Page 58 of Always a Bridesmaid
“Yes and no,” Violet said. “While I did foolishly plan an entire wedding, at least I wasn’t discarded in front of my family and friends. Fancy dresses and fairy-tale setting aside, the vows are what I truly want, so I guess being stood up day of would’ve hurt worse.”
Like a scab that’d been picked, the wound in her heart throbbed to life once again. Fainter than it used to be but far from fully healed. “But it hurt enough.”
“Lexi’s better at the pep-talk crap, but I’m sorry, Violet. That guy sounds dumb as a doorknob.”
Naturally, her mind flashed to the day she told Ford she’d gotten to first base with his doorknob, and he’d replied,Lucky doorknob.
“What Addie means is, I soften it when I call people on their crap,” Lexi said with a laugh. “The rest of the group are tactless and blunt. Once I got accustomed to it, it was rather refreshing.”
“Wait.” Violet ran her fingers through her hair. “Who decided doorknobs are the dumbest of knobs? Are there even other kinds of knobs?”
Both Addie and Lexi opened their mouths, looked at each other, and burst into laughter.
“I like where your head’s at,” Addie said.
“You mean lost in an earlier subject?” Violet picked at a stray thread on her jeans. “The truth is, after everything happened with Benjamin, I decided to give up men.”
“Oh honey, I gave them up for Lent once, and it was the worst forty days of my life.” Lexi hit her turning signal. “And that doesn’t make me weak. Technically I discovered Icouldlive without them, but I’m a fan of sex on the regular and a hot man to cuddle with at night. The experience did give me time to reflect, though…”
After checking her blind spot, Lexi merged onto the smaller, cracked highway that would take them to Uncertainty. “I had this ideal man in my head, but after dating too many self-centered duds, I realized I’d been wasting my time on the wrong guys. That’s why, when I met my Will, I gave him a shot, despite my belief that a country-boy schoolteacher—even one hotter than hell and half of Georgia—wouldn’t be my type.
“But boy did Will Shepherd prove me wrong.” Lexi’s voice turned as dreamy as her expression. “And he continues to do so every single day.”
The flame that burned inside Violet—the one she couldn’t quite snuff out—craved love stories with happy endings and wanted more fuel for the fire. “What about you and Tucker, Addie? How’d you guys meet?”
“I don’t even remember my life without him,” Addie said. “We grew up together, got into loads of trouble, and earned our reputations as hooligans. I used to get so mad when he treated me like a girl, and then one night, I wished he’d see me as one. After a drunken flirting session where I embarrassed the pants off myself—”
“Literally,” Lexi added, “since I’d forced her into a dress.”
Their laughter mixed together, and Violet experienced a contact-happy high, same as she’d gotten from their tales of romance. The two of them rehashed memories and explained how they’d become friends.
“Here’s what you should take away from those stories, Violet.” Lexi slowed as they passed the sign welcoming them to Uncertainty. “One, that I’ll force my friendship on you, so do yourself a favor and accept it now.”
“Two,” Addie cut in. “Her head was obviously full of stump water when she asked me to help plan her wedding.”
Lexi raised her voice over Addie’s. “Three, when life throws you a curveball, you might want to catch it.”
Both of them looked at Violet, so apparently it was her turn to reply. “Oh, I’m not much for catch. Balls just hit me in the face, and two seconds later I try to get my mitt up.”
The girls erupted in giggles, and Violet found herself giggling as well.
“How about this, then?” Lexi asked. “Three, country boys are sexy, and I think Ford was upset you didn’t ride back with him.”
Addie nodded. “Yeah, I play poker with him, and that was his fake, it’s-all-good face.”
A cold lump formed in Violet’s belly. “I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings, although I’m sure he’ll recover in all of two seconds with that ego of his.”
“My boys have enormous egos, it’s true.” Addie lifted her seat belt off her neck and pivoted in her seat. “But they also have their soft sides. Bonus, if you do decide to give McGuire a shot, and he hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”
When Addie cracked her knuckles, she didn’t have to make the noise with her mouth.
The loudpop,popmade Violet shudder. “I appreciate it, but I think I’m better equipped to take over your spinster spot.”
“I might not’ve been forthright enough about what the title entails. For example, it comes with being set up on multiple dates with everybody’s single cousin or nephew or grandson. I got nothin’ but love for our county, but pickins is slim.”
Violet sat back, defeat and exhaustion setting in. “It’s okay. I have a way to take care of that. I’ll just mention I’m interested in getting married, and they’ll trip over their own feet getting away from me.”
Lexi shook her head. “I wouldn’t count on that. You’re a catch. Pretty, smart, funny—”
