I huff a laugh, appreciating her trying to make things less strained between us. “This one’s on the house.”
Her smile grows as I give her hand one last squeeze before turning away and leaving her, hoping nothing else happens while she’s out of my sight.
19
Nate
Ian shoves a bottle of beer into my outstretched hand. I take a long sip before observing the group gathered around the brewery. Jack and Ella are weaving through the crowd, greeting their guests with smiles and laughs.
It’s the epitome of happily ever after.
And it makes me uncharacteristically depressed to watch it.
Out of the three of us—Jack, Ian, and myself—I always thought I’d be the first to find my soulmate. I’m the one who actually believes in that. In fate. In true love.
I would’ve bet a lot of money; these idiots wouldn’t know love if it punched them in the balls.
And yet, here I am, watching one of my best friends mingle with the fifty or so guests at his engagement party, with his beautiful fiancée on his arm.
I’m not bitter at all.
I take another large swallow of beer, frowning.
“Why do you look like you smell shit or something?” Ian bumps my elbow.
Not wanting to admit my thoughts, I lie. “Nothing, man. I think I’m just exhausted.” I look around. “I’m going to go say hi to my sister.”
“Oh, which one? Is Pamela here?” Ian asks, his voice bright and annoying as hell.
“Not fucking cool, dickhead,” I call over my shoulder as I stalk away.
I plop down in a chair next to Joseph, Pamela’s husband. Pamela is on the other side of him, talking to a woman I don’t know. She’s short and has blond hair and glasses. She’s cute, but the exact opposite of the woman occupying every brain cell I possess. The only thing they have in common is their curves.
I wonder what Olive is doing tonight.
Pulling out my phone to unlock it, I scroll through the contacts. My finger hovers over the one I’m searching for.
Olive Moore.
Three days ago, when Ian and I were ushering everyone into the waiting vehicles after the show, Cade stopped beside me. He looked straight ahead as if he wasn’t talking to me directly.
“She would kill me if she knew I was doing this,” he said casually.
“Doing what? Talking to me?” I asked, confused.
“If your memory sucks, you better get your phone out very quickly. I have about forty-five seconds until I’m caught.”
I was curious enough to do what he demanded. Holding my phone, I raised my eyebrows at him in question. Herattled off a phone number, and I entered it in my phone, repeating it to him to make sure I got it right.
He gave a quick nod of confirmation. “Now, you have Olive’s number. I suggest you use it wisely.”
The grin that split my face was instantaneous. “Thanks, Cade. I owe you big time.”
He finally turned to face me. “All I ask is that you treat her right. She’s the best person I know, and she deserves the world.”
Easiest promise I ever made. “I promise, Cade. I mean it.”
A knowing smile pulled at his lips. “I believe that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”
