Page 73 of Bump and Run
“You don’t have to apologize to me, Bashful. But no more of that tonight. You need to wait until our wedding day.” He grinned and tossed the washcloth into the hamper. Then the room plunged into darkness before Charlie climbed back into bed. He moved me so my head was against his chest, then his arms wrapped tightly around me.
I fell asleep in seconds, and there were no more nightmares. Only sweet dreams of our future.
***
I dragged my hand against the black cloth, my palm testing out the soft fabric. It was nice. But was it wedding day nice? I glanced up to find Ollie fiddling with his phone, his brows dipped in worry. That couldn’t be good. I thought that he and Kit sort of worked things out last night at the carnival.
“What about this one?” I tried to distract my best friend from whatever was bothering him. “Do you think I would look good marrying Charlie in this jacket?” When Ollie didn’t respond, I sighed. “Hey.” He finally looked up. “You good?”
Ollie shrugged. “Sure.”
“What did he say?” I knew it had to be Kit. No one else upset him this way.
Ollie shoved his phone back into his pocket. “That looks nice, Jones. You should wear that one.”
“Don’t try to deflect.”
But I kind of liked it. I had already tried on three suits, but there was something different about this one. It fit better through the shoulders, made me feel like an adult instead of a kid playing dress up.
Ollie took a couple of steps toward me. “You look good.” His green eyes flashed with sadness before it quickly disappeared. “You’re sure you want to go through this.”
“Don’t start with me.”
“I’m not, Jones. I just wanted to make sure this is what you want. Marriage is serious.”
I turned to look at myself in the mirror again. “You know how I feel about Charlie. It’s always been him.” I glanced at my best friend, who had taken his phone out again. “Gosh darn it.” I reached over to snag it from his hand. “What is he saying, huh? What could possibly be more important than your best friend trying on a suit for his wedding...” My voice trailed off.
Kitty:I love you, Ols, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to say it aloud or show the world. You don’t deserve that. You deserve everything.
“Shoot.” I quickly held the cell back out for him. “Do you—”
Ollie stopped me before I couldn’t say anything else. “No.” He squared his shoulders. “Maybe later, but not now.” I knew what pain felt like, but this had to be worse. Whenthe man you loved was scared to accept himself. To share it with everyone.
“Okay.” I wanted to push him for more, but I didn’t. Ollie would talk to me when he was ready. “I think I’m going to pick this one. Do you think that Charlie will like it?”
He gave me a faint smile. “Yeah, he’s going to love it as much as you love him.”
“And Charlie loves me the same.” I raised my chin.
Ollie sighed. “Yeah, I’m sure he does.”
“You’re not jealous, are you? I know you had feelings for me, but we talked about how weird that would be. I love you, but like a brother. I will always be your best friend, no matter what.”
Ollie’s eyes welled with tears. “I want what you have, that’s all.”
“Oh.” I hugged him without thinking, wrapping my arms around his thick, chiseled body. I rested my chin on his chest. “Kit just needs time, right? He’ll come around. He was good with you last night after he spoke with Charlie. Maybe he just needs to be around couples like us.”
“Stop touching him. Why do I keep finding you touching him? It makes me want to break every fucking bone in your body.”
I spun around to find Kit glaring at me, his nostrils flared.
“I didn’t...I wasn’t... It’s not like that. We’re friends.” I back away from Ollie as Kit moved closer.
“You keep touching him. Ollie is mine. Do you understand that, Matthews? Mine,” Kit growled, and hishands bunched into fists at his side. His blue eyes were wild with anger, and his face was pinched.
Ollie held out his hand. “Kitten.”
“Don’t call me that.” He grunted, and then he slammed into Ollie, his arms around his waist. He mumbled something that I couldn’t hear, but as Ollie stroked Kit’s hair, I watched his body relax as he melted against my best friend.
