Page 70 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Harrison is the first one to speak to me, though.

“Ford!”

“Hey.”

“How’s Raw?”

“Fine.” I haven’t looked away from Ivy. “We have plenty of olives.”

“O-k-a-y,” Harrison says slowly. Then he turns to the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of wine. He pours a glass and brings it to me. “You need to relax,” he tells me in a low voice.

“Do I?”

“Yes. The woman you’re in love with is right there. That’s agoodthing. Relax.” He presses the glass into my hand.

I tip it back, gulping half of it down in one drink.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah. Just like that. I said relax, not get drunk.”

I blow out a breath and step past him to walk the rest of the way into the kitchen.

I face Ivy across the wide marble-topped center island.

And Liam. He’s right there, beside her. He’s a part of this. He’s her boyfriend. Apparently. Okay, then. Let’s see why they’re here.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi.”

Her voice sayingoneword punches me in the gut.

I’ve missed her. It hasn’t even been forty-eight hours, but I’ve missed her so fucking much. I know it’s not the actual time we’ve been apart, but the fact that I’ve felt like I’ve lost her.

I’ve felt it before. The times I’ve left her behind with Brad. But this is so much worse. Because for a while I thought she could be mine. For a brief while, shewasmine. For those hot, amazing moments in my bed two nights ago.

“Are you together?” I ask.

She wets her lips, then nods. “Yes.”

“Together?” I press.

“Yes. We’re having sex,” she says.

“And we’re in love,” Liam interjects.

She nods. “Right. Yes, of course.” She looks from him to me, then to Harrison. “We’re in love. And having sex.”

I really didn’t need to have that repeated. “So why are you here?” I ask. Bluntly. But this is a blunt sort of situation.

She takes a deep breath. Then Liam nudges her forward. She rounds the island and stops directly in front of me. “We’re here because I want you too.”

“And I want Harrison,” Liam says.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Harrison straighten. His gaze is locked on Liam.

“What?” Harrison’s voice is gruff.

My best friend is charming, funny, and usually articulate.

---