Chapter 9
THE JILTED brIDE REFUND
Aubrey
The lights of a plane high above us wink on and off against the night sky.
“So, yeah. That was the plan for our honeymoon,” I say as I lie on the hood of the car, staring at the jets taking off at the nearby airport.
I don’t want to move. Partly because I just can’t even with this day.
Partly because Dev’s lying on one side of me, Ledger on the other, and it’s comfy with them.
Cozy in its own way. They’re just listening, like they’ve done all day.
“I wanted more of an adventure. Spend the day outside exploring, go to a ghost town, and see new things I never expected to see. But he wanted to do touristy things and wine tastings. I mean, I like wine, but I’m more of a stomp-on-the-grapes girl than a swirl-a-glass-and-talk-about-the-oak-and-berry-and-bacon-leather-taste one. ”
“Bacon leather?” Dev asks.
Ledger shifts his gaze toward me. “What kind of wine have you been drinking, Aubrey?”
“It all kind of tastes like that, though,” I say. “Don’t you think?”
“Red wine, sure. Now that you say it,” Dev says.
“And our flight leaves tomorrow afternoon,” I say with another heavy sigh.
“I saved up for months for the week-long trip. Well, we both did. But I was making more, so I paid more.” And now I’m annoyed that I’m stuck with two tickets, and a room at the inn Aiden wanted to stay at because McDoodle Island has two pie shops, including one that had become an Instagram sensation.
Yeah, that was a fun reason to pick a honeymoon destination.
To scout its work potential. “Maybe I can call the airline and see if they have a jilted bride refund?”
Both men are quiet for several seconds. No jokes. No teasing. Dev sits up and shoots Ledger a stare I can’t read.
Ledger pushes up too, his blue eyes directing question marks to his friend.
Ugh. I hate silence. It reminds me too much of nights at the dinner table when I was younger.
When Claire and Garrett were busy with their friends, and I was the only kid there, tasked with single-handedly keeping the conversation alive during the years when my parents barely spoke to each other.
“Airlines really should have one if you think about it,” I say, all cheery.
When in doubt, make a joke at your own expense.
“Excuse me for a sec, Aubs,” Dev says, not taking the bait at all as he swings his legs off the hood of the car, jerking his gaze to Ledger then the parking lot in a walk with me gesture.
I sit up.
Worries swim inside me as Ledger hops off the hood and strides into the warm summer night with Dev, the sound of their footsteps fading.
Maybe I should just shut up and stop telling them every detail of my failed wedding.
They are my brother’s besties, after all, but I’ve been treating them like mine.
I have my own besties to share my innermost thoughts with.
But before I can stew in my head much longer, the duet of Crocs and wingtips on pavement grows louder as my escorts return. They stop in front of me, twin gazes a little devilish.
“What if instead of a jilted bride refund,” Dev begins, his lips curving into a satisfied grin.
“We take the trip with you,” Ledger finishes.
I freeze.
Did they really say that? Tilting my head, I study Dev’s green eyes, playful, but hopeful too. Then Ledger’s blue ones. Serious. Direct.
They mean this. “A honeymoon for three?” I ask.
Dev gives a casual shrug. “I’m pretty fucking fun.”
“Stern Brunch Daddy knows how to have a good time too,” Ledger adds. As if he has to sell himself as well when I’m beyond sold. I want to shout yes, yes, yes right now. But there’s that little matter of my brother. “What about Garrett?”
I’ve barely mentioned him all day. There’s been no need. But I don’t want to upset him by monopolizing time with his clients who are also his friends. “Will he mind?”
Dev scratches his bearded jaw, seeming to consider it for a beat. “He did send us to take care of you today. I’ve been keeping him in the loop over text. He asked us to look out for you.”
My heart sags a little. I don’t want to be a pity plus-one. But before I can ask if that’s the only reason they’re suggesting this, Ledger clears his throat and says with authority, “But you’re our friend now too. We want to do this. He’ll be chill.”
And, really, what’s not to be chill about? I’m not involved with either guy. And they do feel like friends. “Did we just become best friends?” I say, borrowing the movie line from Step Brothers.
