Page 143 of Forever

“I know what pudding prank you’re referring to,” James said. “But you can’t be serious right now. It’s their rehearsal dinner, Rob.”

“Exactly.” Rob nodded. “So epic. I can’t wait to see Tanner’s dumb face covered in pudding.”

“Please make him stop,” I said to James. “He won’t listen to me. Maybe you can make him see reason.”

James shook his head. “Rob, this is completely inappropriate, even for you.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that, but I think you meant this is genius, even for me.” Rob smiled. “Just wait until you see the pudding.”

I groaned.

Rob rubbed his hands again. “I feel young again. Hunters Sanders mess arounds always do that for me.”

“Rob, I’m begging you. Not tonight. It’s my rehearsal dinner. And it’s my first Thanksgiving back with all you guys.”

“Exactly. It’ll be a night to remember. Thanks to all our hard planning.” He elbowed me in the side.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Sure.” He winked at me.

What was he talking about? “I didn’t. I’m not a part of this.”

“Of course you’re a part of this. Because you owed me that favor. And we decided this was how I was going to cash it in.”

“What favor?” James asked.

“When she screamed my name,” Rob said. “Did I never tell you about that?”

James shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. When did she scream your name?”

“When she was beneath me, begging me for more.” Rob raised his hand for a high five.

I shoved his arm back down. “False. That never happened. He pushed me into a dark room back in high school after betting me I wouldn’t scream his name. Of course I screamed his name. He was holding the door shut and I was terrified.”

Rob laughed. “I shoved her into a room with Matt. Definitely terrifying.”

“That wasn’t why. I didn’t even know he was there. I was just scared.”

“But youdoowe me a favor. Facts are facts, Sanders.”

I sighed. “Why tonight, Rob?”

“Because I figured it was better than tomorrow night.”

Had he seriously considered doing this during my wedding instead? What the hell? “Don’t favors have expiration dates? It’s been 16 years, Rob.”

“Expiration dates? It’s not a gift card. It’s a promise.”

I pressed my lips together. I never liked breaking promises.

“This shit is really fucked up, Rob,” James said. “Can’t you just let this feud with Tanner go?”

“It’s not about Tanner. It’s so much bigger than that. You’re just not getting it.”

“Oh, I’m definitely not getting it,” James said. “You’re letting your beef with him ruin the rehearsal dinner of two of our best friends.”

I smiled. It was sweet of him to refer to me as one of his best friends.

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