Page 31 of The Love Wager

“Well, aren’t you two cozy?” My best friend eyes us knowingly.

By the time I made it to the spa, after running back to the hotel to shower and grab fresh clothes, Taylor was furious with me. The earful I got took the entirety of my manicure, but when I explained what happened, she pulled the sordid details out of me while we enjoyed the deluxe spa pedicures.

“Taylor.” Brooks greets her, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

“You and Spencer look great out there. You’ll do amazing on the day,” I compliment, hoping she keeps the conversationwedding-focused and stops staring at us with our own wedding bells in her eyes.

“I know, right!” She leans in close. “He’s been taking classes twice a week with Ms. Daisy to make sure he doesn’t mess up when we’re out in front of everyone,” she whispers, the awe in her eyes shining bright.

“That’s adorable,” I tell her, but Brooks chokes down a laugh, and I nudge him in the ribs.

“Anyway. I came over here because I need to ask you two a huge favor.”

“Anything, you know that,” I answer before Brooks can throw out his two cents. I’m only here this week for her, so anything she needs, I’ll do it.

“I need you to drive over to Gatesville and pick up the bonbonnieres for the wedding. The girl who made them was supposed to deliver them to the venue, but something happened to her delivery van, and now she can’t make it,” Taylor says in a rush.

“Of course, we can go get them.”

“Gatesville is a three-hour drive round trip. I have a bar to open,” Brooks protests.

“Nick and Travis can cover the bar,” Taylor tells him as if it’s her business to dictate.

“It’s fine, Tay. I can go by myself. I have the rental.”

“You can’t drive that far alone when you don’t know where you’re going. There’s nothing between here and Gatesville besides empty highway and farmland. What if you break down?” she pushes.

I stare down my best friend, her ploy becoming obvious the more she tries to drive the point home. “Tay. The man has a business to run.”

“It’s fine,” Brooks interrupts, “I’ll take her.”

“You will?” Taylor and I say in unison, with very different questioning tones.

“Yeah.” He laughs. “Like you said, Nick and Travis can handle the bar. Plus, I would hate for anything to happen to Indie out there on the open road,” he adds with a flirtatious smile.

“Yay! Thank you, guys, so much. I’ll send you her address and let her know you’re on your way.” Taylor wraps me in a tight hug, whispering a quick “You’re welcome” in my ear.

“What the hell just happened?” Brooks asks.

“That, my waltzing friend, is the sorcery of a bride in her element.” My phone dings in my pocket, and I pat Brooks on the chest.

He watches her make her way back over to her waiting fiancé, who’s currently waltzing in posture by himself.

A text from Taylor’s already waiting with the person’s address and more emoji thumbs-ups than necessary. “Looks like that’s our queue, big guy. You ready to hit the road?”

He shakes his head as if trying to clear the magical haze from his brain. “Yeah, let’s go. But I have one question. What the hell are bonbonnieres?”

Taylor was right. There’s nothing along the route to Gatesville once we pass the city line. I offered to drive and take my rental, which undoubtedly gets better gas mileage than Brooks’ ancient relic. Still, he insisted on driving and therefore required we take his truck. I’ll admit, I can’t imagine his hulking frame fitting comfortably in the car anyway, but that means we’re stuck with a staticky radio that only picks up a tune every other mile.

The air between us hangs heavy with an awkward anticipation for one of us to fill it, but neither of us does. After a half hour of stilted silence, I heave out a loud sigh and turn the music dial off.

“Why are you being weird?” I finally throw out because I can’t take it anymore.

“You’re being weird. I didn’t think you knew how to be this quiet. You haven’t made a peep over there.”

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see them.

I know how to be quiet.

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