Page 8 of The Best Men
I bark out a laugh without meaning to. He’s right, though. My sister is having a shotgun wedding, just like I did six and a half years ago after getting my college girlfriend pregnant. And look how that turned out.
Asher St. James isn’t getting that story, though. No thanks. Or any stories. Earlier, I could hear him fishing for clues about my sexuality. I’m bisexual. I’m not conflicted about it. My family knows.
But my drunken text rant was over-the-top embarrassing. There’s no way I want Asher to think that I was hitting on him. Like his ego needs any more stroking.
More guests come through the door, and he hurries off to greet them. I watch him go. Well, fine, I admire his ass in those trendy, close-fitting pants. Still, Asher is everything I’m not. He’s the life of the party. He was a professional soccer player; now he’s a top photographer of athletes and models. He’s sporty and artsy and smooth.
So damn smooth. Like his clean-shaven face that I bet would feel so good. . .
“Mark!”
I drag my eyes off Asher’s hiney and find my sister and Flip marching toward me. “Yes, Hannah. How’s your party? I heard they’re bringing out some vegetarian rolls, by the way.” I give her a wink.
“That’s amazing. Who could eat, though? I’m just so excited to see everyone!” She’s beaming and fanning her face with excitement. That giant rock on her finger hardly looks real. She sent me about fifty pictures of it yesterday, and I assumed the camera angle was exaggerating things.
But, nope. Rosie’s marbles are smaller than that thing.
She puts her hands on my chest, and the sparkle almost blinds me. “Mark, one of the reasons I was so happy for Asher to plan this party tonight is. . .” She stops, her smile growing bigger, like it’s about to unleash a secret she’s been holding in all evening. “Ever since we were kids, I always knew I would want to dothis.”
Ah, I sense a moment coming.
Hannah isn’t dramatic, per se. But she does like to do things up. Why go hiking when you can go bungee jumping? Why go to a wine tasting when you can do mustard canning? Proof of her get-out-and-go-for-it approach is that she met Flip at a candle-making class in Brooklyn that she signed up for at the last minute, and that’s whyyou just need to try new things,since life is full of moments, and you need to be ready to receive them. Her words.
I’m not a moments guy. But I love my sister, and I owe her, so I go along with it. “And what isthisexactly, Hannah Banana?”
Her eyes twinkle brighter than her diamond. “I’ve always imagined when I got married . . . that you’d be my best man.” She practically squeals the request.
And whoa.
That’s definitely a moment.
I didn’t think I’d be part of her wedding party, being a guy and all. I figured Yasmin would be her maid of honor. Bet she is, and I’ll be standing with Hannah’s college bestie.
“How many attendants are you having, exactly?”
“Just you.”
That’s all she says. But the way she saysjust youconveys the meaning. This matters to my sister. We’re twelve months apart in age. We’re good friends and always have been. We rely on each other.
I clear my throat, square my shoulders, and treat the request with the gravitas it deserves. “Yes, of course. I’d be honored.”
I pull her in for a hug, trying to wrap my head around how I went from the worst brother to the best man in twenty-four hours, but hey,it’s one of life’s moments. As she squeezes me, Asher sails behind her, moving next to Flip. My skin prickles. He’s everywhere, and I can’t get away from him.
When Hannah and I break the embrace, she locks eyes with Flip, then gives the quickest of nods. Like she’s giving him permission.
They’ve definitely got something planned.
Flip pivots, claps a hand on his wingman’s shoulder. “Asher, we’ve been best buds since our first year at Lyceum du Lucerne when we had the brilliant idea to try out for the ski team and I broke my leg instead of making the cut. But you carried my tray in the caf for eight weeks. You’re my guy. You’ve been there for me through everything. It’d be an honor if you’d bemybest man.”
I groan inside. No fucking way.
I bet it’s not easy to surprise Asher St. James, but judging from the size of his hazel eyes?wide AF?Flip just did it.
And for the first time all night, I’ve got a sinking sense that Asher and I are feeling the same damn thing.
I don’t want to be “the best men” with that guy.
But it’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine. What’s the big deal anyway? Asher was always going to be at the wedding. Who cares that we’re the best men? It’s not like we have to pick balloons and boutonnieres together.
