“Therefore, by process of elimination, I’m your man of honor, but I believe man in waiting has a better ring to it, don’t you think?”
“You’re not being serious, are you?”
“Of course I am,” he says with all sincerity. “Listen, Lia. I know this is going to be tough without your parents. Losing them was so hard, and they wouldn’t want you to do this alone. I have the time, and even if I didn’t, I would make the time for you. I can help. I can be your backup, your wingman, your bodyguard, your bruiser.”
“Bodyguard? Do you really think I need protection from The Beave?”
“I’ve met her before. Her stare alone is terrifying, let alone the manipulation. Trust me, you will need a bodyguard, and I’m your man.”
“But what about Brian?”
“What about him?”
“You guys don’t get along.”
Breaker shifts on the couch and then offers me a smile. “Well, he’s going to be your husband. Better late than never to build on that relationship because I won’t let any hard feelings or awkward tension with your future husband get between you and me, got it?”
As I listen to him and his words of affirmation, my emotions tighten again, causing more tears to fall.
“What’s going on?” he asks, concerned.
“Just . . .” I look him in the eyes. “I’m so glad I told you. You looked like a pervert with your mustache so many years ago, but I’m lucky to have you in my life.”
He lightly chuckles and says, “You know, if you’re lucky, I could bring back the mustache for your wedding.”
I push at his face. “Don’t even think about it.”
ChapterThree
BREAKER
I pace at the door of JP’s house, the morning dew freshly clinging to every blade of grass as the sun just starts to tilt into the sky, warming the temperature for the day.
I got about one hour of sleep last night. One if I’m lucky.
Once I calmed Lia down and we finished our tacos, we played a few rounds of glass Yahtzee, but neither one of us was paying attention. I think both of our minds were somewhere else. We called it a night, and when I went to bed, she knocked on the wall, I knocked back . . . and then I didn’t go to sleep.
My mind kept whirling over and over again.
She’s engaged . . . to Brian.
When she said she was going to have a relationship status change, I really thought she was going to break up with him. And fuck, I almost said THANK GOD! Could you imagine if I’d let that fly? She cut me off right before I could. And sure, were they kissing in the hallway when I arrived? Yes, but body language is telling, and, at the moment, Brian was the one leaning into her while Lia had a slight lean away. That kiss was all him.
But lo and behold, it’s not a breakup in our future, it’s a wedding, and that makes me . . . well fuck, it makes me feel weird.
Because it’s Brian. The guy makes her happy, but he doesn’t get her. He doesn’t know Lia like I do. If he did, he wouldn’t have gotten that engagement ring for her, one that I’m pretty sure you can see from Mars because it’s so big. Either he would have asked me, the best friend, or he would have known. Never in a million years would I have picked that ring out for her or pressured her to get married in five weeks, only a year and a half after her parents passed away.
Yup, Brian met her a week after their funeral. Lia’s parents were both in a tragic helicopter accident late at night. Her mom was killed on impact. Her dad had a chance, but he coded and passed away during surgery. Two weeks later, Brian picked her up in a bar. She was raw, sad, and needed comfort, and she found it in Brian.
But she still has a hard time dealing with the loss of her parents, and I don’t think he’s considered that. All he cares about is checking off the requirements his mother sets up for him.
Have a successful job.
Buy a nice house.
Get engaged to an acceptable woman.
Have a fancy wedding.
