Page 16 of Up to No Good
I'd never thought of it that way before. I'd always been driven to succeed, wanting a better life for myself than my parents had, but I never realized how much I was neglecting my personal life in favor of work. That had all changed the moment Cole walked back into my life. Keeping my company running successfully was still important to me, but it was time to hand over some of the responsibility to Brian instead of obsessing over every tiny detail. With him, I knew my company was in good hands and it allowed me the freedom to take time for myself here and there.
I checked my reflection in the mirror, making sure that everything else was in place, then grabbed my keys and headed out the door. A few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of the church where Jayce and Evelynn were getting married. The big day had finally arrived, and I couldn't be happier for my best friend and the woman he planned on spending the rest of his life with.
Stepping inside the church, I took a second to shake the snow out of my hair and stamp my feet over the mat so I wouldn't leave wet tracks all over the floor. I hung up my coat and made my way down the narrow hallway where the children's nursery and Sunday school rooms were located. Thankfully, Evelynn had gone over all those details with us at the rehearsal the night before, so I didn't have to worry about getting lost.
When I reached the room where I knew Jayce would be getting ready, I knocked on the door once then opened it, poking my head inside. Everyone else was already there, including Cole, who looked up and smiled when he saw it was me. My pulse quickened at the sight of him in his black tuxedo, white shirt, and that damn bow tie that never failed to drive me wild. It took everything in me to not go straight over there and kiss the breath right out of him.
“Miles!” Jayce exclaimed, rushing over to me. I laughed as he swooped me into a big bear hug that threatened to crush me.
“Hey, there. Is someone a little bit excited?” I teased.
“Yes! And with good reason. I’m marrying the most incredible woman today.”
I smiled patiently at him then looked around the room. “Has he been like this the whole time?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Chase deadpanned.
“It reminds me of college when the two of them first met. Everything out of his mouth wasEvelynn thisandEvelynn that,” Turner added, rolling his eyes playfully.
Phillip jumped in, placing one hand over his heart and the back of his other hand on his forehead as if he were swooning. “Oh, Evelynn’s so dreamy. Her hair’s so silky and when she farts, beautiful little butterflies fly out of her—”
“Okay. That’s enough. I’m not that bad, am I?” Jayce asked.
We took turns looking at one another then, at the same time, answered in a resounding, “Yes!”
All of us laughed as Jayce pouted and Turner laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re in love, and this is your wedding day. Today, you get to be as obnoxiously in love as you want to be.”
“Yeah, but if it happens after that…” Chase slid a finger across his neck as if it were a knife.
Jayce held his hands up in front of him in mock surrender. “Fine, I’ll be good. I’m just going to go use the bathroom really quick before the ceremony starts.”
We were all chuckling over our teasing as he left the room, but half a beat later, Turner cursed, “Shit! I bet he’s going to see Evelynn. Run!”
The other two guys sprang up from their chairs, apparently convinced of the same thing and after seeing the way my lovesick friend was behaving, I’d have to say it was a logical assumption. Turner, Chase, and Phillip raced out of the room quickly, leaving Cole and me to ourselves for the first time that day.
I hurried over to him, unsure how much time we’d have. “I missed you after you left my place last night. I’ve gotten far too used to having you in my bed all night.”
Cole smiled as he slid his hands up the front of my chest. “I missed you too. I hated leaving, but I didn’t have a choice. Jayce was coming over to my place for breakfast.”
“I know. I suppose I have to share you with others every once in a while,” I said grudgingly.
He tilted his head at me. “Did you forget something?”
I glanced down at my outfit and rolled my eyes as I remembered. “I swear, I tried, but these things must have been designed by the devil himself.”
Cole laughed as I pulled my bow tie out of my pocket and handed it to him. “Come here. I’ll help you.”
I leaned down, making it easier for him to reach and studied his features as his fingers made quick work of the complicated tie. His eyes sparkled like the brightest emeralds, and his long lashes swept over the smooth ivory skin of his cheeks each time he blinked.
“I like this,” I whispered.
He looked at me curiously as he finished tying the tie and folded the collar of my shirt down over it, making sure it lay smoothly. “What do you like?”
I shrugged, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him into an embrace. “You, us, quiet moments like these when it feels like we’re the only two people in the world.”
“Mmm. I like that too.” Cole hummed as I brushed my mouth over his. Tilting my head, I fused our mouths together, swallowing his sigh. A noise from the doorway had us both springing backward and I turned away from the door as it opened, praying my erection would go down before anyone noticed.
“Hey, where is everyone?” Jayce asked.
