Page 107 of Love and Other Trials
“Hang on,” Dax interrupted, taking off his white cap and slapping it against his leg. “Rob, there were some harsh words before. I’m here to see if you still want me to be your best man. I agreed to the job, and you know I finish what I start.”
Rob set the bottle down with a thunk and stood, his wide stance filled with tension. “Don’t I know it.”
“What the fuck, Rob?” Carson shot up and flicked his hand accusingly at him. “Are you really going to blow a friendship overa wedding dress?A dress Dax absolutely didn’t and wouldn’t take? Man, you need to apologize, shake hands, and move on. Jesus! Maybe I should tell you I took the fucking wedding dress.”
“I agree.” Perry put his hands on his hips, staring at Rob mulishly. “Because this is stupid, and if you don’t have Dax as your best man, maybe you shouldn’t have me or Carson stand up with you either.”
Dax’s heart was beating hard, and while he was deeply moved by Carson and Perry’s loyalty, he didn’t take his eyes off Rob.
Dax lifted his chin. “Up to you, Rob. I’ll turn around and walk out of here on your say-so, and we don’t need to speak again.”
The wedding had changed things, and they both knew it. But it didn’t have to end like this.
“Do you know why you’ve been my best buddy since college, Dax?” Rob asked, shifting his weight heavily to his right. “Because you’re such a square. That’s what makes you a good officer too. You never break a rule. I never needed to worry you were going to fuck with me.”
He left the reason unsaid. Growing up in a small town where he’d been treated as an outcast from the wrong side of the tracks, no one had ever had his back. Not until the Academy and the Navy. Where you had to put your life in someone else’s hands and work together for a common goal.
“I’m sorry I forgot that.” Rob walked over, his bloodshot eyes direct, and extended his hand. “Some things can’t be unsaid, so I don’t blame you if you won’t shake my hand.”
Dax gripped it hard, staring into his friend’s face. “I’d be a dick not to.”
“God knows we’ve had plenty of dick behavior around here to fill a cargo ship,” Carson interjected, coming over and slapping both of them on the backs.
Perry joined them on the other side, and for a moment, it was like they were back in better days, standing together in their dress whites, filled with the possibility of the job and the brotherhood.
Only Dax knew all that was coming to an end. Soon he would be decommissioned. He’d hang up his dress whites and put on a new uniform. Start a new life. It hit him that he and Rob had that in common. In addition, should things go with Ariel like he hoped, they would be brothers-in-law. Crazy to think about, but then again, maybe that was also why Rob had backed down from his earlier stance. Well, they’d cross that bridge when they got there. Brick by brick, as Ariel said.
“Let’s get you married.” Dax gave his friend a not-so-subtle shove, which he responded to by shoving him back.
Carson and Perry joined in and soon they were all shoving each other and putting each other in headlocks, white caps flying off and thudding to the floor.
“Ah, male camaraderie.” Jeffrey sighed, holding up his phone. “I just got buzzed. You’re up.”
“Let’s go.” Rob shook with all the guys again and then headed to the mirror, straightening his uniform. “Jesus, I look like shit. Anyone got Visine?”
Jeffrey strode forward. “I do. Let me help. I’ll have you looking dashing in no time.”
And dammit if he didn’t pull it off. Three minutes later, Rob didn’t look like a man who’d been drinking bourbon all day and had clocked his best friend over a missing wedding dress.
“There.” Jeffrey adjusted Rob’s wings and smoothed his epaulets. “Good as new. Come on, boys. The Deverell women do not like to be kept waiting.”
“You’re telling me,” Rob said with a laugh, the first to head out.
Carson and Perry slapped Dax on the back as they followed Rob.
Dax took a moment to run his hand over his jaw, where the swelling was palpable. “Is there bruising?”
Jeffrey nodded. “Yes, but it makes you look even more manly. I wouldn’t put any makeup on it.”
Dax took him by the shoulders and marched him to the door. “Jeffrey, I love you, man, but in no universe were you ever putting makeup on me.”
His amused chortling had Dax finally smiling as they walked to the wedding arbor where all the guests were seated. The older minister’s narrow face was tense with nerves. He’d probably wondered if he was actually going to marry anyone today. Dax checked his watch. They were only thirty-five minutes late.
A new piece of music started, some wedding frippery that sounded like it included a harp and happy little birds tweeting. Not Rob’s choice, he imagined. He checked his wallet discreetly to make sure he still had Rob’s ring. Check. Then he straightened his shoulders and stood behind his friend as the flower girl appeared—a girl Dax hadn’t seen before who looked to be about five. She looked like an angel in a frothy pale pink dress with a flower ring on her head while she threw white rose petals from a sweetgrass basket.
Her companion was Ripp, who just couldn’t ditch theLord of the Fliespersona. His clipped red bow tie was listing to the right. He had dirt on his right cheek, which only enhanced his sulky expression. The lacy cream pillow in his hands, which bore seashells rather than rings, was crumpled and slightly dirty. Because the kid hadn’t washed his hands. Dax fought a laugh right there. He imagined the boy would be hearing about that from the Three Tornadoes.
“Good thing we didn’t have that kid usher up the rings, huh?” Rob said under his breath so only Dax could hear.
