20. Aspen
20
ASPEN
“ O kay, everyone,” Nina says sweetly, her cheeks flushed pink as she looks around the room. Nina Amore, our favorite librarian in Magnolia Falls, has really kicked up the nightlife for the bookworms in the Lowcountry. From hosting a spicy book club to revamping the romance section and now speed dating, she’s definitely made this a hotspot. “If all goes according to plan, everyone will get a chance to talk to everyone tonight. Ladies will take a seat at their designated table, and the gentlemen will rotate when the timer goes off. Each date is five minutes and before you rotate, you’ll each answer the three questions in the app. That will calculate the most compatible matches.”
Nina beams at her fiancé, the man who puts book boyfriends to shame because Jay Parker is real and he has set the standard. Even now, they’re sickeningly adorable as they moon over each other.
That level of affection has never been my thing, because my brother had been a heathen growing up so I’d never had the problem of bringing home a boyfriend. Montana had chased off every damn boy in Blackstone Falls and most of the surrounding counties. So college had been my first real jump into the dating pool.
But I know Bristol didn’t have that problem. She sighs, the sound tired and morose. Phoenix and Talon had loved her late husband, Davis, and he remains a presence in all their lives.
Straightening in my chair, I remind myself why I’m here, because it sure as hell isn’t to find a date. It seems crazy that just a few weeks ago, when I’d agreed to this, Phoenix hadn’t even been a possibility.
Tonight though, I’d had to bribe him with the promise of a blow job. That particular negotiation had been made while I’d been riding his face and it was only after I reminded him I’d only be going to support Bristol.
Needless to say, he still wasn’t happy.
“We can leave if you’re not ready,” I whisper because I’m nothing if not an enthusiastic getaway driver.
Her eyes are a swirl of emotion as they meet mine, hers a much lighter shade of blue than both her brothers.
“Davis used to look at me like that,” she says, referring to Jay and Nina, and I nod, reaching for her hand and squeezing. “And here I am about to pitch myself to some strange man like, ‘ Hi, I’m Bristol and I’m a widowed single mom who lives with her brother and his fiancée and when he moves out my other brother will probably move in because we all have attachment issues and are way too involved in each other’s lives. Want to get a drink later?’”
I snort and squeeze her hand again. “Maybe just stop after your name, sweetie.” I wink. “Gotta ease ’em into it.”
Frightened eyes meet mine, and I know that even though she was trying to inject some levity into it, my friend is actually scared of admitting all of those things. “Aspen,” she whispers, and I squeeze her hand harder, not daring to pull her in for a hug.
“You are beautiful and strong and you just say the word and I will burn rubber outside these library doors like Magnolia Point has never seen before.” She chuckles, her fingers actively trying to crush mine as she blinks away her tears. “It is okay to have fun and be young and feel sexy.” Lowering my voice, I add, “It’s also okay to still grieve that you had such an incredible love and you’re now stuck at a speed-dating event with me, of all people.”
She laughs, swiping under her eyes and bumping me with her shoulder. “You’re the best person to do this with. Also, how pissed is my brother that you’re here?”
“There were some…negotiations,” I hedge and she snickers.
I’m saved from elaborating any further when we’re told to take our seats.
Taking a deep breath, I settle in and pray the next couple of hours will fly by.
“Stop looking at your phone,” Bristol hisses at me, and I wave the device at her.
“I’m responding to the questionnaire.”
“No, you’re not,” she chuckles as the next contestant—I mean man—sits down in front of me.
I have no idea how many guys I’ve talked to—four? Five? It doesn’t matter. There’s only one man I want and he’s currently sexting me—the jerk.
Is it getting hot in here?
Hi, I’m Wade. It’s so nice to meet you.
Bristol gives him a nervous laugh, but it’s not uncomfortable—it’s…giddy. Glancing over, I see her blush as she tells him her name, her smile anything but forced.
My heart warms at the sight because if the way she’s looking at him is interested, the way he’s looking at her is completely enamored.
I thankfully can’t say the same about the guy in front of me.
“And I’m really into hiking. You know, going out with only a pack, no distractions or running water, just you and nature and?—”
“All right, everyone, it’s time to rotate,” Nina says brightly. Camping guy frowns like he didn’t just talk the entire five minutes about having to pee in the woods while dodging mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies.
I might be born and raised on a farm in Tennessee, but amenities are not negotiable. I might go glamping if the guy is hot enough, which—I squint at his name tag— Paul, is not.
“It was so nice meeting you,” I say sweetly, turning up the Southern charm like the lady I am not.
Usually, that is.
“Gentlemen, it’s time to move!”
Paul gets up and Wade drops into his seat, an amicable smile on his face. “Hi, I’m?—”
“Hold that thought,” I say, standing up and grabbing Bristol by the arm, practically yanking her out of her chair.
“What are you—” she asks but she’s so off-balance I’m able to set her back in front of Wade while I smile at… Aaron.
“Hi, I’m Aspen.”
Aspen and Aaron—not a chance.
“I really wanted to talk to her.” He hitches his thumb at Bristol who is twirling a lock of her hair as Wade says something that has him reaching over to gently touch her hand.
