Page 99 of Broken on the Mountain
"Thanks, Charlie."
"You're welcome." He takes another sip. "Now stop sulking and go get your girl."
I blink. "What?"
"The gala." Charlie sets down his drink and pulls out his phone. "I've been looking it up while you lots bickered in my bar.The Whitman Foundation Gala.It starts at seven tomorrow night. That's six our time. If you leave now, you'd make it."
"I can't just—"
"Why not?" Knox straightens. "You've got a truck. You've got a suit—"
"I don't have a suit."
"Jamie's got a suit," Travis interjects. "You're about the same size."
Jamie nods. "Closet's open, my man."
"And you've got a girl who's currently standing in a boutique with a ball gown on because she's trying to hold onto a piece of you while her mother probably has an aneurysm." Brooke crosses her arms. "So yeah, Chase. Go get her."
My heart's pounding now, adrenaline kicking in the way it does before a rescue.
"It's a seven-hour drive—"
"Four and a half if you speed," Knox says helpfully.
"I don't even know where—"
Brooke's already texting. "I'm sending you the address."
"What if she doesn't want—"
"Oh myGod." Travis throws a nacho at me. It hits my chest, leaving a grease stain on my favorite flannel. "Stop making excuses and go!"
Charlie disappears behind the bar and returns thirty seconds later with a insulated bag that's usually meant for catering orders. He sets it on the table and slaps me on the back.
"Brisket, pasta salad, chocolate brownie, and a thermos of coffee." He zips the bag closed. "You're not driving seven hours on an empty stomach."
I stare at the bag.
Then at Charlie, who's sipping his ridiculous cocktail like he orchestrates romantic grand gestures every Friday night.
Then at my friends—myfamily—who are all watching me with expressions that range from exasperated (Brooke) to encouraging (Jamie) to gleefully invested (Travis and Knox).
"I can't just crash a charity gala—"
"You absolutely can," Brooke says. "I'm texting you the details now. Whitman Foundation Annual Gala, some fancy hotel ballroom, black tie required."
"I don't have—"
"Jamie's suit," Knox repeats. "We've established this."
Jamie stands, finishing his beer. "The suit is hanging in my closet. Grab it on your way out of town."
"Isn't your cabin locked?"
Everyone bursts out laughing, and for the first time all week, I manage to smile too.
"Locked?!In Stone River?" Charlie wipes his eyes, grinning. "Buddy, the only thing locked around here is Betty's cookie jar, and that's just to keep Travis out!"
