Chapter 20
Bryson
“You’re getting married!” Audrey squealed, throwing out her arms to tackle Caitlyn in a hug that was almost violent.
Three more women followed, piling on Caitlyn and jumping around while laughing and crying. I hoped she didn’t suffocate in there. Who would wear all the pretty dresses, then?
Silas would probably rock a bridesmaid’s dress, though. There didn’t seem to be anything that man couldn’t do.
Our older brother, Bolton, and Bran’s college roommate, Reece, stepped into the foyer of my brother’s house, wearing smirks as they watched the women’s theatrics.
Bolton clapped my brother on the shoulder. “Good to see you, Bryson.”
“I’m Branson,” he protested.
“I know.” He chuckled. “You can’t fool me anymore.” He drew up next to me. “Beware. There’s incoming.”
“What—”
“Bry!” Christian hurled himself into my arms, making me stumble backward a step. “You look so great! Damn, this week should be fuuun.”
I disentangled myself from my ex-boyfriend, which wasn’t easy because he kept trying to cling. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, gosh, I didn’t mean to take you by surprise.
” He widened his big brown eyes. That innocent Bambi look had been a powerful weapon in his arsenal when we were dating.
I wasn’t falling for it now. I took another step back.
“I’m filling in for Alex. He got horribly sick with food poisoning right before the flight. ”
Branson turned, brow furrowed. “You didn’t have to do that, Chris. We could have found someone here to step up.”
“But I’m his size. I have his tux all ready to go. And I wanted to come see Bryson, anyway. Win-win, right?”
Branson looked as if he didn’t know what to say. I glanced at Caitlyn, glowing with happiness. As much as I didn’t want my ex here, I couldn’t ruin her wedding with needless drama.
I forced a smile. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
So thoughtful it was almost manipulative. But then, Christian always had been good at maneuvering situations to his own liking. At least, until I’d walked in and caught him getting a blowjob from his personal assistant, Marco. No amount of fast talking could erase that image from my brain.
“So, is Alex okay?” Branson asked. “Did someone check on him?”
“I sent my new PA, Janet, over there,” Christian said, pulling out his phone. “She sent me a text that he’s resting. She took him some chicken noodle soup and Gatorade, and she’s making sure he stays hydrated.”
“Sounds like a good PA,” I said neutrally.
“I fired Marco months ago. He was a bad influence on me. I’m trying to focus on what’s really important these days. Like being there for my friends.”
Audrey beamed. “Chris really stepped up. It’s so lucky he came to the airport with us.”
“Very lucky,” I murmured.
Or very well-planned. I didn’t think Christian would get Alex sick, but convince him to pretend illness?
Maybe. It was an ungracious thought, though, and I hated that seeing Christian had taken me right back to that suspicious headspace.
It didn’t matter why he was here. He wasn’t my problem anymore.
Branson clapped his hands. “Well, Caitlyn has been cooking up a storm. Why don’t we all eat and then we can go over the itinerary for the rest of the wedding week?”
We all filed into the dining room, where two extra leaves had expanded the oak table to accommodate ten people. We still had to crowd in tight, knees and elbows knocking, to fit everyone.
“Good thing we’re all friends here,” Reece joked as he squeezed in beside me.
I was just relieved Christian had ended up on the other side of the table, next to Audrey and Macy.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “It’s cozy. How are things at the resort?”
“Good.” Reece tugged at his suit jacket. “Branson is going to have to fly back to Little Rock next year, because he’s not the only one getting married.”
There were exclamations around the table.
“Congrats, man,” Bolton said.
“That’s so exciting!” Macy added with her usual effusive flair.
“I’ll have to call Marisol after we’re done with dinner,” Caitlyn said. “I’m so happy for you.”
He grinned. “Thanks, but I didn’t mean to steal your thunder. Carry on being the bride of the hour.”
Caitlyn preened. “I will, thank you.”
We passed around platters of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cobs of corn, and stuffing. I filled my plate fuller than was good for my health, then ate every bite.
With Christian across the table, shooting me hopeful looks, I needed the comfort.
“The rehearsal dinner is on Friday, the day before the wedding,” Caitlyn was saying, as she gave a rundown of events. “Macy arranged a bridal tea party for Thursday. Bran’s mom should be here by then. The boys will be having a bachelor’s party, but—”
Audrey pointed a finger at my brother. “There better be no strippers, young man!”
