Page 17 of Fight For Her
Oh Shawn, always the knight in shining armor. I understood, But I wished he would mind his own business and let me deal with my own women troubles.
Nodding and folding my hands in front of me, I closed the subject. “You do what you gotta do, and I’ll do what I came here to do.”
He looked at Mia, checking that she was still deep in conversation with the fourth couple at the table. “Remember what Mia said. I’m rooting for you two but, bro, I’ve never seen Kendahl look this pissed. Tread lightly.”
Treading lightly was never my style, but I tilted my chin up at him in the universal guy response for, “I got you, man.”
“So,” Shawn asked me loud enough for the whole table to hear. “Where in Wyoming were you?”
“West.” I cleared my throat and looked down, they didn’t need more details than that.
“Oh yeah?” Avery asked. “I’ve done some camping up there, a long time ago though. Beautiful scenery.”
“Uh-huh,” I said under my breath. I glanced back up at Kendahl just in time to see her taking me in before darting her eyes away. I remember that wide-eyed look from our first date, she was full of questions.
“Please tell me you didn’t drive,” Mia said.
“Nah, I flew back home long enough to sleep and then drove here.”
“Well I guess not all the rumors are true then,” Avery said. “Although…” she hesitated. “I’m sure you must have had fun in Wyoming all the same.”
What the hell did that mean? Kendahl scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear.I shook my head, wanting to be done with the questioning about where I was and what I was doing.
Our meal was like a game of ping pong. I’d sling a comment across the table and she’d hit it back at me with vehement angst. I’d comment on the beauty of the island, and she’d meet me with a “looks like your vision works after all.”If I was keeping score, Kendahl would’ve been winning. When the server asked how our meals were, Kendahl replied that her meal was delicious but there seemed to be a rotten smell coming from the opposite end of the table, then pointed nonchalantly toward me.When I stood up to use the restroom, I heard her attempt to whisper in Avery’s ear that she wished I’d get lost on the way back.
I stood in the men’s room propped against the sink, trying to hold my breath from the noxious odor and failing. Splashing some water on my face, I stared at the deep blue circles under my eyes. I really fucked things up. I was exhausted. I’d driven straight here the morning after flying to Palm Cove and still had to finish selling the house in Verdant Valley without any help from my asshole brother. I don’t know what I expected from this trip, but it certainly wasn’t this frigid welcome.
Maybe I was going about this the wrong way. I was Coby Barnes, notorious ladies’ man, as Shawn said earlier. I’d never had to stoop, grovel, or beg. Kendahl fell for my charms before, so maybe she’d fall for them again.
“You got this,” I mumbled to myself as I smoothed my wet hands through my hair. I wanted to apologize and get her back, but if she wasn’t talking to me, then it was time to pivot.
Back at the tables, Jill and Mike were standing in front of the room holding hands. I’d almost forgotten the reason we were here. All eyes were turned their way as I reached my chair, but my eyes slid toward Kendahl who was leaning back in her chair with a slight slump to her shoulders. She met my gaze but quickly shifted her face toward Jill again. I couldn’t hold back my grin.
“Thank you all for coming to our wedding weekend. We are so excited to share our love with our closest friends and family.” Jill beamed. She looked gorgeous in a long black sundress.
Mike spoke up from beside her. “I’m so grateful to my aunt and uncle for their hospitality. The inn and this restaurant have been in our family for generations. To get married here to the love of my life is nothing short of a dream come true.”
A chorus of oohs and ahhs started around the room and a few people dabbed at their eyes. Love was a powerful thing. I remember feeling that way with Amy during our honeymoon period. Too bad those feelings didn’t last.
My thoughts were interrupted by Jill. “As you know, Kayla helped me put together a fun itinerary for our weekend. You should have gotten a printout at check-in.” She squeezed Mike’s hand and continued. “First up is our favorite pastime, well, besides Krav of course.”She gestured across the way toward the bar to where a young gangly employee was setting up a speaker and a microphone on a small, raised platform and another slightly less gangly twenty-something was getting situated in an emcee’s corner. I inhaled, waiting for Jill to say the word. My palms already felt clammy. “It’s karaoke time, all!”
Talk about an icebreaker. There was no better one than getting sloshed and watching people you know belt out the wrong lyrics to Journey. I’d never been a karaoke guy. Hell, I barely even sang in the shower.I didn’t have a fear per se of singing in front of people more like a strong aversion. Piano. That I could do. Maybe. It’d been a long time, but singing? No way. There was an incident in middle school involving me and the musicalAnnie. Let’s leave it at me hoping and wishing the sun would not come up tomorrow by the end of the night.
Mia squealed and pulled Shawn up from the table. A whole meal worth of crumbs fell from his lap. Others in the group seemed excited too. There would have to be many more beers to get through this night.
A strong breeze blew through the open bar area, knocking over laminated menus and napkins onto the creaky wooden floor. I rubbed my bare arms, which had prickled with goosebumps, and wished I’d brought a sweatshirt. At least my thick layer of Wyoming facial hair still insulated my face a good amount.
“Do we have to do this?” I said to Shawn who looked as equally mortified as I did, maybe more so.
Kendahl slugged back the remnants of her drink and stood up straight before reaching her best friend. “What’s the matter, Barnes, scared of a little karaoke?”
It was the first time that night that she’d spoken directly to me, making our verbal ping pong reach a new level.
“Do I look scared, Edwards?” I raised a brow at her and puffed out my chest for emphasis while hoping my actual fear wasn’t showing.
“I don’t know. What do you think, Mi? It looks to me like tough guy Coby isn’t so tough after all.”
We reached the bar and snagged seats right in front of the stage. Jill and Mike were already at the emcee booth chatting with the hipster guy.
