at the airport? I thought you weren’t getting back until tomorrow night.”
Chad sighed loudly, and I could just picture him pinching the bridge of his nose like he did when he was frustrated. “The meetings were rescheduled last week. That’s why I left a day early. I thought I told you.”
“I don’t remember you saying anything about that,” I said, trying to mentally piece together our previous conversation
I had been busy helping Emerson with all of her final wedding plans, since throwing a high-end wedding together in six weeks was a huge undertaking. But I would have remembered if my boyfriend was coming home tonight.
“Okay, well, it’s been a really long day.” He sighed heavily again. “Can you come get me? Or should I see if Amber is still here and hitch a ride with her?”
Amber?
As in, his co-worker who frequently traveled with him to these business meetings?
Also, the woman I’d caught flirting with him on several occasions.
Yeah, I wasn’t about to put those two in the same vehicle.
Resigned, I said, “I’ll be there in twenty-five minutes.” The reception was almost over, anyway. All I’d be missing was the bouquet toss, and even though Chad and I had been dating for three years, I doubted me catching a bouquet would have any sort of impact on Chad getting down on one knee any time soon. He always said he wanted to make partner at his firm first before he started thinking about making any permanent plans where we were concerned.
“I guess I’ll find a seat and make myself comfortable then,” Chad said, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
“I’ll see you soon,” I said, sounding a bit too cheery to overcompensate for his mood. He’d been in meetings all day, and I knew how it was to just want to be home after a long trip. I suppose I’d be upset, too, at not having anyone at the airport to meet me, if I were in his shoes.
We said goodbye, and then I looked around Emerson and Vincent’s kitchen for the key fob to my Prius before remembering that I’d asked Cole to keep it safe for me, since I hadn’t wanted to leave my things laying around for one of the caterers to possibly swipe.
I went back out the door to find my best friend again. Cole was standing on the side of the dance floor, talking to one of his teammates. When he saw me walking toward him, he smiled and sauntered closer.
“Ready to give me those dancing lessons now?” His dark brown eyes were bright, like he was actually looking forward to it despite grumbling when I’d pulled him toward the dance floor earlier.
But I shook my head and gave him a regretful look. “I have to pick up Chad from the airport.”
Cole’s brow furrowed. “Right now?”
I nodded. “He’s been waiting for a while, I guess.”
“Doesn’t he realize you’re at your brother’s wedding?” Cole asked. “Can’t he just call an Uber or something?”
“I don’t mind,” I said. Then realizing that didn’t sound very believable, I hurried to add, “I mean, I want to get him. I’m his girlfriend.”
“Okay,” Cole said, but from the way he inspected me I knew he wasn’t convinced I should be picking up Chad.
I tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Anyway, can I have my key so I can get in my car?”
“Oh, yeah.” Cole straightened and patted the pockets of his navy-blue suit pants—the same pants that I’d noticed many women checking out his butt in when he’d stood next to Vincent during the ceremony earlier.
Yeah, I’d avoided telling him that those butt exercises he’d apparently been doing must have been working since I really didn’t need my best friend to know that I had maybe noticed it, too.
Just because we were best friends and I was mostly happy with my current boyfriend, didn’t mean I was blind. I mean, Cole did wear super-tight football pants for a good chunk of the year.
Before Cole could realize what I was thinking, I pushed those thoughts away and held out my hand for the Toyota key fob he had retrieved from his right pocket.
“Thanks,” I said, curling my fingers around it. “I promise I’ll give you those dancing lessons later.”
He nodded, but I didn’t miss the disappointment in his expression. “Drive safe, Arianna.”
“I will.”
Then I lifted the front of my silver dress so I wouldn’t trip on it as I walked toward my brother and his bride to say my goodbyes before