Page 75 of My Brother's Best Men
She leans her head against mine.
“Have your parents arrived yet?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, they got in about an hour ago. They’ll be joining us for dinner.” I nod as she hands me some cucumbers for my eyes. “We should probably relax a little before the pedicure.”
“Probably,” I say as I take them from her hands.
And as I drift off to a hazy nap, I dream of weddings, and best men in hot tuxedos, and traveling. I dream of the life I never thought I could have.
The ride back to the hotel isn’t long, but I’ve never felt better. We’ve got an hour or so to get ready for dinner—the rehearsal dinner—and then it’s party time. Though, honestly, I feel like we’ve been closing down the bar and club here every night, so I don’t know how exactly we can top what we’ve done already, but I digress. This is about Sam and Raegan, not me.
I’ll gladly put on my dance shoes and show up to party for them.
Besides, I know the guys will be there, and while maybe that should make me feel on the spot or worried, it doesn’t. We haven’t exactly talked about what we’re doing, and no one’s outwardly said anything. But they all know Keaton and I are done, and have agreed to keep my secret until after this wedding, when I plan to tell my mom and dad. Maybe from a hotel paid for by my new employer…
Not to mention, Matthew kissed me in front of Benny and Elijah earlier. And Elijah knew I needed to talk to Benny, and Benny knew how I felt about Matthew and Elijah, so…
I’m not questioning anything. Not right now. I don’t know if this—whatever this is—is going to last. If it’s just circumstantial. Some post-breakup rebound thing times three, or if it’s just awhen in the Virgin Islandstype thing, but whatever it is, I know one thing is for sure.
I feel better when I’m with them. I feel likeme.
“There’s our princess,” Benny says, pulling my attention as I walk through the doors, and my heart skips a beat. All three of them stand there, at the bar, dressed in their slacks and fancy button-downs. Benny of course is decked out in all black because I’m not entirely sure he owns another color, and offsetting him is Matthew who’s wearing a bright pink button-down with neon green ferns. Elijah is on the other side in a silk button-down that’s dark blue, almost the color of Benny’s eyes.
The three of them look stunning.
“Hey,” I say, almost breathless. “Dinner’s not for another hour or so?—”
“Eli wanted to give you your gift before dinner,” Matthew says cooly.
“What? My gift?”
Elijah huffs out a sigh as he smacks Matthew. “Do you know the definition ofsurprise?”
Matthew smiles at me, licking his lips. “Yeah, but pissing you off is so much more fun.”
Benny chuckles. “I think that’s something I actually agree with you on, Matty.”
Elijah shakes his head as I chuckle.
“Surrounded by idiots,” Elijah says as he procures a small box from his pocket.
A small black velvet box. My heart stops as heat floods my cheeks and panic rushes through my veins.
No. That can’t be what I think it is…
He gently offers it to me. “Go ahead. Open it.”
I gingerly take the box from his hand, my heart in my throat. I open it and my eyes widen. There in the center is an opalescent seashell, decorated by two diamonds.
“Oh my God, Elijah…” I say, stunned by its beauty.
Elijah pulls the shell out, and it dangles from a chain.
Benny plucks the box from my hand and snaps it shut. “Turn around,” he instructs, and immediately my insides remember his commanding tone last night when he said those words.
And what followed afterward.
I turn without question and he chuckles. “Good girl.”
