A scoffing sound escaped his chest. “Now I’m not allowed to smile? I thought I was supposed to be on my best behavior.” He gave his cousin his most obnoxious smile. “That means I need to pretend I want to be here.”
“Oh, I can tell you’re enjoying yourself,” Leo muttered under his breath. “You’re just planning something and that’s what I’m worried about.”
“Aww,” Tripp crooned, “you’re worried about me.”
“No,” Leo corrected. “I’m worried about what Wendy is going to do when she gets fed up with you.”
The smile on Tripp’s face faltered. Leo wasn’t wrong. Had he heard about their little altercation at the antique shop? He couldn’t have.
Could he?
Shoot.
Tripp slumped into his seat, his arms folded and his legs sprawled out beneath the table. Leo had made a good point.There was no telling what Wendy would do if he overstepped. The worst part was that he’d gone from being excited to see her so he could finally get the upper hand to being crushed as he was reminded that wouldn’t be a likely scenario.
The reason for this dinner entered. Reese held Serenity’s hand in his. The two of them looked sickeningly happy together. But to be fair, so did everyone else at the table.
Not one other couple in the wedding party wasn’t married to their counterpart—or at least engaged.
There were five couples.
Mack and Lacey.
Leo and Kat.
Caleb and Sammie.
Noah and Jane.
And last but not least, himself paired with Wendy.
From what he recalled, Serenity had another sister, but she was pregnant. Again. Not only that, but she had young kids which made it more than difficult to attend all the fun events where children weren’t invited.
“Thanks for coming,” Reese called out, tapping his glass with the edge of his spoon.
Tripp straightened in his seat and shot a look at the chair to his right. Wendy wasn’t here. Wasn’t she supposed to attend?
“Tonight, we wanted to discuss the other activities we have planned for next week. As you all know, most of the events will be hosted at Sagebrush. Bo has graciously allowed us to takefull advantage of the space and amenities they have available.” He tossed his fiancée a loving look. “Serenity didn’t grow up on a ranch like most of us. So we thought it would be only fitting to get the full ranch experience. Horse riding along with some country competitions. But we also wanted to have a bonfire and some light camping if we can manage it…”
Tripp tuned Reese out, his hard stare trained on the empty chair. If he had to be here, then Wendy should have to be, too. How was this even fair? He might not have a plan for the war she started, but that didn’t mean he was happy that she had started to avoid him. Mind games were just as good as outward pranks.
He’d had time to come to terms with the fact that Wendy could bring her A-game. And he was ready for it.
But none of that would happen if the girl couldn’t show up for a?—
Tripp’s thoughts stalled when the door to their private party opened and the woman herself entered. She mouthed the word, ‘sorry’ to Serenity as she passed. Then her gaze swept over the table until it landed on the only available chair.
The one next to him.
A knowing smirk touched his lips as he leaned back again and laced his fingers behind his head. Wendy’s eyes only briefly landed on him before she rolled her eyes, adjusted the purse on her shoulder, then took her place at his side.
“You do realize that being fashionably late doesn’t exist if you arrive later than the guest of honor, right?”
She kept her mouth clamped shut but the growing blush spurred him onward.
“Better late than never, though, I suppose.”
Wendy cut him a seething glance.
