Page 31 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
I shake my head, laughing. “That does sound like my brother.”
“Doesn’t it?” She folds her dress and slides it into her beach bag. “I toldhimto suck it up, buttercup. The guy better get busy pouring out all his love for me on the page. And they better be original.”
I slip the pink stationery with Kasey’s vows into my own bag. “In Beau’s defense, heispretty good at big romantic gestures.” I nod to indicate her charm bracelet he gave her two years ago. It’s one of the sweetest gifts I’ve ever seen anyone come up with for another person. “Just trust him. I’m sure my brother’s vows will be original. And wonderful.”
Kasey snorts. “Let’s hope so, for his sake.” When I don’t laugh along with her this time, she meets my gaze, holding it for a moment. “Wow. I don’t think I could defend my brother the way you just defended Beau. That’s pretty impressive, Nat.”
“Well.” I swallow hard, hoping to deflect the subject off of Brady. “Beau’s pretty great.”
“I think so too.” Her face lights up. “That’s why I’m marrying him.” She takes a beat and lifts a brow. Just one, but it’s higher than the McDonald’s arches. “You know, I thought something might be happening with you and Brady the last time you were in town.”
I make a noise that’s half scoff, half laugh, and one hundred percent awkward.
“But when I mentioned my suspicions to Beau, he said you’d never mess with Brady’s head, knowing you were moving away. And he’s totally right. I can’t believe I thought you might hurt anyone like that.”
“Heh heh heh.” I force a chuckle. “Well.”Good one, Nat. You really nailed that response.
“Speaking of which.” Kasey wrinkles her nose. “I’m sorry you’ve been stuck with my brother so much since you got here. Beau and I would be taking you everywhere ourselves, but…”
“It’s your wedding week. I get it.” I cinch up my beach bag. “Really. It’s no problem.”
That is what I say, when, in truth, the past two days have been problematic in more than one way. Not only do I want to spendmoretime with Beau before he’s married, I also want to spendlesstime with Brady before I move. Still, I can’t tell Kasey that. She may be my friend, but she’s too close to BeauandBrady. The entire situation is messy and tangled.
A giant web, minus the spider.
“Anyway, it’s only temporary,” Kasey says. “This wedding week and our honeymoon will be over way too quickly. Then it’s on to real life.” She releases a long sigh.
“But then we’ll all be in LA together.” I hook the bag strap over my shoulder. “Well. Notallof us. You. Me. Beau. Amber. Sloane. Living the dream, right?”
“Yep.” Kasey checks her reflection once more, wiping a smudge of sunblock on her neck. “And you’ll be happy to know my brother will probably be out of your hair soon.”
“Oh?” I bend down to fiddle with the strap on my sandal. “Are you kicking him out of the wedding?”
“Ha! No.” She turns to me. “My friend Molly’s coming in for the wedding tomorrow. You remember Molly Fitzgerald. I’m sure she’ll dominate Brady’s attention quickly enough.”
My stomach rolls over. Twice. I probably had too much shrimp and brie. “Good for Molly,” I say, straightening.
“Are you kidding? Good forme. And my poor mom. We both want to see Brady settled down with someone nice. He’s barely dated for the past two years.”
“Really? Huh.” I hike my bag higher while my insides sink at the idea of Brady settled down with anyone.
“And since Molly just accepted a job here as the new kindergarten teacher, she’s perfect for Brady. He’s basically Mr. Abieville. So, hey. Hometown couple for the win!”
“Yay!” I pump my hands in the air like I’m celebrating, when I’m really just making a fist.
Kasey eyes me sideways. “Don’t getthatexcited.”
“I’m not,” I protest. “I’m just really ready to hit the beach.”
“Me too!” Kasey loops her arm through mine. “Let’s do this, maid of honor!”
Just outside the cabana, stairs made from old railway ties take us down to the sand. Together we trudge to the spot where Lettie and Nella have just finished setting up our chairs. They’ve arranged the seats in a semicircle with the main buildings of the inn behind us. Since it’s a weekday, the place is less crowded than it would be on the weekend. But a few other groups of beachgoers are scattered about, under umbrellas or in the water.
In July, the entire lake is relatively warm, but it’s even warmer near the shore. The depth is ankle-deep for at least twenty yards before dipping to shoulder height, then deeper. There are no big swells here, just tiny waves lapping gently. Sunlight glints off of ripples on the water. This lakefront beach is different from the ocean, but still beautiful in its own way.
Since Kasey and I are the last to arrive, I plop my bag on the chair at the end, next to Darby. I’m kicking off my sandals when a server approaches in a tank top that reads Beachfront Bar. He looks to be in his mid-twenties, a surfer type with a swoop of brown hair over his eyes.
“Hey, ladies, I’m Hudson.” He holds out a menu glued to a piece of wood, and slips a notepad from a pocket in his board shorts. “Can I get anyone a beverage?”
