Page 66 of Just One of the Groomsmen
“Ten minutes isn’t enough to thoroughly test for leaks.”
Her lungs squeezed, forgetting how to take in oxygen for a second or two. “How comforting.”
He laughed, and she wanted to toss something at his head, regardless of the way the deep sound echoed through her chest.
He killed the engine, leaving only the sound of the lapping water, some noisy crickets, and the rapid hammering of her heart.
The boat rocked as Tucker stepped toward the back, bent down, and flipped open a side compartment. He pulled out two fishing poles and extended one to her.
“Dude,” she said. “In case you don’t remember,Iwon the bet. This is having your cake and eating it, too.”
“And what’s so wrong with that? Now we both win. Besides, if I won, I scored fishing on your day off, and this is only gonna be an hour or so. Hardly the same thing.”
She shook her head. “This is what I get for trusting you.”
“You’re welcome for a great night under an amazing sky.”
He gestured above them, and when she tilted her head, her breath literally puffed out of her.
She’d been too preoccupied to pay attention to the stars, which was a huge oversight on her part. They glittered like crazy in the sky, more visible away from the lights in town.
The boat swayed, catching her off guard, and she wobbled, but Tucker was right there to steady her, his hands gripping the sides of her waist.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize you were stargazing. I was trying to show you your lure options.”
She studied the fake worms and bug-like jigs in his hands. “Fishing lures or stars? Hmm. Hard decision.”
“Once you put your pole in the water, you can go back to stargazing.”
“Then what’s the point of putting it in the water?”
“It makes you feel more productive, just trust me.”
“Oh, I trusted you already too many times today, and it’s landed me on a boat late at night, holding a pole and talking about lures.”
Did he move closer or was that her imagination? “And you have somewhere better to be?”
She tipped her head to one side and then the other. “Somewhere better than being with you? I’m not sure that exists.”
A hint of vulnerability crept in as soon as the words left her lips, leaving her chest too tight.
It could be taken as friends, or it could be taken in a flirty way. She wasn’t even sure how she’d meant it, only that she was always happier with Tucker by her side.
Had been ever since she could remember.
“Right back at you,” he said, reaching around her, grabbing the end of her fishing line and attaching a fake worm. His chest bumped her shoulder and every cell in her body stood on full alert.
Maybe Lexi was right; maybe she should tell Tucker how she felt.
Easy for Lexi to say. She’s pretty and blond and rocks a dress and heels three ways till Sunday. Shep sure doesn’t callherkisses awful.
Not that he waxed on and on about it, but Addie had witnessed enough of them that she could just tell, and now all she could think about was how awkward it’d be if she and Tucker kissed and it was awful.
What if I’m all about it, but he thinks I’m a bad kisser? That’ll definitely mess with our friendship.
And my self-esteem.
And oh, holy shit, I can’t risk it.
