Tears well in my eyes again. “Thanks, Mom.” I lean in to hug her. “Thank God we’re doing this in just three weeks, I don’t think I could take the anxiety of planning a wedding for a year!”
Now, here’s hoping I can take her words and engrave them in my mind, being able to pull them up anytime those anxious feelings arise.
twelve
JACKSON
Iknow Adam is under a lot of stress right now. He’s had a huge shakeup in his personal life, so much so it’s affected all of us, too. I know the rate at which my wedding has come about is hard for him to grasp especially while he is fighting his own demons on love.
But I need him. I need my best friend. And if I need to talk about my future wife, even if it his sister, I need him to put that to the side and be there for me.
He pulls up alongside my truck, down by the field. I told him to meet me here once my team’s practice ended. He jumps out of his truck carrying two cups of coffee, handing one over to me.
“You spike those?”
“Do I need to?” he asks in a gruff tone.
“A little booze never hurt anyone.”
And with that he pulls a small bottle of whiskey from his back pocket, hands me his cup, and opens the whiskey. “Pop the top and let me fill ‘em up.”
“I knew you had it in you, bro.” I chuckle as I put the coffees on the hood of my truck, take the top off and watch him pour some in. Then I raise my brow as he pours a double shot into his own.
“That bad, huh?” I ask quietly.
He just shrugs. “One step forward and two back. Not sure how we’re going to get past it.” He takes a big gulp, making a face as the whiskey no doubt burns his throat on the way down. Then nods at me. “What’d you do to my sister? You must have fucked up; I know it’s the only reason you’d have me out here right now.”
I grin. “Now come on, why’s it always gotta be my fault? You know she’s difficult.”
He barks a laugh. “She’s a Casanova, of course she’s difficult. But you chose that level of difficulty and now you have to deal with it. So come on. Out with it.”
I’m not sure how to start so I just blurt it out. “I think she’s having second thoughts.”
Adam chokes on his coffee. “The fuck! Warn a guy, Gage.”
“I just did. I’m warning you; I think she’s having second thoughts about getting married and I need you to convince me she’s not.”
He just stares at me.
“I’m not ok, bro. Convince me.” I shout at him in a clipped tone.
He sighs, leaning back against the truck, kicking his leg out in front of him and crossing it over the other at the ankle. Still holding his coffee in one hand, the other clenches at the back of his neck. He sighs again. Loudly.
Fucking take your time asshole, meanwhile, I’m dying a slow death over here.
“Just spit it out, Knight. If you know something, you better tell me.” I’m getting angry. I don’t like feeling vulnerable and that’s whathappening here.
He shoots me a side eye then looks back out onto the football field we grew up on. The field where it all started for him and I. For Francesca and me. The joining of our families.
“I don’t know anything, so relax. I don’t think she’s second guessing you, Jackson. She’s been in love with you since we were kids.”
“Bu—”
He cuts me off. “I think the wedding is freaking her out. You guys haven’t had a problem in the past year, and you’ve been living together. If anything was going to break her, it’d be that.” He gives a smug grin.
“What’s that mean?”
“Bro, you’re a pig.”