“She’s busy,” I tell him pointedly, mentally changing his name to Stephen for the duration of this date and try to hide my smile.
“Fine, whatever, I’m Aaron and I race…”
Stephen.
He keeps talking and I nod along, commenting where necessary and counting down the minutes until I can leave.
Aaron looks relieved when it’s time to rotate, but before he can even stand, I lean over and offer Wade my hand.
“Hi, I’m Aspen, and she’s my sister-in-law and she has two very big and scary brothers, so treat her with the kind of respect and care she deserves. Got it?”
“Um?” Wade’s gaze bounces between Bristol and me before I smile.
“Great! Now you two kids get out of here.” I grab a twenty from my wallet. “Go buy her a drink. She likes the guava margaritas at Just in Queso.”
“Aspen,” Bristol hisses, her cheeks practically flaming.
Pulling her into a forced hug, I kiss the top of her head as she grips my forearms. “Go have fun. You did it. This was what it was about. You don’t need to suffer through the rest.”
“Hey!” Aaron protests, and Wade snickers.
“I love you, now go have fun.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, and I wiggle my cell phone at her, reminding her I can track her location if I have to.
But I doubt I’ll need it.
Wade stands, offering his hand to Bristol. She takes it without hesitation, and they both wave at me as Aaron grumbles, moving two seats past their vacant ones to the next table.
“Nice work.” A man laughs as he drops down across from me before I can also escape. His hair is longer than most but sexy—not shaggy—as he sweeps it off his forehead. His posture screams musician, and it piques my interest because I haven’t done karaoke in…
Better not think about that right now.
“Thanks, she was dreading this and so I thought it better she leave on a high note.”
“That’s a first class wingman move right there.”
“Wingwoman,” I correct and he chuckles, his eyes sparking.
“My bad, wingwoman. I’m Bridger.”
“Aspen.”
“And she’s also fucking taken,” a deep voice growls from beside me. The smell of a very familiar cologne invades my senses, making me want to clench my thighs together.
“Be nice. You know I came here for your sister,” I say as I tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
Phoenix looks around. “Where is she, by the way?”
“Your girl is a hell of a wing,”—Bridger pauses and gives me a wink—“woman.”
“Keep the winking to yourself, boy band.”
I elbow Phoenix as he drops into the empty chair next to me. “She left with a date. His name is Wade and I’m tracking her phone. Nina has the rest of his information including his mother’s maiden name and his streaming password.”
Bridger snorts and holds out his hand which I high-five, effectively making Phoenix’s frown deepen.
“You’re cool as hell,” Bridger says with a nod.
“Thanks.” I beam at him, ignoring the way Phoenix’s knuckles are white as he grips the edge of the table, so I rest my hand on his thigh because I’m really not in the mood to break up a fist fight.
“I just moved to Love Beach. My band and I have a couple of gigs lined up down there—one at the Sandy Skipper, I think, and then an acoustic thing at Love Beach Brews in February. You should come.”
“Oh! That’s my brother-in-law’s bar. Technically it’s my sister’s best friend’s husband but…semantics.”
“She’s not gonna visit you, jackoff,” Phoenix growls, making Bridger chuckle and me roll my eyes.
“I swear a girl has sex with a guy one time and he thinks he gets a say in her business,” I gasp dramatically.
Nina rushes over, the three of us causing a distraction among the other speed daters. “Is everything all right, Aspen?” she asks, concern all over her face at the traffic jam we’ve caused.
“It is, Nina. I’m so sorry. We’re going,” I say, pointing to Phoenix while I hand Bridger my phone. “Put your number in there, and I’ll make sure we come down and check out your show. My sister lives in Love Beach.”
“Right on,” Bridger says as he taps away. “I’ll head out too,” he says, looking at Nina, “and keep the numbers even for everyone else.” He throws her a wink but she’s completely unaffected, as she nods and smiles back.
Bridger hands me my phone, the three of us walking through the library and out onto the street.
“Well, this was fun,” I say brightly as Phoenix wraps his arm around my waist, his fingers clamping down on my hip possessively. With a little wave, Bridger starts down the sidewalk. “Bridger, I forgot to ask—what instrument do you play?”
He grins. “I play bass. I’ll see you around, Aspen.” He salutes Phoenix who growls under his breath.
Neither of us speak again until he’s out of sight.
“Was that necessary?”
A slow smile graces his lips as he lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “I dunno, but it was kind of fun.”
I spin out of his hold and slam my hands down onto my hips. “So you’re sayin’ you weren’t jealous?”
“Of that guy?” Phoenix says, hitching his thumb in the direction Bridger left. “No.”
“You’re saying he’s a nice, good-looking guy?”
“Sure,” he agrees as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side as he steers us down the sidewalk, “but he’s those things for someone else.”
“And why’s that?” I ask, pulling him to a stop so I can hook my arms around his neck.
“Because you have a hot, tattooed, graphic designer who’s moonlighting as a food truck caterer that’s crazy about you. Also, you owe him a blow job.”
Throwing my head back, I laugh at the absurdity of it all.
But I love it.
Picking me up off the ground, Phoenix kisses me hard, the world around us spinning and making me fall for him a little bit more.