Page 38 of The Love Wager

“Okay, we can go now.”

Brooks’ eyes darken, focusing on the hem hiking high on my thighs. “If we weren’t rudely interrupted, I’d fuck you bent over the counter until your hips were bruised.”

“He’s your friend,” I tease, opening the door.

A man I vaguely recognize from the bar waits across the hall, arms tucked against his chest. His eyes roam up and down my body twice before he shakes his head. He seems a little unsteady on his feet, a sign of one too many beers, which makes sense from his incessant interruption.

A growl rumbles from behind me.

“No need to piss on her. I can tell you’ve already staked your claim,” he slurs.

“Travis, that’s enough,” Brooks bites out.

“Whatever, man. I came to find you to tell you I’m leaving.”

Brooks steps around me, catching Travis on the shoulder. “You can’t drive like this. Let me take you home.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt.” Travis tries to push Brooks off, but he’s not having it.

“A little late for that,” I whisper under my breath, but obviously not quiet enough because Brooks catches my eyes over his shoulder. They plead with me not to be my regular sassy self.

I draw in a deep breath and walk past the two of them down the hall toward Taylor’s room. “Night, boys,” I call back, removing myself from the equation so Brooks can help his friend.

The wedding’s tomorrow. This week’s gone by way too fast. I’m not ready to leave Georgia and say goodbye to Taylor. But if I’m fully honest with myself, there’s also a grumpy, six-foot-something waltzing bartender who’s making the thought of getting on a plane even harder.

How does that happen in just a few days?

I have two days left to spend with him. Taylor’s little bet worked precisely how she wanted. I gave him the time to get inside my head, to get close, instead of keeping to my usual M.O.—and look where it’s gotten me. I suppose it bodes well for the bet, and that’s what we both want in the end. But what was Taylor expecting to happen? I’m not about to give up my life in California. My company’s there, my friends… well, the couple acquaintances I have. I can’t just pick up and move to Georgia, and he’s too tied to this town to leave. I couldn’t imagine him out in the city with all the influencers eating their avocado toast while chugging back a thirty-dollar health juice. No, a week was all we were ever going to have, but I plan to take full advantage of the time we have left.

“There you are!” Taylor shouts when she spots me across the garden behind her family home.

“Here I am,” I announce, tying the last tulle bow in my basket around the gazebo railing. The entire thing is covered in tulle, and tomorrow, someone will weave fresh flowers into the look, creating a picturesque scene. It will set the perfect backdrop for photos after the ceremony.

When I spin in her direction, her tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes take me by surprise.

“Oh my God, Tay! Are you okay?” I rush to close the distance between us.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You’re not answering your phone,” Taylor gasps.

“I’m sorry, it must be on silent. I’ve been here for two hours, working all over the grounds, trying to perfect everything for your big day. Where haveyoubeen? What’s going on?” I throw back at her.

“That’s why I’ve been looking for you. There’s an emergency.”

“A sophomore year finals emergency or a senior year toga party emergency?”

“Toga emergency, times ten. Come on.”

She snatches the empty basket from my hand and pulls me back toward the house. The ground floor is packed full of people bustling about, doing the same thing I’ve been doing all morning, trying to get all the last-minute details in place. For a family with more money than God, they decided to handle a lot of things themselves.

When she pushes open her bedroom door, her mom and aunt are already in the room bent over something on the bed. I make my way past them to see what it is they’re picking at.

“Awe, that’s cute. You had a matching dress made for the flower girl.”

A howl of despair startles me and I drop the small dress back to the bed. Taking in the anguish on Taylor’s face, I’m starting to detect I’m missing something here.

“That’s my wedding dress.” She sobs.

My eyes flick back and forth between my best friend and the dress on the bed. This is way worse than the toga malfunction.

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