Page 5 of Embers in the Outfield

“River, I’m happy to finally meet one of Ashton’s friends. Thanks for driving back with him for the holiday.” Samara gives me a genuine smile. I can tell that she is the peacemaker ofher group, especially with uptight Nancy over here. Too bad her friend can’t take these pointers and use them to her advantage.

She gestures to the woman who’s on the Shelby bandwagon. “This is my roomie, Kennedy. Kennedy, play nice.” She glares at her friend, I think realizing that she needs things to go smoothly, seeing as she’s dating my best friend.

I extend my hand, and Kennedy looks down at it, then looks at her friend. They seem to be having an entire conversation with their eyes, and Kennedy finally relents, rolls her eyes, and puts her hand in mine.

“Nice to meet you, officially,” I say in hopes we can have a truce.

She rolls her eyes again and huffs out, “Fucking dick,” under her breath while attempting to pull her hand out of my grip.

I’m quicker and grip her hand a little tighter, pulling her closer to me.

I bring my lips to the shell of her ear and say, “Maybe you need a little ass play. But I think that stick might get in the way.” I chuckle as I move away from her, trying to ignore how good she smells. Skipper huffs out a breath, and her mouth hangs open.

“Fuck you,” she seethes through gritted teeth.

“Why don’t you get on your knees and warm me up first,” I throw back, and I know that now she might explode.

She storms off, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

Sam sighs and goes running to catch up with her uptight friend, while Ashton mouths,Fuck you, yet laughs because that shit was fucking funny.

No matter how gorgeous that chick is, her attitude is shit. Lucky for me, I won’t have to see her anymore after today. Ashton will soon be onto the next girl he’s envisioning forever with, and I can say goodbye to what I can guarantee is an uppity personality like Kennedy.

CHAPTER 2

Kennedy

PRESENT DAY

“You may now kiss your bride!”

Ashton brings his hands to cup Samara’s cheeks and plants a small kiss on her lips. I see my friend melt into his touch, even after all these years together. She pulls him closer to deepen said kiss, and relish in the fact she’s finally going to be his wife. After so much planning, I know how happy she’s feeling right now.

The couple walks down the aisle, the ribbon bouquet Sam put together at her bridal shower clutched in one hand while the opposite arm intertwines with her fiancé.

“Now remember that the photographer and videographer will be capturing this incredible moment while you walk down, so make sure to keep smiling; make sure it’s natural. You’re going to walk all the way from the gazebo to the hallway where we started the procession. Got it?” Theresa, the wedding planner, beams like she’s going to win an Olympic medal after this entire wedding is over tomorrow night. She moves her attention to us, still standing at the altar. “Now, the rest of you, keep your smiles plastered on. Do not give me any resting bitch face during the ceremony.”

“That might be hard for Kennedy!” That comment comes from fucker, I mean, River.

I swing my gaze at him, narrowing my eyes in his direction while he looks mighty proud of his snide comment.

I still remember the moment we crossed paths ten years ago at that fraternity party. At first, my gaze locked on his because—now, this hurts greatly to admit—he was the hottest person I had ever laid eyes on. He had on a backward cap that night, which is my kryptonite. That might be why it took me a minute to figure out where I had seen him before. But the moment the lightbulb went off, he instantly soured my mood.

River Nichols has been a damn gnat, one I can’t seem to swat away. And the asshole doesn’t seem to get ugly. Actually, despite my attempts not to find him attractive, it’s almost like he’s even hotter today than that day a decade ago. Damn him!

I’m pulled out of my thoughts when Ashton speaks up. “I think we can manage that.” He’s down the aisle now, standing next to Sam. If he had it his way, they would have eloped and saved the hassle of doing a whole wedding. He isn’t much for the glitz and glamour Sammie had always dreamed of for her wedding.

Add in that his soon-to-be bride has been a slight nightmare in the last few weeks, so I don’t blame him. Sammie is usually sunshine and rainbows, always smiling and seeing the positive in everything. The only thing is, she’s turned over a new leaf that I wish she had left unturned.

She has been snappy and exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, and has completely deviated from her normal bubbly self. Not sure what happened recently to cause this change, but I am now counting the hours until this wedding is over if it means my friend will come back to me.

Theresa calls out my name for me to begin my walk down the aisle next, and I walk toward the one man I really hoped I would never have to interact with again.

As happy as I am for the bride and groom-to-be, the one downfall of this whole thing revolves around the fact that I’m stuck with River Dipstick Nichols as a partner throughout this whole wedding. Actually, he’s been the downfall of this entire relationship between Ash and Sam. They got happily ever after, and I got a lifetime of staring at his smug face, along with mocking comments whenever he finds a reason. Honestly, the reason is usually my existence.

I make a show of rolling my eyes as I walk toward River, my annoyance fueling him to smile brighter, the dimples in his cheeks more prominent as I get closer to him.

“Why, exactly, can’t I walk down the aisle with your brother?” I know how much it irks him when I choose Clay over him, yet I get a huge sense of satisfaction that takes over my body each time I bother him. I guess I’m as bad as him when it comes to irritating one another.

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