Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Jess
The rehearsal dinner was supposed to be celebratory, but everything about it felt off.
How could it not? Everything about the wedding was off.
It was like I was stuck on a merry-go-round that was only picking up speed, and there was no way off now. Not unless I flung myself to the dirt and sacrificed life and limb.
It wasn’t the best metaphor, but it felt a little too on point.
Wander he was such a good dog and didn’t like to go very far from me. But after a long evening in the trails with my teens group, the last thing I needed was for the little guy to decide the time was right to explore and go wandering.
Normally, I would already be home, but I’d offered to bring Quinn back to the plaza and the brewery, instead of driving her home. She was a regular member of the group now. Although I wasn’t naive enough to think it had anything to do with me, or the skills she was learning in the group.
I glanced toward the gazebo at the far end of the plaza, having walked far enough away to give Quinn and Mason a little bit, but not too much, privacy. They were standing close, and she was laughing at something he’d said.
She pressed a hand to his arm, and I was about to intervene when she spun on her heel and, with a wave at Mason, jogged over to me.
“You know, Mason could have brought me,” she said. “He was going—”
“I can take you home, kiddo. It’s my responsibility.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t look mad as she squeezed me before crouching to pet the dog. “Have a good night, Uncle Pres. And thanks again for letting me join the group.”
I chuckled as she ran off and disappeared into the brewery. I wasn’t sure her dad was going to thank me, but then again, like it or not, she was going to grow up sooner or later, and Mason was a good kid. “Come on, Summit.” I tugged the pup’s leash. “Let’s go.”
I made a point to turn in the opposite direction of Wander & Whisk, where I knew Jess’s rehearsal dinner was taking place.
I’d tried to deny my feelings for her. The feelings I’d always had on some level, that had only come back to life since spending some real time with her over the last little while and getting to know her all over again.
Because what was the point? Whether I liked it or not—and I didn’t—she was getting married.
I blew out a breath on a sigh and, with a shake of my head, started to walk in the opposite direction when I heard a man’s voice.
It wasn’t the voice that made me pause, but the fact that he spoke Jess’s name that stopped me.
The two men had their backs to me as they leaned against the raised garden beds, smoking cigars.
I’d only seen Trevor Burton a few times, but I knew right away it was him. Especially when his buddy exhaled a mouthful of smoke and said, “Tomorrow’s the big day, huh?”
There was no reason I should be eavesdropping, particularly considering the whole idea of Jess marrying another man made my stomach turn, but something told me I needed to hear what these city boys were going to say about my friend.