Page 106 of Take Two

“I don’t understand why you won’t accept money from me, but you’ll take it from Violet’s dad.” He sounds hurt as he crosses his arms and waits for my answer.

“Because he’s investin’. You don’t invest. You say you are but then refuse to be paid back. You’ve done enough for me. I can’t take another thang from you.”

“I’m your freakin’ brother and I have more money than I could ever spend. We’re family. So what if I give you money. You’d do the same for me and not think twice about it.”

Once we announced our engagement, I told everyone my plan to open a restaurant here with a similar southern menu like the one back in Birmingham. Miles Dixon has offered to front the money, and we’ve worked out a verbal agreement before getting our lawyers involved.

“I would, but—”

“No buts or I’ll just deposit a huge amount of money into your bank account. Let me invest,” he says.

“I need your help in a different way,” I say, hoping that this idea will work. “I’ll need you to eat and be seen there. It won’t hurt if you bring your teammates. That’s what I want from you.”

“I was going to do that anyway. Let me do something else.”

He’s already offered to pay for our wedding. We both turned him down, but now Miles is insisting that he pay since Violet is his only child.

“You’re my best man. You can plan my bachelor party.”

We set a date for next August. Colt’s job will be offseason, and he won’t have to travel for the months leading up to the wedding.

“I mean with the business,” he says. “I want to do this. I know you’ll make it a success, and I want to be a part of it. I’ll be a silent partner. I never interfered with the other restaurant.”

He sticks out his hand for me to shake. I look into his eyes, but I can’t tell if he’s being honest about his money being an investment.

“You have to accept payment,” I warn him. “Say it,” I say, refusing to shake his hand until he does. “Say it out loud.”

“When you start making a profit, you can write me a check,” he says.

“But will you cash it?” I ask.

“Sure,” he says after several seconds. He breaks eye contact and looks past my shoulders.

“You’re lyin’,” I say and walk away from him without shaking his hand.

He runs ahead of me and blocks the door. “You don’t have to pay me back. It’s stupid when I have the money and don’t need it back.”

“It’s not stupid to me, though, Colty. It’s important to me.”

“Okay. I promise. We’ll figure out the details later.” He sticks his hand out again, and I shake it this time. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me. He still has his arms around me when we walk back to the party.

“I’m happy for you.” He kisses my cheek and messes my hair before he finally lets me go. The front door opens, and Vickie’ssister and husband walk in. “Vickie invited everyone. Sorry,” he says.

“I’m going to strip us both naked so we can climb into bed. We’re not getting back up until morning, and I better be limping from the dick down you’re about to give me.” She snakes her arm around my waist and rests her head on my shoulder.

“You’ll be gagging in no time,” I promise. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” The elevator door opens, and we step out and walk to her front door. I guess it’s our front door now.

“But gagging will be delayed since my parents and Terri are coming by to talk about the wedding, even though I told them it could wait,” she says, blowing her breath upward. “By the way,” she continues. She has the key in her hand, but she turns to face me. “Remember how we told everyone that we want a small wedding?” I nod. “Seventy-five people at the absolute most?” I nod again. “Well, your mom gave me a list of forty people she wants to invite, and she wants your pastor from back home to officiate. My dad listed thirty people off the top of his head. Between the two of them, I know about five of those people.”

“I know. I’ve known our reverend all my life, and he officiated at both of Vickie’s and Colt’s weddings. Can I ask a favor?”

“You want to invite anyone Mama wants?” she asks with a giggle. “I knew it,” she says. “But this wedding is going to get too big too fast because I guarantee when my mom hears about my dad’s guest list, she’ll have her own.” She lets out another breath and runs her hand over her face.

“We can elope when we go away after Christmas,” I suggest. We can go to the courthouse and elope any day she wants. I just want her to be my wife.

“Tempting.” She puts the key in the door and turns the lock. “But I want to marry you in front of our friends and family while I’m wearing a pretty white dress,” she admits.

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