Page 30 of Just Breathe

“I’ve been calling all morning. Why haven’t you called me back?” Paul sounded irritated.

“I’ve been hiking, and the reception is spotty. Is everyone ok? Are you ok?” I asked, getting a little worried. I pulled on my shorts and was careful with my scrapes.

“Uh yeah, why wouldn’t everyone be ok?” I could imagine him rolling his eyes.

“I was just making sure since it sounds like it’s something urgent, given you’ve been calling all morning.” Trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“Well, I just wanted to get a hold of you because I’m going to need two grand more for the cake. It was more than we expected.”

“Two grand more? Jesus Paul, what the fuck is the cake made of? Is it going to serve itself?” I started pacing feeling the guy’s stares.

“Well, if you don’t want to pay for the cake any more then just let me know,” he snapped.

“I’m just confused because you originally told me it was only going to be about eight to nine hundred dollars. So, this cake is going to be almost three thousand dollars?” I took a deep breath because I should have known this was going to happen.

“Well, we are going to have two hundred and fifty people at the wedding. We also liked a taller cake and different flavor combinations. Plus, we couldn’t leave Brian out of it. He wanted a groom’s cake.” I rolled my eyes because I know Brian wouldn’t have wanted that. “You know what? Forget it, if I knew you were going to be stingy with the cost of cake, I would….”

“Look, I’ll just transfer the money.” I fucked myself over by not just giving him money to use for whatever he wanted. I should have known better than to say I’d cover the cost of the cake. Don’t give Paul an inch because he will take the fucking mile. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.

“I’m not the one making up these prices.” He sounded like he was happy as can be now that he’d gotten his way. “So anyway, I think you need to bring a date to the wedding.”

“What?” I asked, feeling like I got whiplashed from the sudden change in subject. “Why would I need a date for your wedding?” The guys started picking up, and I made my way over there to help.

“Well, I don’t want to be answering questions about how you are and everything else about Henry and the baby on my wedding day.” I clenched my jaw as I helped Callum pick up the blanket and everything that was on it. “So, if they see you with a date, they won’t be asking.” Like that was the most obvious answer.

“Let me get this straight. You want me to bring a date to your wedding, so people don’t ask about my dead husband or baby on your wedding day?” Hoping he would see how insensitive he was being. Callum even looked up at me with a weird expression on his face. He shook his head, shooed me away, mouthing he’d got it.

“Well, when you put it that way, it sounds awful, but yes that’s the gist.” I rolled my eyes at him. Sometimes Paul had his head so far up his ass it surprised me he knew what was going on in the world. “I was thinking maybe you can bring Steve to the wedding since it’s less than two weeks away.”

“Steve?! God, that guy is such a dildo.” I heard a snort behind me, and I looked back to see Aiden smiling, clearly amused I just called a guy a dildo.

“Jane! Steve is a great guy. Yeah, he might be a little dull, but he…”

“A little dull? This is the same guy who bought Game Stop shares, bragged he would become a millionaire overnight and dude only bought a hundred bucks worth, only making a few hundred bucks back. Like I said, he’s a dildo.” I looked up at the sky, noticing some dark clouds coming in.

“Well, we can’t all be perfect like Henry,” Paul snapped again at me like I was being difficult.

“That was a low blow Paul, I gotta go,” I snapped back at him and ended the call before the little shit could say anything else. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

“Jane?” Aiden tapped my shoulder. “Sorry, but we should get going. The storm that was supposed to just pass is going to hit us.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have answered that.” I turned around and tried to smile.

“It’s ok, I’m sure you thought it was important. I mean, that dildo sounded like a great guy.” I laughed and the tension I was feeling lifted a little.

“He’s a keeper, apparently. Alright, let me help with whatever we have left.” They had mostly picked up everything, but I helped pack the food and pans. I put on my shirt and shoes, and we took off back to the truck, trying to figure out a way to get out of bring a date to the wedding. At least not having to bring Steve, because I don’t think I could survive an entire night with him. As the boys climbed onboard, all muscle, sweat and pheromones, I inwardly shivered. Maybe my plus-one was right here.

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