“No,” he said, then cast a look toward me. “At least, I don’t think so. Bryson and Silas planned it all.”
“No strippers,” I confirmed.
“Who’s Silas?” Tessa, one of the quieter bridesmaids, asked.
“The wedding planner,” I said, before my brother took it into his head to tell everyone about my complicated relationship—or lack thereof. I’d love to proclaim Silas as my boyfriend, but we just weren’t there yet.
Even if I would love to tell Christian that I’d leveled the fuck up.
“Oh, that’s nice of him,” Reece said. “I didn’t know wedding planners helped with that part.”
“Not usually,” Caitlyn said, “but Silas has become a friend to us all.” Her eyes twinkled as she looked at me. I gave her a warning look and shook my head. She wouldn’t be deterred. “A better friend to some of us than others. Right, Bryson?”
“Ooh,” Veronica crooned. “Does someone have a secret lovah?”
Christian scoffed. “Must we gossip like high school girls? It’s so tacky.”
She patted her hair. “Why, thank you for the compliment. I had no idea I looked so young!”
“What else is planned for the week, Caitlyn?” I asked, eager to move on from this topic.
“Well, let’s see. We’ve got a visit to the salon tomorrow. We’re going to plan out our hairstyles and makeup for the big day.”
“Oh, I hope you’ve got a good cosmetologist,” Macy said. “My complexion is so tricky for makeup.”
Macy was a redhead with a thorough sprinkling of freckles. She rarely wore anything but lip gloss. She was naturally quite pretty, though.
“I do!” Caitlyn spent the next few minutes regaling her friends with tales of the infamous Kevin Rhodes/Sassy Solo, the local drag queen who still saw the occasional cosmetology client on the side.
That led to old YouTube videos of makeup demonstrations by Kevin, followed by drag queen performances.
Reece loaded one on his phone and showed me the screen. “Damn. I’m not into guys, but that man is sexy in drag.”
I smirked. “Feeling curious?”
He tilted his head as the video continued to play. “Nah. Marisol gives me everything I need.”
“Smart man.”
“Lucky man,” he corrected, then leaned in and lowered his voice. “Between you and me, I’m pretty sure Christian wants to get lucky, too.”
“Doesn’t he always?” I muttered.
He winced. “That bad?”
“Worse,” I said darkly.
The personal assistant hadn’t been the first time he cheated. Not by a long shot. I was just too oblivious to notice for the first few months. I’d trusted him, even when people suggested I shouldn’t.
It wasn’t until I saw it with my own eyes that I knew I’d been in denial. I’d known, deep down, all along.
We finished up dinner, and I volunteered to handle the dishes.
“I’ll help,” Christian said brightly.
“I got it,” I said firmly. “Go spend time with your friends.”
“You’re my friend too,” he said. “Aren’t you?”
I picked up two plates and carried them into the kitchen. He followed, arms loaded with dishes.
I scraped away food scraps, then rinsed the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. Christian ferried the rest of the dishes into the kitchen while I worked.
“They’re haggling about sleeping arrangements,” he said. “I offered to get a hotel suite for everyone.”
“That was generous.”
“Unless…”
I didn’t look up. “What?”
“Well, I could sleep at your place. Then there’d be enough room for everyone else here.”
I laughed, the sound coming out a bit hoarse. “Never going to happen.”
“Never?” he asked softly.
I loaded the last of the silverware and closed the dishwasher. I turned to face him, eye to eye. “If that’s why you came, you’re wasting your time.”
“Because of this Silas guy?” he asked skeptically.
“No, because of you,” I snapped.
“I know I made a mistake.” At my disbelieving look, he added, “Mistakes plural, I mean. I didn’t know what I had until I lost you. I was an idiot.”
“We can agree on one thing, then,” I muttered.
“I’ve changed, Bryson. I want another chance. Please. You were the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“Well, I’m not giving up. I didn’t fight enough for you the first time. I’m not making that mistake again.”
He walked out of the kitchen. He always did love a good exit line. But if he thought I’d pick up and leave my whole life here to be with him again, it just showed he was as self-centered as he’d always been.
A guy like Christian didn’t change, but even if he did….
My heart was already reserved for someone else. As soon as Silas was ready to claim me, I was his. He had shown through dozens of tiny moments of generosity and kindness that he was ten times the man Christian had ever been.