Page 30 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
While Kasey and the bridesmaids head off toward the beach with their towels and bags, the rest of us stay behind to help unload the barge, moving everything onto carts. The food. The coolers. A bucket of water balloons. Some rope. And… a limbo stick.
I frown. “A limbo stick?”
Beau comes up behind me, snickering. “This is all stuff for Kasey’s beach games. And you aresonot getting out of it, my friend.”
I grunt. “Who says I want to get out of it?”
“The look on your face.”
I smirk. “You can’t even see my face.”
“Yeah, but I remember the one you’ve been wearing for the past two days. All this wedding stuff makes you nuts. And you’re smirking now, aren’t you?”
I turn toward him, lifting my hands like I’ve been caught. “Okay, I guess you know me.”
Beau cocks his head. “I realize Nat can be a lot, and I’ve stuck her with you too much already, but try not to let her drive you too crazy.” His mouth goes crooked. “Let’s be honest: Both our sisters drive us crazy sometimes, but I happen to love mine.AndI love yours. Which is a good thing, since I’m marrying her.”
“Better not back out now.” I force out a laugh, like we’re just kidding around, but Beau has no idea just how crazy Nat actually makes me. And not in a bad way. In a good way. In the very best way.
Out of nowhere, he suddenly pulls a face. But there’s no way he can read my mind, right? This is more like the cringe of someone who feels guilty. “I’ve got one more favor to ask,” he says, “and then you’re off the hook.”
I glance at Hawk, who’s ahead of us, struggling to push a cart with a wayward wheel. He and the rest of the men are almost to the end of the dock. I’ll be honest. I’m glad Beau’s asking me for help and not Hawk. “Whatever you need, I’m your guy,” I say to really hammer that point home.
“You think you could look out for Amber this week? Not all the time. Just when we’re doing wedding stuff. Out of all my guys, I trust you to take care of her the most.”
I shrug, acting nonchalant, but my chest swells a little hearing this. Beau trusts me. So of course I’ll do this for him. Whatever he needs. Whatever it takes. And truth be told, I’ve got a soft spot for anybody in a vulnerable position. Multiply that by a lot for a woman who’s carrying a kid. “Of course I will.”
“Thanks, man,” Beau says. “Her husband, James, couldn’t be here, and I’d want someone looking out for Kasey if the situation were reversed and she was alone.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Me too. Why didn’t James come?”
“He stayed home with their twins. They’re two years old, sonotgreat travelers.”
“Ahh. Right. In that case, I’ll do my best to keep an eye out for her.” Especially since looking out for Amber gives me a good excuse to focus on something other than Natalie. More specifically, someoneother than her.
Beau grins at me. “You’re the best… man.”
I fake a scowl. “Are we really doing that joke again?”
“Last time. Promise.” He punches my shoulder. “Love you, brother.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Me too.”
ChapterThirteen
NATALIE
“Can you do me a favor?” Kasey asks. The rest of the bridesmaids have already put on their cover-ups, reapplied layers of sunblock, and headed out to set up folding chairs, so Kasey and I are the last two in the changing cabana at The Beachfront Inn.
“Of course. What do you need?”
She pulls a square of stationery from her purse. The paper is pastel pink and monogrammed KEG.Kasey Elizabeth Graham.I grin at her. “You know you’re going have to get all new initials on your stuff.”
“Already ordered.” She folds the stationery into a tight square. “In the meantime, I need you to hold on to this and keep it safe. Please?”
“What is it?”
“My wedding vows.” She flashes me a wicked smile. “Beau keeps trying to sneak a peek of what I wrote for inspiration. I told him no way. He’s on his own. Butheclaims I have an unfair edge since I’m a journalist.”
