Page 5 of The Other Side

Brett stepped up beside his friends and slammed his flimsy punch cup on the table. “Make it a double.”

“Easy, tiger. How many have you had?” Colt asked with a smirk. The only thing anyone would suffer from after the reception was a sugar crash.

Brett made a show of counting all of his fingers before pinching his brow. “I’m not sure. Are we counting these as one or a quarter?”

Blake chuckled. “Note to self, never spike the punch when Brett is around.”

Brett leaned against the wall and watched the wedding guests laughing and dancing. Everyone looked happy, which was good because Colt and Remi deserved to be celebrated.

Colt had done the impossible and clawed his way out of the friend zone with Remi. Everyone in the room had been waiting for those two to get their heads on straight and tie the knot.

Hudson handed over the punch, and Brett tipped his imaginary hat at the kid. “It’s a dessert. What’s not to like?”

“I don’t think it’s meant to be a dessert,” Blake said. “We might be running low on the only flavored drink if you keep up this rate.”

Brett raised the foamy drink to his mouth and downed half the cup. “I asked Everly to make sure she had extra. I ate a light dinner so I could have more punch.”

Blake laughed. “I saw your plate earlier. Six slices of pizza is not a light dinner.”

“I normally eat a whole pizza on my own,” Brett said. “Also, why isn’t pizza served more at weddings? Genius and less cleanup.”

Blake shook his head. “Everly would lose her mind if brides started requesting pizza for their receptions.”

Everly was an excellent wedding planner. So was her business partner, Linda. Brett had been to quite a few of the weddings they’d planned at the ranch over the last few years, and they’d all been on the fancy side. Four-tiered cakes and three-piece-suits kind of affairs. Colt and Remi’s pizza party reception was more Brett’s style.

Colt nudged Brett’s elbow. “You found a dance partner?”

“I’ve been a stand-in for a few songs, but overall, I’m a loner in this one, gentlemen.”

“I’ve heard weddings are a good place to meet women,” Blake said. “At least that’s what Everly said when you told her you weren’t bringing a date tonight.”

“Why…” Brett had almost asked why Everly cared if he had a date, but she was a hopeless romantic, and she’d tried to set him up with a handful of her friends. “It’s no big deal. I’m meant to fly solo.”

Blake and Colt shared a look that wasn’t the least bit discreet. They were both newlyweds and eager to urge Brett to settle down and give the old married life a try.

Too bad. Brett didn’t have any plans for marriage, and his reasons had nothing to do with wanting to play the field. He’d already found his one and only. Unfortunately, she hadn’t cared enough to stick around.

Remi practically bounced up to Colt and launched herself into his arms. The white dress that billowed behind her contrasted against her auburn hair. She looked up at her husband with a bright smile. “Ready to dance again?”

“You bet I am,” Colt said.

Brett remembered that look–the same one Thea used to give him.

Sometimes, he thought it had just been dumb, blind love. Other days, he remembered that what he’d had with Thea hadn’t been just a fleeting thing. The memories still kicked him in the chest every time he thought about her, which was regularly, since he couldn’t look at a woman without thinking of her.

No one had compared in the last five years, and he was pretty sure no one would. Their love didn’t have borders. Unfortunately, that meant the heartache ran wild, burning away all the good memories.

“Where’s your woman?” Brett asked his remaining friend.

Blake waved his hand toward the room. “Somewhere doing wedding things. I basically go to weddings solo because Everly has to supervise everything.”

Brett caught sight of little Abby in the crowd as her puffy dress fanned out around her. Weddings had to feel like a dream to a four-year-old. “Looks like Abby needs a partner.”

Blake pushed off the wall. “You know, that’s a good idea. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Brett raised his cup to his friend. “Happy to help.” When Blake faded into the crowd, Brett headed for his table. He’d officially danced with every woman who needed a dance, and his work here was done. Hanging around until it was time to clean up was his next order of business.

He’d barely sat down when Everly stepped up beside him. “Hey, can you help me get the gifts into Colt’s truck?”

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