Page 84 of Kissing for Keeps
I laugh. I always laugh when I’m with Jack. I’m keeping my distance, but all I want to do right now is hug him. Whatever his rationale, the only reason I can think of for him to take responsibility for something that was obviously my fault is out of concern forme. He risked making Madi angry with him—not that she’s really one for a full-on tantrum—to spare me, and that’s one of the sweetest things I can imagine.
But I refrain from hugging him. It’s getting hard enough to keep my guard up as is, and I need my reason fully intact for this wedding.
“Thank you,” I say.
He offers that beautiful half-smile of his. “I got you, Sheppard.”
30
JACK
I wakeup early the next morning and make my way over to the main part of the chateau. Between Mom getting here and everything unfolding last night, I haven’t been able to talk to Troy about DJ-ing with me.
Now that it’s time to have that conversation, I’m feeling a lot less chipper that he’ll be up for it. We never really resolved things from the other night—and I’m still not entirely clear if there’s actually something to resolve—but I knock on the door, anyway.
It takes a minute for the door to open, and when it does, Troy’s bedhead and barely open eyes make it clear I woke him.
“Hey, man, can I talk to you for a second?”
“No,” he says, but he turns around and leaves the door open for me to come through.
I follow him in, and he falls on the rumpled bed. “If you were hoping to get approval to date my sister, waking me up at the crack of dawn when I’m jet lagged was the wrong move.”
I stand by the wall a few feet away from the bed and lean on it. “I’m not here about that. I’m here because I need your help.”
He opens one eye and glares at me.
“It’s for Madi. For the wedding. The band that was supposed to play for the reception can’t come anymore.”
He lifts himself up on his elbow, frowning at me. “That sucks. But what does it have to do with me? Or you, for that matter?”
“It has to do with us because I told Madi we’ll step in and DJ. You can do whatever you want the rest of the time, but I need you to work the music during the ceremony because I’m going to be walking Madi down the aisle.” I still can’t believe she asked me to do it. My feelings since then have been a bizarre mixture of grateful, guilty, and nervous. It means she’s coming to trust me again, which would be amazing if it weren’t for the fact that sheshouldn’t.
It’ll all come crashing down after the wedding when we have the talk, and that makes me incredibly sad.
Troy stares at me, considering my request. He swings his legs over the bed and runs a hand through his brown hair. “Okay. Yeah. I can do that.”
I put out my hand, and he takes it in a bro shake. “Thanks,” I say. “I know you’re not my biggest fan, so I appreciate you doing this for my sister.” I pause. “And because you know if you don’t, I’ll destroy you in jousting again.”
He gives a laughing scoff and shakes his head. “In your dreams, Allred.”
I turn to leave, only to stop short. “Hey, can I get Austin’s number? Madi was having the band play one of his songs for her and Rémy’s first dance, but it’s not on any of the music apps I have. I want to see if he can send me the track.”
He grabs his phone from the nightstand and hands it to me once he’s on Austin’s number.
I add him to my contacts and hand the phone back. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I head to the door, only to hear Troy call over, “I’m still serious about my sister, Allred.”
I sigh and close the door behind me.
* * *
It’searly afternoon when we get to City Hall for the civil ceremony. Madi’s wearing a knee-length, white dress with cap sleeves, while Rémy’s looking smooth in a fitted navy suit.
We’re a small group—Rémy’s parents, Mom, the Sheppard family, and the four of Madi and Rémy’s friends. This is how Madi wanted it to be for the civil ceremony, and she and Rémy are all smiles as they embrace everyone in preparation for the ceremony. Tomorrow the celebrating happens, but today is when they officially seal the deal.
