Page 15 of Coming Home Country
Slowly, I lifted my head. “You still haven’t answered my question as to whyhe’sthe best man. Where are all the people from Mac’s side?”
Her blue eyes grew sad. “Truthfully? They’re too absorbed in either business or their own lives to bother attending.”
My lips parted in shock. “What? No one from his side is coming?”
Aspen shook her head. “The whole reason he chose to start over again, to pursue a new career path at thirty, was because he didn’t want to turn out like them. He saw what joining the family business did to those around him, and he wanted no part in it. Rust Canyon offered him a way out, and he took it.”
“I still don’t understand how Tucker comes into play.” His nameburned like acid on my tongue.
“You’ve met my fiancé, right?” I nodded, so she continued. “He’s best friends with damn near everyone the minute they meet. I never told you this—because I wasn’t allowed—but I lost my shit on Tucker a few years back when he asked about you. Made a huge public scene that Mac had to drag me away from, literally kicking and screaming. There might have also been spitting. Can’t be too sure; the rage blackout was in full swing by that point. Anyway, the next day, they bumped into each other at the coffee shop, and Tucker’s sad story struck a chord with Mac.”
“Hissad story?” I scoffed. “I’m sorry, but that’s where you lost me. What kinda bullshit has he been spewing around town that makes him the victim?”
Lips folding inward, she took the time to settle on her next words. “He knows he messed up.”
My maniacal laughter pierced the quiet morning air. “He didn’t justmess up, Aspen. He married another woman while he was still dating me! And now, I’m looking over my shoulder because the idea of laying eyes on the woman he deemed a better fit as his life partner willkillme. I won’t survive it.”
She grasped my hand. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
I shoved off the ground, got to my feet, and began pacing. “How can I not? He’s in your wedding. She’s bound to pop up at some point.”
Aspen watched my restless motion from her seat in the red dirt, likely ruining the beautiful white dress she wore for her shower. She knew if given enough time, I’d wear myself out, so she let me do just that.
Huffing and puffing, I burned off all the angry energy until the tension was released, and I had to place my head between my knees to try to clear my vision of the black spots dancing across everything I saw.
A reassuring hand rubbed soothing circles between my shoulder blades. “He’s been divorced for five years. Moved back here from Baltimore after everything was finalized.”
My heart flipped, and I stopped breathing.
Then reality came crashing down. She might not have turned out to be his forever, but at some point, he’d believed she could be. Tucker had married her so quickly that there hadn’t been time to breakup with me first.
“Doesn’t change anything.”
She looped her arms around my waist from behind and pressed her cheek to my back. “Didn’t think it would.”
“Sorry I made this all about me. I’m the world’s worst maid of honor.”
Squeezing me tighter, Aspen countered, “Well, we did kinda ambush you. And that was selfish on my part. I knew how hard it would be for you to see him again, but I wanted you here so badly that I kept quiet. I can see now that I made a mistake not warning you. The cost you’re paying is too great. If you want to leave, I’ll understand. I don’t want you to hurt any more.”
I tapped her forearm, signaling to be released from her hold. When she complied, I turned to face her. “That pain is never going to go away. Whether or not I’m here, whether or not I see Tucker, it’s something I will carry for the rest of my life. So don’t go tryin’ to get rid of me because I’m staying here until we get you hitched.”
Pink crept onto her freckled cheeks, and she whispered, “Bex, I’m really getting married.”
For a fraction of a second, the ever-present ache in my chest eased. She was literally a blushing bride, and I was so damn happy for her. She’d waited a long time, had almost given up hope of finding love. Now that she had it, I could tell there were times when she couldn’t believe it was real. But it was. Mac was her perfect match, her person.
Having lost that person for myself, I knew how lucky she was.
A smile found its way onto my lips for the first time all day. “Yeah, you really are.”
Her blue eyes grew glassy, and she cleared her throat. “Listen. About tomorrow . . .”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “What about tomorrow?”
“Everyone is set to be paired with their partner in the wedding for the scavenger hunt. If you need me to, I can switch things around so that you’re with Tripp and don’t have to spend any alone time with Tucker. Tripp’s supposed to be with Penny, with hopes that this week might be the push they need, but you come first. Always.”
I blew out a heavy breath. “It’s fine.”
Aspen shot me a doubtful expression. “I can count the number of times I’ve heard your mama raise her voice on one hand, so whatever went down before I walked in couldn’t have been good. Are you sure?”
