“Before I put this on, though. Can we talk about something?”
“Of course, Huds. What’s up?”
He turns on the couch to see me a little better and I do the same.
“It would be a lot easier on me if we could come up with a plan for this wedding.”
“Like getting there?”
“No, travel plans are simple. I know you’re working until Thursday, but I mean telling everyone. Showing up there together. You explaining thatI’mthe fiancé, only not really the fiancé because when you told them you were engaged, you lied.”
“Oh, right. That.” He huffs out a laugh. “Forgot about that, I guess.” He shifts his position, the movement putting him closer to me.
“Well, what do you think would be the best way to do that?” he asks.
“I’m not really sure.” I scratch my head. “I don’t think they’ll be upset. I think they’ll understand, but how do we start that conversation?”
“Walking in together would be a start.” He twists his lips. “I mean, it’s not like it’d be that weird, they know we’re… close.” He lets out a soft sigh. “We’ve always been close.”
His gaze drifts from my eyes to my mouth, and I note the slight tension in his shoulders. I get this is a bit nervewrecking for him, but if we have a plan, I think it will be a lot easier for the both of us.
“Knowing Alex, he’ll start screaming about your fiancée and where she is.”
“Yeah, good point.” He chews on the inside of his lip. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to tell him to shut up.”
I bark out a laugh. “You tell Alex to shut up? Can you imagine how that would go?”
He laughs too. “Would make for a funny story.”
“That it would. So, we’re just going in together? I don’t know if that’s enough.”
“What do you mean?” His eyebrows furrow a bit.
“You said it yourself. The guys know we’re close, and Alex aside, it’s just…”
“What?”
“Different. I mean, unless we walk in there holding hands or something…” I clear my throat, trying to read his expression.
Trey nods. “I’ll let them know that we’re there together,” he says carefully. For a moment, it’s quiet as those words settle between us. He licks his lips, his gaze finding mine once more.
“You will?” I ask, my voice almost a whisper.
Trey nods.
“Yeah. I’ll tell them that I got ahead of myself before, and said I was engaged even though I wasn’t, and thatweare not only there together but…togethertogether.”
I sigh. “Theoretically, that works. But you never know how those guys are going to react.”
“We can’t control other’s reactions, Huds. We just have to go in there, knowing what we will do and say. I’ll handle the chaos if it ensues.” He plays with the edges of my hair as he gives me a soft smile.
“Thank you,” I say, leaning over to kiss him. When I pull back, he pulls me to him again, kissing me even deeper.
I smile against his lips and we get comfortable laying together, and then we start the movie.
We don’t leave each other’s side until he has to leave to get to the airport. And that… really sucks.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
