Page 99 of Wedlocked

Stepping out onto the second deck of Snowdrift Lodge where about half my friends were sitting around a massive stone fireplace with blazing orange and red flames, blankets, and trays of stuff to make smores, a wave of disbelief blasted me, along with the frosty night air. It was chased instantly by a crack of nerves.

Being nervous was stupid, especially for a confident guy like me.

Maybe it wasn’t nervousness after all but pre-annoyance for the conversation I was about to have.

“Rush,” Lars called from the hot tub on my way by. I veered toward the bubbling water that was lit red and steaming.

“Bros.” I acknowledged Lars who was sitting plastered against Win’s side and beneath his arm. Both of them were wearing beanies. “You freezing in there?”

“Nah, it’s good as long as you keep your shoulders in the water and leave on a hat,” Lars said.

“You wanna join?” Win asked.

“Where’s Landry?” Lars asked, looking past me, expecting to see her.

“She’s inside fussing over Jess’s dress with the other girls,” I told him.Which is why I need to do this now.

“Just you, then,” Win said.

I shook my head. “Can’t. Gotta talk to Emmett.”

Lars jerked up, Win’s arm falling away and his bare shoulders definitely coming out of the water. He came forward, draping his forearms on the edge of the tub. “You’re doing it?”

I nodded. “That thing I was working on came through, so yeah.”

Lars’s light eyes widened. “I’ll help you,” he said, standing up. His skin pimpled instantly, and he shivered as his wet body met the air.

“You’re gonna freeze,” Win told him.

Lars turned back. “It’s tonight,” he hissed.

Win stood up too. “My bad, bro. Let’s do this.”

I couldn’t help but smile at both of them standing there half naked, wet, and shivering. “Do you even know what this is?” I asked Win.

“No. But you can fill me on the way.”

A wave of something knocked back the awe and disbelief I’d been imbibing earlier. “I, ah, really appreciate you guys.”

Lars flung his arms around me. They were wet and cold. “That’s what kidneys are for.”

Don’t tell him this, bros, but I got him a shirt that saysKidneyacross the chest for Christmas. Win was going to be pissed. I couldn’t wait.

Smiling, I returned the hug, then pushed him back toward the water. “Get back in the water. You really will freeze.”

“But what about?—”

“I already took care of it.”

Lars’s eyebrows shot up. “Already?”

I shrugged. “I’m a determined man.”

“Is that where you disappeared off to this afternoon?” Win asked.

“You should have said something. I would have helped,” Lars said.

“I know, bro. But I wanted to do it on my own, you know?”

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