with other women. And none of it has worked. He tries to hide it, but every time we are around her, even when it’s with Brad, I can tell it kills Ford a little.

And now she’s single.

And in need.

This is Ford’s fucking kryptonite.

He is in so much trouble.

I study her now as Liam and Ford flip through the pages of the agreement Brad left for her.

She really is beautiful. I’ve always thought so, of course. And she is funny, and sweet, and has this elegant sophistication about her that I find fascinating. She has amazing taste in everything, but it seems second nature. Even now, hung over, fresh out of the shower, she’s wearing an outfit that is clearly supposed to be for lounging, but is made of expensive material and is matched and perfectly fitted to her trim frame. Her hair is pulled into a loose but stylish French braid that hangs over one shoulder, and even without makeup and hungover her skin is glowing.

She carries herself with an easy, confident air, and is always composed. In fact, yesterday at the wedding was the first time I’veeverseen her anything but totally put together. And yet, even with all of that, she makes everyone around her feel at ease.

I am amazing at working a room full of people. I’m not at all intimidated by power, status, or wealth. But my charm is more exuberant. I’ve seen Ivy do the same thing I do—mingle, and charm, and convince everyone around her that she's right about whatever she’s saying—but with a soft, sophisticated ease.

Studying her now, I think about that and the fact that the two of us together could probably run the United Nations easily and peacefully.

“I don’t want this fucking house!” she exclaims.

I have to grin. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Ivy say the word fucking. That’s not only amusing but it makes it more impactful honestly.

“You’ll sell it,” Ford says, his tone calm and confident.

Of course I would’ve never asked Ivy out. When I met her, Ford was already enamored—that took about five minutes—then Brad was dating her and then engaged to her. And then there’s Liam.

I study the guy again while he’s unaware.

Ivy and Liam are best friends. I never would’ve met him if it wasn’t for Ivy. He had been invited to the same party because of her. Ford and I were there because of Brad. It was some celebration for their show getting picked up for the second season.

Yes, I find Ivy absolutely attractive and I love dating women, too. But once I met Liam, he was my focus that night.

“How am I going to sell a house in South Carolina?“ Ivy asks Ford.

“Well, it probably would be best if you went to Honeysuckle Harbor,” he says.

Ivy sighs and looks like she might cry for a moment.

Liam reaches out and takes her hand. “You were going to make that trip anyway. Just go. Sell the house. Then you can come back here. You know you can stay with me as long as you need to.”

She gives a short little laugh. “I love you, but your apartment is not exactly…”

“Sleep on the street then,” Liam says with a shrug.

But Ivy is giving him a very affectionate smile. “Thank you.” She lifts a hand and rubs it over her forehead. “I guess I’m driving to South Carolina.”

I frown, but Ford says what I’m thinking before I can.

“You’redrivingto South Carolina?”

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