“Yeah, but in front of everyone? Do you think that’s what Brendan would want?”
“Have you met him?” Kalvin asks, laughing nervously.
“I have,” I say, laughing in agreement.
“He loves that kind of attention.”
“Well, it sounds like you know him well enough that whatever you have planned will make him happy.”
“I hope so.”
There’s a knock on the door and I turn, finding Daisy and Clara in their Sunday finest. “Ladies, you look lovely,” I tell them.
“Look at you, cleaning up all nice and handsome, yourself,” Clara says.
“I guess it has to happen sometimes.”
“The Justice of the Peace is here and everything is set up downstairs.”
“Awesome, I’ll be right down.”
As they leave, I stand up and place my hand on Kalvin’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be great. You shouldn’t worry.”
“Austin?” Kalvin asks as I turn to leave.
“What’s up?”
“I hope this isn’t awkward for me to ask, but would you be my best man? I didn’t consider who to ask seeing as I’m marrying my actual best man.” He laughs as his cheeks turn red.
“I would be honored. Where are the rings?”
“On the dresser behind you.”
I see the two boxes and head over to grab them.
“Thank you, Austin. You’ve been a good friend these last few months.”
“I feel the same,” I tell him. “I’ll see you at the altar. Take a deep breath and just know whatever decision you make is the right one. You’ve made it this far.”
“You’re right,” he says, taking a deep breath.
I jog down the stairs, seeing Scarlett walk out the front door with Waldo on her heels. He definitely shouldn’t be at this wedding.
“Scarlett,” I yell after her. She doesn’t hear me with the door closing at the same time. I run outside, finding the space filled with guests. How are there so many people here with both Brendan and Kalvin being from out of town? Holy crap. I catch up to Scarlett and take her arm. “Waldo should probably stay inside.”
“No, he’s the ring bearer,” she says.
“No, he’s not,” I tell her.
“It’s too late. I already tied a pillow to his collar.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s too late,” I argue.
“Come on, have a little faith in him,” she says.
“Scarlett, he chases butterflies. I don’t have faith in him.”
“Fine,” she says, leaning down to unhook the pillow from his collar. “You can be the ring bearer.” She shoves the pillow into my chest.
