Page 36 of You're All I Need

Caden feigns shock. “What? My writing is perfectly legible.”

Jack snorts as our server, Marla, approaches. “Hey, guys. What can I get you to drink?”

“Ice water,” I order.

“Coke, please.”

“I’ll give ya a minute to look over the menu. Jasper does have a new daily special today, I’d Smash That. It’s two smashed patties with a slice of melted Colby Jack cheese, topped with grilled onions, fresh pickles, and Jasper’s homemade smash sauce,” she says, placing four sets of silverware on the table.

“Something tells me I don’t want to know what Jasper’s smash sauce consists of,” Caden states, making us all chuckle.

“You’re not the first person to say that today,” she replies with a laugh. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

“Despite the nasty innuendo, I think I’ll have that,” Jacks states, putting the menu he had just retrieved back in the condiment holder in the middle of our table.

“Agreed,” I reply.

When Marla returns with our drinks, we decide to wait for Glenn to place our order. Fortunately, our appetizer platter of fried onion rings, mushrooms, cheese sticks, and jalapeño poppers arrives, so we dive in while we wait.

“So, do I want to know what you decided with the wedding?” Jack asks Caden, a worried look etched on his face.

“I already promised Gram I’d go, and Adrienne agreed to be my date to help keep the peace.”

It’s the first time it’s been brought up since I left the school yesterday after agreeing to go with him, and even though I could very well be walking into the lion’s den of family drama, I’m a little excited to go. I love a good wedding, even if the apparent bride was once engaged to my date.

Jack glances my way before returning his gaze to Caden. “I get that, but I still don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean, it’s not just Dawn there. You’ll have to deal with Tyler too.”

“At least there’ll be alcohol,” Caden replies with a toothy grin.

Jack leans back in his chair and shakes his head. “Shit, I’ll have the bail money.”

Caden barks out a laugh. “Come on, man. You know this face gets me out of trouble.” He waves his hand in front of him and throws a cat that ate the canary grin.

“Your modesty is showing, Caden,” I tease with my own grin.

Glenn arrives and joins us, sparking Marla to make another stop at our table. “Hi, Glenn. Whatcha drinking?”

“Just water for me, Marla. Thanks.”

“I’ll grab that and then take your orders,” she replies before disappearing again for a few minutes.

The guys instantly jump into work talk, leaving me to my own thoughts. I picked up enough pieces to realize the bridewas once engaged to Caden—something I still have a hard time wrapping my head around, considering how relationship-phobic he is. But at least I know why. There’s someone involved named Tyler, who I’m going to assume is related to Caden somehow, since it’s a family wedding and all. This might not be a good wedding after all. It might be a drama-filled day full of tension and bad blood.

But I can’t back out now. Caden might not need me to go, but I want to. I don’t know if we’re considered friends or not, but we’re definitely on friendly terms, so if he needs someone to help for whatever reason, I’ll do it. I should probably ask him for those details before I walk into the wedding. At least a heads-up before I step on a hornet’s nest.

Our food arrives a few minutes later, and we all dive in. The smash burger special is amazing, the sauce perfect. I don’t know what’s in it, and there’s no way Jasper will share his secret, but I hope they feature it again. Or add it to the menu. And the best part, I work tonight starting at four, so as long as they keep it on the menu all day, I’ll be able to enjoy it for dinner too.

“You working tonight?” Marla asks me as she stops by with drink refills.

“I am,” I confirm.

“Should be a busy night. There’s both a boys baseball and girls softball game at the school. We always get hit before and after.”

“Good. That’ll help make the night go quicker.”

“You’re working with Jasper tonight. I heard one of Numbers’ kids is sick, so he swapped.”

I shrug. I’ve heard all about how grumpy Jasper is, but I’ve never had any issues with him. He keeps to the kitchen most of the night, checking on me at the bar occasionally. Plus, I know if I need something, I can holler at him, and when it comes time to start closing down the bar, he always jumps right in, usuallycompleting tasks before I get a chance. “Makes no difference to me.”

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