“Damn straight we did,” Ledger says.
I smile, relieved. But I want to be one hundred percent certain. “You guys don’t have stuff to do?”
“Training camp doesn’t start for another week,” Ledger says.
“Who else can take time off at the drop of a hat?” Dev adds, then steps closer, swiping a strand of hair off my cheek, and tucking it gently behind my ear, making my pulse skip a beat. “My schedule is clear.”
When the shiver fades into a warm glow, I shift to Ledger, hunting for any sign he’s not on board. “You really want—”
“Yes,” Ledger growls, and my damn pulse skitters again. That was a firm, sexy declaration. “Are you in or out?”
I stop thinking. I start planning. “Yes. I’m in.
But what about the airfare? We had two seats, and even though Aiden doesn’t need his, I don’t think you can just change names on tickets.
Plus we’d need one more.” I bet Aiden canceled his ticket this morning.
Maybe no one scooped up his empty seat yet. I hope there’s another one.
I grab my phone from my purse. An email from the airline blinks in the notifications.
“Yep,” I say sarcastically, waving the phone around. “He canceled his ticket. So thoughtful. Since he only canceled his. Didn’t even bother to see if I still wanted to go or not.”
“That guy,” Ledger grumbles, taking a step toward the hotel. “I should pay him another visit.”
In no time, Dev’s hand curls around Ledger’s shoulder. “He’s history, man. Let him be. Let’s do this and help Aubs.”
Help. Yes, that’s what this is. A friendly, helpful gesture from my new best friends.
“Fine. You’re right,” Ledger admits. “Let’s see if there are seats.”
In seconds, they break out their phones. We search for tickets, plugging in permutations. Dev shows me flights to Seattle tomorrow, checking them against mine. Ledger tests other options, and my heart races, but reality is making one thing clear.
This is just a pipe dream.
The flights are full. Tonight, tomorrow, and the next day.
All the air leaks out of me in a sigh, but I shrug like it’s truly no big deal, even though I wanted it badly for a few minutes there.
“It was a fun idea, guys,” I say, then lift my chin.
I’m not going to run off with my tail between my legs.
“But I’ll go alone. I don’t want to waste the money, and I think it’d be good to get out of town for a little while. ”
I suck down my disappointment. I’ve had a good day, all things considered. I blew off steam at an amusement park and got some revenge thanks to my brother’s two sexy, charming, protective best friends.
My friends now too. That’s enough of a win.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine,” I add, but Dev isn’t paying attention. He’s tapping away on his phone.
He hits a button and brings the device to his ear. “Hey, Spencer. I need a favor.”
There’s a pause, then he chuckles.
“You guessed it, buddy.”
Another beat.
I turn to Ledger, asking with my eyes if he knows what Dev’s up to. Ledger shrugs a no idea.
“Can you swing it?” Dev asks.
Another pause.
“Excellent. Gimme one sec to make sure this works for my friends.” He covers the phone. “Can you meet at the airfield in Novato at two p.m. tomorrow? Guy I know charters private jets, and he’s got a bird available then. He’ll put it on my tab.”
I blink. Several times. “You’re booking us a private plane?”
“You have a tab? Like, an account?” Ledger seconds, rubbing his ear like he’s heard wrong.
“Obviously,” Dev says with a scoff. “When I moved my parents here from St. Paul a few years ago—they’d gone back there while I was in college—I booked them a private jet to fly with their rescue Chihuahuas.
There’s no way Mom was letting Lulu and Virgil fly commercial.
They’re assholes, those little mutts. Cute, adorable assholes, but assholes, nonetheless. Does two p.m. work for you guys?”
I want to thrust my arms in the air. Dance on the hood of the car. Shout to the sky. Instead, I simply nod, like I fly private every day. “Well, if it’s good enough for Lulu and Virgil, it’s good enough for me. What about you, Ledger?”
He scratches his jaw, all nonchalant. “I can probably make that time work.”
Dev returns to his call. “Book it.”