Page 23 of The Chances We Take

Colter

What do we need to do, captain?

playlist for the dj? seating for the reception? pairings for bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Ells

How about you and Reid work on finding songs for a playlist and Colter and I will start on seating for the reception?

wait…

Ells

Okay, byeee

*Ells removed Colter from the chat*

*Ells left the chat*

What the hell?

Reid

At least they gave us something easy?

I rolled my eyes and huffed out a breath.Did they seriously digitally parent trap us?

let me just call you. it’ll be easier to do over the phone than text

I sighed, exiting my messages to open up my FaceTime app and click theFavoritestab. Reid’s name was number four on the list, under my mom, Amelia, and Ellison.

He answered on the first ring, a goofy grin plastered on his face. “Hey, Short Stack.”

CHAPTER TEN

reid

Ianswered Isa’s FaceTime call, unable to help the grin pulling at my cheeks.

She looked annoyed with Ellison and Colter’s clear tactic to get us alone, even if it was just digitally.

“Hey, Short Stack.”

“Hi, Cowboy. Let’s get this done. Quick and easy,” she rambled, picking at her split ends then looking at things past her phone’s camera, doing whatever she could to avoid eye contact. I didn’t know why she was acting nervous, but then again, my heart beat faster than it normally did whenever I was around her.

I didn’t mute the group chat Mikey had made, and texts were still popping up on my screen. The last one I saw was from Mikey—something about why we should goall outfor Colter’s bachelor party. He was still set on going to the strip club, for some reason. It wasn’t even Mikey’s party. If he ever settled down—and that was a big if—we could talk about it then.

I thought he would have outgrown his playboy ways in the last two years; after all, he was thirty now. But no, hewas still the same Mikey he’d always been. One of us had ought to find him a stable relationship. Or at least help himattemptto settle down. But it would take a strong-willed woman to put up with Mikey. Even more strong-willed than Ellison.

“Are there any songs you know for certain Ellisonwouldn’twant?” I asked. I knew from helping Colter and Sophie that generally the DJ asked for a list of songsnot to play.

“Oh, I can name a whole list of them, but that would take all day. I’ll let her handle the do-not-play list, and if a song I know she doesn’t want comes up, I’ll say something.” She did the thing she always did where she tossed her hair over her shoulder. Every time, though, tendrils would fall back into her face again. “Where do you get your music?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, a music streaming app?” She raised an eyebrow before groaning. “No, wait. Don’t tell me you listen to CDs.”

“Of course not. I use my Walkman.” I rolled my eyes.

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