Page 15 of The Love Wager

I can’t help but think back to when I spotted her and Taylor at Duke’s Diner down the street. Her awkward wave and warm grin were a stark contrast to how she acted toward me last night in the truck when she stared out the window and didn’t utter a fucking word.

I was ready for a full-on assault. She seems to have diarrhea of the mouth. Then, nothing. Radio silence. I don’t know why it pissed me off so badly that she froze me out, but even thinking about it now has my temper rising.

“No,” I snap back, letting my eyes wander back toward the redhead, who is right in front of the window like she knows I cansee her, her head tossed back in an enormous laugh that I bet fills the entire shop.

“Oh, you’re a fucking liar!” Nick shakes his head, his shit-eating grin growing larger on his face.

“Am not!”

“And now you sound like a five-year-old,” he accuses.

I grumble under my breath as I stalk to the bar and snatch up my truck keys. “I have to go get fitted for my tux rental,” I tell him as an excuse to escape, even though I have hours until I meet Spencer for the fitting.

“Sure you do. Hey, why not say hi to Indie while you’re at it? Seeing as she’s just across the street and all.”

“Smooth,” I say dryly.

He shrugs.

“I’ll be back around nine. Spencer mentioned grabbing a bite afterward. You’re sure you’re alright opening the bar?”

He rolls his eyes. “Of course I am. Go! Have fun! Be a normal adult, for once. And for fuck’s sake, turn your hat around or take it off.”

I reach up absently, shifting my hat on my head but not bothering to turn it around.

I nearly make it to my truck before the laugh that’ll haunt my fucking dreams, and nightmares filters out into the street as the door to the dress shop opens and bridesmaids barrel out in a gaggle.

“Brooksie! Twice in one day, aren’t we special,” Taylor jokes, elbowing Indie as they share an awkward smile. Indie clears her throat and tips her lips up in a forced smile.

“We are,” Indie agrees, her voice very sing-song, and my gut churns as if alarming me to something I can’t quite figure out.

“How’d the fitting go?” I ask, trying to benormal,as Nick called it.

“Great! Everything’s set to go, and there were no mishaps,” one of the girls says, and Indie and Taylor gasp, their eyes swinging toward the girl in horror and shock.

“Take it back right fucking now! Knock on wood!” Taylor commands, and the poor girl looks panicked before she practically rushes around on the side of the street, looking for anything wood.

I sigh, moving to the back of my truck and waving her over to the wooden tailgate I added after Butch crashed his drunk ass over his motorcycle and into my tailgate last October.

He’s lucky he’s alive, though; I think it knocked something loose in his brain.

The frantic bridesmaid rushes over, knocking on the tailgate before finally taking a deep breath and looking back at Indie and Taylor. “Sorry, guys,” she offers.

My eyes wander over to where Nick is still occupying the window, shooing me with his hands toward Indie.

She spots him, and her smile turns genuine as she waves. Nick’s eyes widen at being caught before he returns the gesture.

“So, what’s next on the agenda of fun-filled activities?” I ask Taylor, and she looks between Indie and me and clears her throat.

“Actually, I have somewhere I need to be, so I’ll be going.” Before even saying goodbye, she wanders off, but not before winking at Indie.

I can’t help but feel I’ve stepped right into the middle of something between them, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.

“There’s nothing else on for today. Unless Taylor jam-packs the schedule while I’m not looking,” Indie tells me, rocking back and forth on her heels.

I’m a brood, and every bit of my attitude proving that fact had come out last night, and it seems she’s now uncomfortable in my presence.

“Hey, listen, about last night,” I start, thinking she’ll stop me and tell me all is forgiven.

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