Page 61 of Just One of the Groomsmen
“Dude, wejustgot things back to normal,” Easton said, not bothering to hide the fact that he didn’t like the idea, and when it came to this kind of thing, he’d be the most sensible one in the group. “I swear to God, if you screw up poker night—”
“Believe me, I know it’s a bad idea. Especially right now. We’re dealing with all this extra wedding drama, and I’m currently unemployed and living on a houseboat, for hell’s sake. She’s one of my best friends, and has been ever since I can remember. I hardly have a childhood memory that doesn’t include her.”
He’d told himself every single one of those things while trying to talk himself out of crossing lines, and saying them out loud made them feel even more overwhelming. His gut sank, and pressure squeezed at his lungs.
Crossing lines with Addie could screw up everything. Amongallof them. “The high potential for disaster is definitely there, and yet…”
We might be great together.
That “might” messed with his head but didn’t faze the shaky self-control problem he’d been dealing with lately.
“Does she know?” Easton asked.
“No. I overheard her talking to Lexi about how all of us are like her brothers, and then she makes that overprotective comment.” He checked to make sure no one else was in earshot, and then leaned closer, because the entire town had big ears. “I’m not just friend zoned. I’m brother zoned. I’m Luke Fucking Skywalker.”
Easton barked out a laugh, nearly choking on his swig of beer.
“It’s not funny!”
“It’s a little funny,” Easton said.
Tucker sagged back onto a barstool and ran his fingers over his forehead. “It’s also slowly driving me insane.” He set his cool water glass on his thigh. “And I seriously want to kill the dentist. I manage to piss her off every time I mention the guy, but I can’t stop. Jealousy like I’ve never felt before takes over, and it’s like I can’t be rational about it.”
“The good news is, the dentist is no Han Solo, and he sure as shit can’t handle her.” Easton tipped his beer at Tucker. “I’m not sure you can, either.”
“Believe me, I know.”
But a big part of him wanted to try.
He’d have to strap in, but it’d be one helluva ride while it lasted.
The “while it lasted” made him hesitate once again, because what if they crashed? What would happen afterward?
Would he be the guy who came back to ruin decades of friendships because he was selfish?
Easton looked toward the table where the rest of their friends sat, smiled at whatever tall tale Ford was spinning that required huge arm motions, and then turned back to Tucker. “You know I love you like a brother—”
“Thanks for using those exact words, jackass,” Tucker said, knowing he’d done it on purpose.
“Welcome, dickwad. All’s I’m saying is that I’m not gonna stand here and tell you that you can’t cross that line, and I’m sure as hell not telling you it’s a good idea. I am going to say that if things get messed up and she gets hurt, you’ll have to deal with me, Ford, and Shep, just like any other guy would.”
“I’d expect nothing less. I’m glad you guys have her back, actually.”
He meant it, too.
Knowing she had extra protection took an odd weight off the center of his chest. He wasn’t sure if it pushed him more toward ignoring the way his body buzzed around her, or toward taking a big-ass risk, jumping in, and seeing what happened.
Easton nodded. “Good. Let’s go join our friends, then.”
Anxious energy coursed through Tucker as they headed across the bar, and two steps before they reached the table, Easton clapped him extra hard on the back, and whispered, “May the Force be with you.”
Was that supposed to encourage or discourage?
He became that much more determined to take control of the situation, even though he still wasn’t sure which way to steer it. Regardless, he needed to check off a to-do item, and he planned on killing two birds with one stone and taking Addie along for the ride.
“Addie and I have to go,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.
She gave him a scrunched, distrustful expression. It stung, but he supposed he deserved it.
