“Scared,” I admit. “Sad. Not . . . right. And it’s not because I don’t love Brian, because I do, but I just think this is all weird. I used to talk about this day with my parents, and they won’t be there. Things are happening fast, I don’t know. I expected to feel different when I was proposed to.”
“Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet,” he says. “It might just take you a moment to comprehend what’s happening.”
“Maybe.” I circle my finger over the couch fabric as I stare down. “You’re not mad?”
“Lia.” He tilts my chin up so I’m forced to look at his crystal-blue eyes. “If I were mad at you, then I wouldn’t be a very good friend, now, would I?”
“I guess not.”
“This is exciting, okay? Brian proposed, and you’re getting married. Let me see a smile.”
Tears drip down my cheeks as I attempt a pathetic smile.
He chuckles. “Well, that’s just sad.”
“I’m trying. I think I was doing okay about the news, just waiting to tell you, but at lunch today, I felt like I was getting steamrolled left and right by The Beave. I know the wedding is important to their family because of their social status, and it’s all about keeping up with appearances when it comes to them, but I should have a say in all this, shouldn’t I?”
“Uh, yes, Lia. This is your wedding. You should have a say in what happens at it.”
“I just become a doormat when she’s around. It’s hard to get my opinion in, you know?”
“It’s hard to overcome strong personalities, and I get that. I deal with my brothers every day.”
“And I was already steamrolled about the date, and where the reception will be held, I attempted to challenge the decision but fell short. I think I’m going to just end up resenting this whole thing because I’m going to be pushed around, and that’s taking the excitement out of it.”
“That’s understandable. Can you make the decisions without The Beave?”
I give him a look. “That would never happen. She already has appointments made.”
“Well then . . . take me with you,” Breaker says, the suggestion making me laugh.
“Come on, Breaker, be serious.”
“I’m being serious,” he says. “I can go with you. It’s not like I have anything going on right now. I have to stay away from work. This might give me something to do to keep me busy.” He smirks. “Maybe I can be your wedding planner.”
“Oh my God, stop.” I push at him.
“Or your maid of honor . . . ooo, your man of honor. Or, better yet, man in waiting.”
“Can you stop being ridiculous?”
His brows tilt down. “Uh, do you have another best friend I don’t know about that would take the title of maid of honor?”
I pause and give it some thought. “Uh, not really, no. But I guess I never really thought about it.”
“I’m your best friend, correct?”
“You are,” I answer.
“And best friends always claim the title as best man or maid of honor, correct?”
“Yessss,” I drag out.
“Therefore, by process of elimination, I’m your man of honor, but I believe man in waiting has a better ring to it, don’t you think?”
“You’re not being serious, are you?”
“Of course I am,” he says with all sincerity. “Listen, Lia. I know this is going to be tough without your parents. Losing them was so hard, and they wouldn’t want you to do this alone. I have the time, and even if I didn’t, I would make the time for you. I can help. I can be your backup, your wingman, your bodyguard, your bruiser.”
“Bodyguard? Do you really think I need protection from The Beave?”
“I’ve met her before. Her stare alone is terrifying, let alone the manipulation. Trust me, you will need a bodyguard, and I’m your man.”
“But what about Brian?”
“What about him?”
“You guys don’t get along.”
Breaker shifts on the couch and then offers me a smile. “Well, he’s going to be your husband. Better late than never to build on that relationship because I won’t let any hard feelings or awkward tension with your future husband get between you and me, got it?”
As I listen to him and his words of affirmation, my emotions tighten again, causing more tears to fall.
“What’s going on?” he asks, concerned.
“Just . . .” I look him in the eyes. “I’m so glad I told you. You looked like a pervert with your mustache so many years ago, but I’m lucky to have you in my life.”
He lightly chuckles and says, “You know, if you’re lucky, I could bring back the mustache for your wedding.”
I push at his face. “Don’t even think about it.”
Chapter Three
BREAKER
I pace at the door of JP’s house, the morning dew freshly clinging to every blade of grass as the sun just starts to tilt into the sky, warming the temperature for the day.
I got about one hour of sleep last night. One if I’m lucky.
Once I calmed Lia down and we finished our tacos, we played a few rounds of glass Yahtzee, but neither one of us was paying attention. I think both of our minds were somewhere else. We called it a night, and when I went to bed, she knocked on the wall, I knocked back . . . and then I didn’t go to sleep.
My mind kept whirling over and over again.
She’s engaged . . . to Brian.
When she said she was going to have a relationship status change, I really thought she was going to break up with him. And fuck, I almost said THANK GOD! Could you imagine if I’d let that fly? She cut me off right before I could. And sure, were they kissing in the hallway when I arrived? Yes, but body language is telling, and, at the moment, Brian was the one leaning into her while Lia had a slight lean away. That kiss was all him.
But lo and behold, it’s not a breakup in our future, it’s a wedding, and that makes me . . . well fuck, it makes me feel weird.
Because it’s Brian. The guy makes her happy, but he doesn’t get her. He doesn’t know Lia like I do. If he did, he wouldn’t have gotten that engagement ring for her, one that I’m pretty sure you can see from Mars because it’s so big. Either he would have asked me, the best friend, or he would have known. Never in a million years would I have picked that ring out for her or pressured her to get married in five weeks, only a year and a half after her parents passed away.
Yup, Brian met her a week after their funeral. Lia’s parents were both in a tragic helicopter accident late at night. Her mom was killed on impact. Her dad had a chance, but he coded and passed away during surgery. Two weeks later, Brian picked her up in a bar. She was raw, sad, and needed comfort, and she found it in Brian.
But she still has a hard time dealing with the loss of her parents, and I don’t think he’s considered that. All he cares about is checking off the requirements his mother sets up for him.
Have a successful job.
Buy a nice house.
Get engaged to an acceptable woman.
Have a fancy wedding.
Deliver grandchildren.
He’s on a trajectory, and I’m not sure if Lia is on the same one.
But who am I to say something to her?
I pull on my hair just as the door opens. JP is in a pair of shorts and nothing else. His hair is a mess, and he looks ready to murder me.
I pick up the box of donuts that I set on the stoop and say, “I brought breakfast.”
“Dude.” He rubs his eye. “Just because you can’t go to work doesn’t mean you need to bother me.”