Chapter Twenty-Six
Hutch
Ifelt my stomach turnand wondered if the prime rib I just finished might actually make a reappearance. Shit, why did I agree to do this? Pat had actually said I could record the best man’s speech if I felt more comfortable, and now I was thinking that might have been the better option. I wiped the palm of my hands over my legs. My chest was heaving with every single breath I took, and I was sure that I was going to pass out.
“I’ll be right back.” I bolted from the seat next to Madison, sprinting out of the tent, and tried to catch my breath. Bad idea, bad idea, fucking goddamn bad idea. I yanked at my hair just as I felt a hand on my elbow and whirled around with my teeth bared, ready to rip whoever apart until I saw it was Jillian. “What?” I growled. “Here to tease me some more about getting the chance to meet my favorite NASCAR driver?”
Her green eyes softened. “No, it just looked like you were having a panic attack, and I thought...never mind.” Jillian turned to leave.
“Wait.” I watched as she slowly turned back around. “I am, or I was, about to have a panic attack, but not now. I mean...shit.” I ran my hand through my hair again. “Just don’t go yet,” I begged.
Jillian brows dipped with worry. “I thought you weren’t having those anymore?” She took a step closer.
“I wasn’t, but this speech has me all fucked up. Pat told me I could record it so I wouldn’t have to do it in front of a crowd of people, but I thought I would be okay, but now? Now I feel like I’m going to puke, shit myself, and pass out all at once.”
Jillian exploded in laughter only to slap her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that isn’t funny.” She tried to keep herself quiet only to start giggling again. “Could you imagine?” She pressed her lips together.
I chuckled. “If I barfed all over the table, shit my pants, and then passed out, making sure to smack my head really good on the way down?” The thought had me rolling so hard I had tears streaming down my face.
“Oh Jesus, that would really ruin everything.” Jillian pressed a hand to her stomach as she tried to calm herself.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “What a story though.” I roared with laughter.
“My stomach, please, I can’t.” She snickered.
My eyes moved behind Jillian to Patrick. Shit, was it time? I froze at the thought, and even though we had just been laughing about what could happen, it might actually come true. I glanced over to Jillian who brushed the front of her dress down.
“It’s time for your toast, Hutch.” Pat looked between the two of us. “I hope that I’m not interrupting.” A smile pulled at his lips.
Jillian lifted a shoulder. “Nope, not at all. We were just going over the toast together. I’m going to help.”
Pat looked confused. “Help? I thought you weren’t on speaking terms.” His eyes darted between the two of us.
“Things change, brother, so deal with it.” Jillian didn’t let him finish. She held out her hand to me and wiggled her fingers. “The speech,” she reminded.
I stared at her. “What are you talking about?” I was confused. I thought she hated me, so why would she want to help me out?
“Give me your speech, Hutch.”
I took the folded-up papers from my pocket and gave them to her. When Jillian started to walk back inside, I grabbed her and pulled her back against my chest. “You’re not going to make me look bad, are you, bean?” I looked down into her beautiful face.
“You trust me, don’t you, Hutch?”
I trusted her more than anyone. Even now. “Yes,” I answered, then relaxed my grip so that Jillian could go inside, but followed behind just enough so I could see and hear what she was going to say.
Jillian took the microphone and smiled nervously, unfolded the paper, and looked around the tent. “As most of you know, Hutch Kelly is the best man. He’s the older brother of Pat, and he’s an amazing guy. Since we’re being honest, I’ll just admit to you all that he’s my best friend.” My heart thumped like crazy against my ribs. Fuck, this might be worse. Maybe I shouldn’t stand here and listen. “Hutch is, well, the perfect guy, no matter how you put it, but he’s not one for crowds, and so I offered to read his speech today. I hope you all are okay with that.”
Jillian stopped to take a drink of her champagne, and I took a deep breath. “You just need to imagine I’m Hutch now.” The crowd broke into laughter, which helped me too, and Jillian smiled as she began to read my speech.
“Patrick was always the one I looked up to, even if I was the older brother. He never judged or picked on me, even at my darkest times. He helped me whenever I needed him, and looked out for me when I couldn’t do the same. When Pat was born, I was so excited to have a brother because I had never liked being an only child. When we were younger, before we grew up and discovered girls, sports, and beer, we used to build forts in our rooms, and pretend that we lived in the city. That we had wives, kids, and jobs. Stupid shit like that that didn’t matter, but when you’re playing make-believe, it does.” She paused to look over at me before she went on. “Pat always knew he wanted to marry Jo from the moment they met. Whenever we played like that, his wife was named Jo. Even if she didn’t know it yet, they were destined to be together.”
