Page 70 of Just Breathe

“Don’t take it personally. My mom can be a pain in the ass when you’re not in the elites.” I turned to see JD with a woman.

I shrugged. “I don’t take it personally. She looks like she doesn’t like anybody.” I held my hand out to him to shake his hand, and he took it.

“This is my Fiancée Katherine. Kat, this is Jane’s date and the dude I tattooed yesterday. His name is Callum.” I shook her hand and smiled at her because this is the woman I pictured him with, covered in tattoos and not giving one fuck about the stares she was receiving.

“Congrats on the engagement, and it’s nice to meet you.” She looked at me a little too intense for a second, but I never strayed from her gaze before she smiled at me.

“Calm down, killer. He’s a cool dude.” JD looked at Katherine, smirking.

“Whatever, I was just making sure he wasn’t a douchey dude like Steve. Plus, JD told me about your tats, and I like the idea of making a bucket list. That’s an awesome idea.” She smiled at me before she went to say hello to Madie and David. JD said his hellos too, as they ushered us to our seats. I looked for Jane, but she was nowhere to be found and I decided to just stick with everyone, saving a seat for her. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and I checked it to see if it was Jane.

1030 old skallows gym.

Fuck my life. I knew this might be a possibility, but I didn’t think I would get a text while I was here.

I can’t, family emergency,I replied, knowing this would not work, but fucking hoped it did. I’d never once missed a meeting, and I hoped that would help me. The three dots came on the screen, and I waited for a response for what felt like forever.

I’m not repeating myself. You better be there.

Fuck. I might be in deep shit, but it’s not like I could be there.

I’m not in Colorado. I will not be there.

“Oh, good, you saved me a seat.” I looked up to see Jane coming up to me.

She sat by me and waved hello to her brother and his fiancée. “Where’s Matthew?” she asked them, leaning closer to me. “Mom’s about to lose her shit.”

“I talked to Sabrina, and she said they were getting ready. That was about two hours ago,” Katherine responded to Jane.

“Fifty bucks they stopped for a quicky?” JD chuckled.

“Actually, that sounds about right.” Jane laughed too.

“I’ll take that bet.” David shook JD’s hand.

“Babe, really?” Madie looked at him like he was crazy.

He shrugged. “Hey, might as well make it interesting.”

I smirked at them, thinking JD was probably right, even though I had nothing to go on. I checked my phone one more time and there was no text back. It made me feel uneasy.

Music started to play, and we all turned our attention behind us to see the wedding party come down. The grooms came in and the ceremony was short and sweet, according to the girls. They were pronounced husband and husband. They walked down the aisle into another room to take pictures. We walked out of the row of chairs and ran into Matthew and his wife.

“Ooooh, Mom’s gonna kill you.” JD smiled and hugged his brother.

“Uh, not if Paul finds you first.” Jane grinned, hugging Matthew after JD.

“Hey, we have to take advantage of that babysitter.” Matthew wiggled his eyebrows.

I laughed as David took a fifty out of his wallet and gave it to JD.

“Did you guys bet on us?” Matthew’s wife looked at them in shock.

“Got to make this wedding bearable.” JD shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s so good to see you, Jane. You look beautiful.” Matthew’s wife hugged Jane.

“It’s good to see you too.” They hugged. “Sabrina, this is my date, Callum.”