Page 5 of Dear Brother's Best Friend
DYLAN
I have to admit that last night was awkward, at least at first. I didn’t understand why Cassidy was acting like she didn’t understand the change in me. She writes me a letter, professing her love, and when I show what I thought was a positive reaction, she clams up. With Hayden sitting outside with us and Jodie joining us later, we didn't have another private moment to talk about the letter.
It wasn't until later that night, when I got up to my room after everyone else went to bed, that I pulled out the letter and read it over again.
I read the line that she wrote, “This letter will never reach you,”over and over again. If she never intended to send this letter to me, how did I get it? I tried to play out different scenarios in my head that would find the letter being mailed off without her knowledge. I drifted off to sleep, thinking about the letter blowing out a window and a good Samaritan picking it up off the street and mailing it out.
I’m determined to find out today exactly what happened. And hopefully, if I’m lucky, it might lead to something bigger than I could have imagined for myself only twenty-four hours ago.
"Okay, people, we have a big day ahead of us." Jodie pulls out a clipboard from her bag under the breakfast table.
It's early, so the restaurant is pretty quiet, with only a few people trickling in. The view of the ocean from our table is second only to Cassidy sitting across from me. The tightly fitted sundress she's wearing hugs her soft curves in a way that makes it very hard to concentrate on what Jodie is saying.
“Cassidy, I’m going to give you the critical job of finding me a replacement veil.”
The look of concern that flashes in Cassidy’s eyes refocuses my attention on the conversation.
"Are you sure you want me to take care of something so important?" she asks as she slowly pushes the vase of flowers on the table away from Jodie.
Hayden chokes on his laughter but quickly recovers.
"I know that I may have overreacted when the airport called yesterday," Jodie says. "But I've realized that either I can have a high-stress perfect wedding, or I can try to roll with the punches and not have a mental breakdown over something like the color of the table linens being Eggshell, instead of Snow Mist.”
“That's quite the turnaround," Cassidy says.
"I'm proud of you." Hayden leans in and gives her a quick kiss.
As much as I hear the call of the ocean telling me to get in some surfing time, Jodie reminds us that we arrived early to make sure all the wedding plans are ready to go before the guests start arriving later tomorrow.
“You’ve all been given your assignments. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours to get what we need finished. Then you can get a little bit of time later today to relax or go sightseeing or whatever you want to do.”
I glance over at Cassidy, but she’s focused on the list that she’s been handed. The tiny crease between her brows tells me that her list is likely longer or harder than mine. Maybe I can convince her that we should work together on our assignments. It would be the perfect opportunity to get some alone time with her.
The check for breakfast comes, and I grab the black folder before Hayden can. I slip my credit card in before handing it back to the waiter.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Hayden says.
“Please, you got dinner last night.”
Hayden claps me on the back and pushes back in his seat. "You ready, Jodie?"
She looks up from her phone and stands up. They say their goodbyes, leaving Cassidy and me alone.
“You okay?”
She looks up from her list. “Yeah, I’m just not sure how I’m going to get this all done in time.”
“Can I help? My list only has three items.”
“I don’t want to keep you from getting some free time before the wedding.”
I shake my head. "There's nothing I'd rather do on this island than help you make sure all the items on your list are complete. Besides, maybe if we get everything done on time, I thought I’d see if you be interested in taking a dip in the ocean with me.”
The expression on her face looks like I just suggested we rob a bank or something. “I don’t think so.”
“Really? Why not?”
“I don’t swim.”
