Page 56 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

Simon: Or did you get eaten by an alligator?

Simon: Or is it a crocodile? I never remember which one lives in Florida.

Simon: But for real, where are you? You haven’t texted. You haven’t called. For all I know you went to Florida and joined the circus.

All I can do is shake my head at the idiotic texts from my best friend.

Emmett: I don’t even know where to begin with all that.

Simon: I’m just glad you’re alive. Wait. Maybe this isn’t you. Maybe it’s your kidnapper and they’re pretending to be you. How can I be sure this is Emmett?

Emmett: It’s me, jackass.

After all these years, I still can’t help but laugh at the utter ridiculousness of Simon Banks. Yes, he’s a grown man-child. Yes, his overall demeanor has been described as a golden retriever on crack. Yes, he doesn’t think before he acts or speaks, nine timesout of ten. But I wouldn’t trade him or his friendship for anything in the world.

And to think it all came to be from the luck of the draw. We were randomly paired to live together our freshman year at Tennessee. We both majored in business and had close enough areas of interest—he wanted to get in on the real estate market while I one day wanted to open my own construction firm, which is why I minored in engineering. We were complete opposites. He was from old money and was the fourth member of his family to go to UT. I was from the hills of Chattanooga and was only at college because of scholarships.

Yet, more than fifteen years later, here we are.

Simon: Oh good. I’m glad you aren’t kidnapped.

Emmett: Glad to know I’d be missed.

Simon: I wouldn’t go that far.

Emmett: Asshole.

Simon: How’s Florida?

Emmett: Fine.

Simon: That’s it? Fine? You’ve been in Destin for five days. All I get is fine?

I look back at Stella and I’m thanking the Lord above that this conversation is over text and not FaceTime. Because I don’t know if I’d be able to hide my smile right now. Which would also raise alarm bells because I rarely smile, which he’d definitely call me out on.

Emmett: Yes. That’s all you get.

Simon: Oh my God! Did you meet someone? Vacation fling? Emmett Collins, you dog you. I’m so proud.

Emmett: I’m not discussing this with you.

Simon: Yet. You’re not discussing it with me yet. I’ll accept that and get the full rundown when you get home.

Emmett: I won’t.

Simon: Whatever. You will. Change of subject. Have you seen Stella? How’s she holding up?

I sit a little straighter on the bed. Coincidentally, I feel the bed move as Stella rolls over.

Does he know? Is that why he’s asking?

No. He can’t know. It’s coincidence. I’m being paranoid. Which is another reason why I need to come to my senses and make last night a one-time thing.

I won’t. But I should.

Emmett: I have. Could’ve told me she didn’t get married. Would’ve been helpful information.

Simon: I told you.

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