“Have we met before?” I asked.
“Not directly, no.” He paused. “But even if you weren’t the best man for this wedding, I’d know your face anywhere. It’s very hard to forget.”
“I’m not into men, no offense.”
He rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant, Mr. Brooks.”
“So, how do you know me?”
“Not by choice, but I’ll show you.”
As he crossed the room, I silently flipped through my mental rolodex of clients. I couldn’t place him as a relative to any of them or any of the close friends.
He slipped a hand into his breast pocket and pulled out one of Katie’s leather-bound “Asher-proof” billfolds.
“Oh,” I said, shrugging. “Makes sense why you would have one of those.”
“You never ruined any of the events I was involved in,” he said. “Yet, anyway.”
“I have quite a few coming up, so that might change.”
His lips curved into a smile, but it fell within seconds.
“I never opened the notes she kept inside this thing until a year and a half ago.” He handed the billfold to me. “And then Irealized why she struggled so much trying to start a love story with someone.”
“It’s because she’s highly immature, emotionally volatile, and borderline insane.”
“Insanely stuck on you,” he said. “Although I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“She gives all her staff these billfold things,” I said. “This doesn’t have anything to do with her not being able to be in a relationship.”
“Except she must’ve given me her version by mistake because there are some notes I’m sure she didn’t mean for me to read.” He looked at me. “I think you should read them.”
“Seeing as though she’s ignoring me, I’m not interested in anything Katie Elizabeth-related past this Sunday.”
“Read her fucking notes.” He narrowed his eyes. “And then if you don’t do anything about them, stay the hell away from her after this wedding, so me and the other vendors can finally set her up with someone she deserves…”
“Come again?”
“You can get out now.” He motioned for me to open the door. “I need to focus on perfection.”
Walking away from me, he returned to the chaise and picked up a measuring tape.
As much as I wanted to say something else, I held back and left the room. The weight of the billfold felt heavier than it should’ve. I took the long way across the resort—hoping to catch a glimpse of Katie, but all I caught were glimpses of crew members setting up final things for the wedding.
By the time I returned to my suite, Katie still hadn’t messaged me back. And for some odd reason, my chest was aching at the thought of her never speaking to me again.
No, that pain is probably because of something I ate…
I poured two shots of whiskey and sank down in my chair. Then I pulled out the tailor’s billfold.
I stared at it for a few seconds before finally opening it.
Inside, I saw my picture and the usual rules about reporting me if I was seen.
There were no other notes.
I snapped it shut, but I noticed a card sticking out from under my photo. When I tugged it, I realized there was an entire stack, and each one had a time, date, and the wedding where we’d crossed paths.
