I hold the ICEE out with both hands, and she snags it, giving me another one-armed squeeze. “You’re the best.”
She takes a blissful sip of the half-melted drink, then pauses and slides the straw from her lips. “Where are your shoes?” Her eyes widen. The straw comes out like a baton and points between her ICEE and my knee area. “And what happened to your skirt?”
“Oh, nothing. Let’s just say the first ICEE came to an unfortunate end. The rudest boy in the world dumped it on me.” I pop my trunk. “Where can I change?”
“I’m so sorry.” Her shoulders slump, and a dollop of ICEE drips from her straw before she slides it back into her drink. “It’s all my fault.”
I rummage for a pair of jeans and some sandals. “I assure you, it’s not.”
She slurps another sip. “There’s a bathroom inside. And don’t worry. We’re still waiting on one of the groomsmen. But Hudson says he’s close.”
While she saunters back to the patio, I run inside to swap out my clothes, wash my feet in the sink—yeah, gross—and check my makeup. Too bad I don’t have time to shower after the ICEE ordeal, but this will have to do.
Back at my car, I toss my skirt in the trunk, then walk up the stone pathway to the patio where our party mingles. The welcome smell of something delicious wafts over me, and my empty stomach growls.
I greet Ava’s parents, and of course, her mom comments on my tardiness while her husband is perfectly sweet. Hudson hugs me. He and Ava introduce me to everyone else: his parents and sisters, several sets of grandparents, other family members, and the wedding planner, Evelyn, one of Ava’s mom’s good friends, all the way from Houston.
Ava slips her arm through mine. “We’re going to have a fabulous weekend. You’ll love Carlton Landing, and the wedding will be amazing.”
Maybe she’s right.
As we claim our seats at the beautifully set table, Hudson grins, puts his fingers to his lips, and lets out an earsplitting whistle. He waves over our heads. “Will’s here. Finally.”
A gray car pulls into the alley, and he rushes to greet his groomsman, feet crunching across the gravel. When the newcomer emerges, I suck in a quick breath. The breeze blows a few tendrils of hair across my face, and I slap it away and blink.
No way.
Ava sidles next to me. “That’s Hudson’s cousin Will. Isn’t he cute? And he’s single too.” She cocks her head. “But what is he wearing?”
Is it too late to crawl back to my car and drive home?
Of course, the late groomsman would be a gorgeous dark-haired guy wearing blue-spotted shorts and a neon-yellow, eight-dollar T-shirt that readsFish Eufaula. The rudest boy in the world.
CHAPTER THREE
WILL
“You found it!” My cousin Hudson—the groom at this poorly timed event—jogs over to grab me into an uncharacteristic hug. He must be all keyed up about his looming nuptials.
I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “Sorry I’m late.”
“That’s okay. Sorry you had such a long day. Besides, you’re just in time. One of the bridesmaids just got here too.” He offers a sly grin. “We’ve been wanting to introduce you two. I think you’ll hit it off.”
“Please don’t try to set me up again. That didn’t go well last time. In fact, I’ve sworn off the practice.”
“They can’t all be that bad. This one’s a winner.” He winks. “Andeasy on the eyes.”
I shake my head. “No chance. I’ve had my fill of setups. Never again.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “You hungry?”
“Starving. I haven’t eaten since my layover in Dallas before taking off for the Tulsa airport.”
Not taking his hand from my shoulder, he finally looks me over. “What’s up with your shirt?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I was hoping you’d look a little more…cool when I introduce you to Morgan.”
