Page 222 of Three Reckless Words

“All the girls go on about the dude’s face forever,” Patton told me, “but watch hers when she sees you for the first time. Odds are, she’s never seen you look so good.”

I grin like the sappy, lovesick fool I am today and roll over, ready to get up.

Good timing too because someone’s banging on my door.

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty!” Patton calls. “You up yet? We have less than an hour to get there and settle in.”

“Fuck off. Don’t rush me.”

He opens the door and sticks his head in, his hair sticking up all over the place.

Mom has Winnie and her friends over for a ‘bridal brunch’ before the ceremony. They’ll probably do their hair and makeup with plenty of time to spare.

“Not too late for a stag party,” he tells me. “Let me know and I’ll call the strippers.”

“And I’ll call your wife,” I growl back.

He winces. “Hey, I only offered for your sake. Last chance to be a dirty old man since you decided to tie the knot andtryto be normal. Blah.”

“Like hell. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t rather see your wife, twerking her ass off.”

“Not for your eyes, I don’t.” He clucks his tongue. “But her and Junie are with Winnie now, so who knows what debauchery they’ll get into. Women are twice as crazy.”

“Oh, yeah. Mom will give them a workout flipping through her artbooks. I swear every one of those things weighs thirty pounds.” I smile.

“So are you nervous yet?” He gives me a once-over.

“No. Are you?”

He snorts.

“Hell no. I memorized all my lines just for you, Bro.” He beams at me like this is something to be proud of and not just a stunt he signed up for purely to screw with me.

Groaning, I flop back on the bed.

“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this,” I mutter.

He walks in and starts tossing my clothes at me, belting me in the stomach with my shoes.

“Tough luck, buttercup. It’s all about to go down and I’m gonna make you a married man. Have you heard from Winnie? How’s she holding up?”

“She’s alive. Reaching critical mass from the excitement right now, I’m sure,” I say dryly.

“As long as she doesn’t bolt.”

“Shut up. She won’t,” I snap, shaking my head. “Jesus. Are you always this good at wedding shit?”

“What do you mean? Dex had it worse. I spilled the beans toMomabout his fake engagement.I figured the poor girl would bail the next day.” He shrugs. “Still might be true.”

“You’re so full of shit.”

“I mean, I hope not. I’m pretty fond of those eclairs she’s been bringing over lately.” He grins.

Perfect timing.

Dexter appears in the doorway, already showered and dressed. “And I warned you about office romances. You didn’t listen.”

“Bastard. Glad I didn’t, we see how it worked out.”

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