a few pictures of Gavin and Harper looking so in love she could feel it. As she set them aside, she spotted a picture of Justin, Gavin, and Beckett standing arm in arm and picked that one up instead. It was taken the night of the wedding. Gavin and his brother looked model perfect with their clean-shaven cheeks and pristine suits. But it was Justin who captured her attention, with his scruffy cheeks and tousled hair. His tie was a little crooked, his clothes slightly rumpled. He had one hand in his pocket, the other around Gavin’s shoulder, revealing the leather bracelet he wore. Sometimes he wore other jewelry, but the bracelet was a constant, and she wondered if it was from an ex-girlfriend, or just something he’d picked up for himself. She studied the picture, thinking about that night. Justin had stuck close by her all evening. After most of their friends had turned in for the night, Beckett had invited Chloe to join him at the bar for a drink, and Justin had inserted himself between them for the rest of the night. At the time, he’d said it was because he hadn’t wanted her to become a notch on Beckett’s belt. She’d thought Justin had just been his typical pushy, flirty self, hoping for a one-night stand despite his claim about Beckett. But Justin hadn’t made a move on her that night, just like he hadn’t the night of the storm, when he’d left without so much as a kiss.
You hesitated that night, sweet thing. That’s why I left…I’ll never force myself on you.
She looked at the picture again, feeling like a heel.
Her worries about Justin didn’t even seem fathomable. She had never been a sucky friend to anyone. Why had she let her mother’s crazy life change that? Justin wasn’t Tony, and he wasn’t Drake. He wasn’t like any man she’d ever known, and she felt horrible that she hadn’t texted to see how his grandfather was doing. Lord knew he’d checked on her for far less important reasons. He was the only man who had always been there to help her and to protect her even when she didn’t want protecting. He’d held her when he’d found her sitting in her car crying in front of her house after work one night because a resident of LOCAL with whom she’d been friends had passed away. He’d even attended the funeral with her. He might be overly flirtatious and pushy, but he was the very definition of a good friend, and she wanted to be that for him, too.
Her phone dinged with a notification from one of the dating apps she used.
She huffed out a disgusted breath. Using dating apps had been an experiment, one that she had never been very comfortable with, but knew she might have always wondered about if she hadn’t tried it. It was time to put that part of her life away. She was not a serial dater.
She set down the picture she was holding, picked up her phone, and proceeded to deactivate her accounts on the two dating apps she’d tried.
She felt better.
Sort of.
She looked at the picture of Justin and the guys again. She’d thought Justin was jealous of Beckett that night, and maybe he was. Beckett was definitely worthy of jealousy. He fit all of the pros on her dating list. He was professional, clean cut, and safe. But he didn’t make her pulse race in that dangerous way Justin did. The way that made her feel like she might lose her mind—and her panties.
Her belly fluttered at the thought of losing her panties with Justin.
But her fluttery belly twisted uncomfortably, knowing she hadn’t been a good friend to the man who she finally realized put friendship above all else.
She snagged her phone and texted Justin. Hey. She added a smiling emoji. How’s your grandfather? Her pulse quickened as she waited for him to respond.
The phone vibrated as a message bubble appeared. He’s great. I’ve been with him all day.
She sighed with relief and texted, I’m glad to hear it.
His response was immediate. What are you doing?
She thumbed out, Making a wedding album for Harper and Gavin. Don’t tell Gavin.
When Justin didn’t reply right away, she set her phone down and tried to concentrate on the album, but her eyes kept drifting back to the phone.
A few minutes later his response came through. Sorry, had to tell Gavin about the album. He’s stoked!