* * *
The Spanish Inquisitionhad nothing on Bree and Denise. They asked her everything from where her favorite place was growing up to her favorite author to whether Tim had invited her to the wedding because if he hadn’t, Bree would make sure she had an invite.
“Oh. I— We—” It was the very definition of awkward.
“Tim,” Bree shouted.
“Please don’t put him on the spot.” What if he said he wasn’t inviting her? What if he’d already invited someone else before they started dating.
“It’s fine. It’s probably one of those guy things where he assumes you’re going to do something so he never gets around to asking.”
“I hate it when Chris does that,” Denise said.
“You hollered?” Tim came in from the back deck, followed by Jase, Chris, and the three dogs.
“You haven’t invited Zoe to the wedding yet?” Bree asked.
“Considering I haven’t received my invitation, I thought it was a bit presumptuous to invite her to a wedding I’m not even sure I’m attending.”
“You’re the best man,” Denise said. “You’re obligated to be at the wedding whether you get an invitation or not.”
“I’m the best man?” Tim wasn’t being snarky. He seemed to have no idea he was going to be his brother’s best man.
“Are you serious?” Bree asked.
Denise leaned close and whispered, “It’s going to get guy sappy in a minute.”
“Guy sappy?”
She tilted her head toward the three men. “Watch.”
“Jase, you haven’t asked Tim to be your best man?” Bree demanded.
“Why would I have to ask him? Of course he’s my best man.” He looked at Tim. “Who else would I ask?”
Denise nudged Zoe with her elbow. “See? Guy thing.”
Tim pointed at Chris. “Your best friend.”
“Dude. You’re my brother. Of course you’re my best man.”
“I’m honored.”
Jase pulled him into a back-pounding hug. “Can’t believe you thought I’d ask someone else. Asshole.”
“Shut up.”
They released each other with one last pounding and Tim turned to Zoe, his eyes suspiciously bright. “So…want to be my plus one to my brother’s wedding?”
Zoe grinned. “When you ask like that, how can I refuse?”
He hugged her and kissed her temple. “Sorry I abandoned you. I hope they weren’t too bad.”
“It was fine. It shows they care.”
“Did they ask you to foster a dog?”
“No. Why?”
