Page 50 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend

“We’re so sorry,” Nat chirps brightly. But Brady just harrumphs.

“Okay.” I take a deep breath. I’ve got to get this done before my flight. And also before Beau texts me again, which could be any minute at the rate he’s going. “We are gathered here today because Beau and I are getting married this summer—as you are both already aware—and Brady is going to be Beau’s best man.”

“Let me guess.” Brady sighs. “You’re asking Nat to be a bridesmaid.”

“Shhh!” Natalie hisses and lays a hand over Brady’s mouth. Instead of backing away, he turns and stares Nat down. They stay frozen for several moments—eyes locked—his lips blocked by her palm.

“Ahem.” I clear my throat, and Natalie lowers her hand, still glaring at Brady. “If your sister is going to ask me to be in her wedding party,” she says to him, “I’d likeherto do it, thank you very much.”

“But I’mnotasking you to be a bridesmaid,” I say. Nat cuts her eyes to me, and Brady scoffs. “Awkward,” he says out of one corner of his mouth.

Natalie thumps his shoulder. “YOU’RE awkward.”

“Hold on a minute,” I say. “This isn’t awkward. It’s not awkward at all. This is the opposite of awkward! In fact, it’s totally awesome.” I wait for them to shift their focus back to me and beam at them both. “You see, I don’t have a sister. And yes, of course I adore all my cousins, but I could never pick just one of them to be—”

“Oooohhh!” Natalie’s blue eyes widen.

“—my maid of honor.”

“YES, YES, YES!” Nat leaps up from the couch and pounces on me so quickly, I’m surprised we don’t crash backward over the coffee table. She hugs me hard while jumping up and down, and I end up having to spit out a mouthful of her hair. When Natalie finally lets go, her whole face is shining. “Do you really wantme?” she asks.

“I do.”

From the couch, Brady huffs out a breath. “Still sounds like a wedding,” he mumbles.

Natalie ignores him, keeping her eyes on me. “And Beau’s not making you do this?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“And my mom didn’t try to talk you into it?”

“No.”

“Or your mom, either?”

“Nah.” I shrug. “My mom can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do.”

“Heh.” Brady smirks. “I can’t believe you said that with a straight face.” He rises from the couch slowly, with an exaggerated stretch and groan.

“Seriously, Brady.” I wrinkle my nose. “Why are you being such a grump?”

“Because I still don’t get why I had to be around for this,” he says. “Natalie’s going to be your maid of honor, and that’s truly,trulyfantastic.” He splays his hands, but it’s like his fingers have been dipped in sarcasm. “The thing is Beau asked me to be his best man months ago. So. Why am I here now?”

“I’m about to explain,” I say, pointing at the couch. “Sit. Both of you.” Natalie backs up first, landing in her original seat. When Brady drops down next to her, he’s so close, their legs bump. She nudges him, and he frowns. Then he readjusts with a grunt.

“So Beau and I have this idea we think could be really cool, but it will mean a little more work on your ends.”

“Perfect.” Brady rolls his eyes. “Just what I need. More work. I’ve already been killing myself at the clinic for no reason.”

“Wait.” A tiny alarm bell sounds in my head, and I drop my arms. “What do you meanno reason?”

Brady cuts his gaze away from me and swipes a hand down his face like he’s trying to erase all traces of emotion. “Nothing. Sorry. It’s fine. What were you saying, Kasey?”

I tilt my head and study his expression. There’s definitely more to this story, but I know from experience that if Brady’s not ready to share, he won’t.

“So what’s the idea?” Natalie asks, bringing us back around to my subject.

Brady’s hands are tense now, resting on his kneecaps. “Yeah. What can we do for you guys?”

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