Page 97 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
Three splays his hands, bumping me with one of them. “If you, me, and Ford had taken the time to change into different clothes, Aunt Elaine would’ve definitely found us and roped everyone into some pre-wedding chore. As it is, Beau and Mac were so busy setting up hurricane lamps, they probably didn’t even notice we were gone.”
“Hmph.” I frown.
“Anyway, you barely got any on you.” Ford points at the tiny splotch. “And the two minutes it’ll take for you to wet a rag and wipe that one spot on your pants will be totally worth it once Beau and Kasey see what they have to drive out of town in.”
“More importantly, it’s a tradition,” Three says. “Every wedding in Abieville has to end with an embarrassing exit vehicle.”
“Fine.” I harrumph. “But when and if either of you two knuckleheads ever gets married, you’d better know I’m coming for your cars. And I’m gonna do worse.”
“Good luck with that.” Ford nudges me as we climb the stairs to the lobby. Once inside the lobby, I immediately flag Hudson down.
“Need any more help with the wedding setup?” I ask after sending one last frown to Ford and Three. “Sorry we took off like that, but we’re back now. Ready, willing, and able.”
“I think everything’s done,” Hudson says. “They got all the flowers for the gazebo out on the beach. The cake’s set up in the banquet hall. The caterers will be here to start prepping in the kitchen soon, so I think we’re good to go.”
“You know where Beau is now?”
“I think he and Mac went to get tarps for the gazebo. Just in case.” Hudson looks across the lobby, out the wall of windows. “Been watching those clouds roll in for a while now. Hope we don’t have to move the ceremony indoors.”
“Nah. We won’t.” Ford smirks. “Unless you believe Big Mama’s hips.”
Three snickers. “They don’t lie, Ford. They don’t lie.”
“Huh?” Hudson furrows his brow.
“Don’t listen to them,” I mutter.
“Oh, hey. Almost forgot.” Hudson cocks his head. “Did Natalie find you?”
I glance at the stairs, flash on the way she looked in her dress. “I saw her a while ago. Up in the bridal suite.”
“Yeah, no,” Hudson says. “She’s been looking for you since then. She came down right after you did, but you guys were already gone.”
Something prickles at the back of my neck. I’m sure everything’s fine. But there’s a shifting behind my ribs that says I’d better find out for sure. “Do you know what she needed?”
“Umm, Kasey’s vows, I think. She said maybe you’d know where they were? Like, they’re on some pink stationery or something? Any of this ringing a bell?”
I scratch at the back of my neck. “Yeah, I did see something like that. They were in her beach bag the other night. I must not have put them back in when all her stuff fell out. They’re probably back at the clinic.” I look at my watch. I’d still have time to run there and get them.
Hudson nods. “Well, anyway, she told me to tell you.”
I slip my phone from my pocket and try to reach her, but the call goes straight to voicemail. I dash off a quick text.
ME: I think Kasey’s vows are at the clinic. Need me to get them for you? Happy to do it. LMK.
Striding over to the window, I make a quick check of the parking lot. Sure enough, the Slaters’ station wagon is missing. I wonder if Nat headed over to the clinic to try to find the vows herself. No. She wouldn’t leave Kasey this close to the wedding. I run a hand over my forehead. No sweat yet, but I do feel bad. If Nat and my sister are stressed about those vows right now, it would be at least partially my fault. I should’ve been more careful with Natalie’s things.
In the meantime, Ford’s moved over to the entrance to the pub. He’s on his phone, with a hand covering his other ear. It can’t be easy for him to hear with Three yammering away over at the front desk. He’s been telling Hudson all about some new dating app he’s trying. I’m about to head over to the front desk to tell him to quiet down when Ford ends his call. He strides over to Three and me, worry etched across his brow.
“Hey.” His mouth thins to a grim line. “I gotta go.”
“Now?” I frown. “You’ve got today off. The wedding’s in an hour.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He nods at his phone. “Chief’s calling everyone in for this one, even the volunteers. It’s a structure fire. People inside.”
“Oh, man.” Three groans.
Ford grabs my wrist. “Brady.” I startle, my pulse shifting to high alert. “It’s the Swansons’ place.”
