Page 8 of Pucking Wild

Jake stands between Harrison and Amy, both hands covering his eyes. “I don’t wanna see her, Tess. I just need to talk to her. Babe, I need to talk to you! I’m kind of freaking the fuck out!”

My protector mode surges. “Jake Compton, are you having second thoughts?”

“What?” he squawks. “No. Fuck no. Get out of my way, and I’ll marry her right here, right now. I wanted to marry her the night we met. Rach, tell her I’m not backing out!”

Deep inside the closet, Rachel laughs. “What’s wrong, angel?”

“Shit, can I drop my hands?” he says.

“I wish you would,” Harrison mutters.

“You look ridiculous,” Amy laughs.

Jake drops his hands, blinking at me as he takes me in. Then his face splits into a wide smile. “Whoa, Tess, you look dynamite. Green is definitely your color.”

I smile, soaking in his compliment. But I know I look great in green. And the cut of this dress really does wonders for me. It’s got these cute off-the-shoulder sleeves and a structured bust that gives the girls a great lift. The silky skirt flows down to the floor, fluttering around my ankles.

“Nice try, handsome,” I say, crossing my arms. “But you’re not getting past me.”

“I don’t want to get past you,” he replies. “And I swear I don’t want to see her before it’s time. I just—Seattle, I need to talk to you about something!”

I glance over my shoulder to see Rachel standing there with a sappy, lovesick look on her face. God, they’re both hopeless. “What do you need, Jake?”

“I just talked to Caleb, and apparently he asked Mars to stand in as his best man when Cay and I get married,” Jake calls.

“Well…I think that’s really sweet,” Rachel calls back. “Cay’s not really close with anyone else but you.”

“Yeah, and then Mars asked Cay to stand in ashisbest man when he gets married toyou,” Jake goes on.

“So, what’s the problem, angel?”

He groans. “Alright, well, I’ve got our twins out here because I really think we need to settle this once and for all,” he calls, one hand each on Harrison and Amy’s shoulders. “Seattle, I know you may want me to be your best man but—”

“What?” Harrison cries, slapping Jake’s hand off his shoulder. “No fucking way, asshole. Rachel is my twin. I will literally stab you in the throat if you try and take this from me. I’m best man.”

“See,thisis the problem,” Jake calls. “Your brother is threatening to murder me if I’m your best man!”

Inside the closet, Rachel is laughing. “Jake, you know I love you, but Harrison is my best man.”

“Damn fucking straight,” says Harrison. “You’ve been a Price for all of three hours. I’ve been a Price for almost thirty years. You want a job, be their ring bearer.”

Jake holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man, that’s cool with me. I totally agree. You should be her best man. That’s what I wanted to say. I’ll hold the rings. I’ll hold her flowers—”

“I’m holding her flowers,” I say, my hands back on my hips. “Best friend holds the flowers.”

“Right, Tess holds the flowers,” Jake corrects. “Why don’t—how about I stand up with Mars, huh? I’ll just stand over by Caleb and Mars,” he calls out for Rachel’s benefit.

Rachel smiles. “That sounds great, babe. Was that your only concern?”

He groans again, glancing to Amy. “Well…there’s still the issue of who’s going to bemybest man when I marry Cay. And babe, I love you so fucking much—”

“Hey, don’t even try it, jerk face,” Amy huffs. “I flew all the way from Japan for this. I’m your best man.”

“And that’s what I want,” Jake says quickly. “Am, it’s you and me. Comptons for fucking life. I want it to be you, I just—” He sighs, glancing over his shoulder at me.

That’s when I finally crack a smile. “You just don’t want to hurt Rachel’s feelings or make her feel left out. Right?”

“Exactly,” he says, relief etched on his face at being understood.

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