by my mother. There. Better.
“I’m gonna get a beer,” I say.
I keep my head in the refrigerator extra long just for the cold air.
11
Chloe
It’s strange how quickly I’ve gotten close to Brendan. We’re driving to a church in northern New Jersey on a beautiful sunny day, the last weekend in June, rock music blasting. Usually my relationships with guys tend to be off and on to satisfy mutual physical needs mostly. It’s been a month since I moved in next door to him, and I have to admit he’s awesome. I look forward to hanging with him every weekend, even if we’re just taking a walk or grabbing a pizza. He’s the first person I want to share about my day and the last person I want to talk to at night. We have an open-door policy, popping into each other’s apartments any time and texting frequently. And to think it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t moved here for my internship.
I glance over at him in profile as he drives, his features dear to me now, the faint scar by his eyebrow, his sharp cheekbones, and short beard. He looks so handsome in his gray suit. Every time I’m tempted to cross the line, which is often, I remind myself he’s got another woman. It could be multiple women for all I know. I swallow hard, my gut churning, and look away. I have no right to be hurt, but I can’t help it. We’re close in so many ways. It’s hard knowing he stays out all night every Friday night. Stop it. He invited you to this wedding, not any other woman, because he likes to spend time with you most of all. There’s definitely an advantage to being a close friend instead of one of many casual—nope, not going there.
He turns into the church lot and parks. “This is it. Ready?”
“Ready.” I grab my small purse and open the door, careful to get out of the car without flashing anyone. I’m wearing a teal spaghetti-strap cocktail dress with a V-neck, the material gathered in diagonal pleats in the bodice that makes it look like I have more curves up top than I do. My sister made sure I had dresses for a variety of occasions once she became co-owner of the casino in Villroy. We went shopping at some of the best boutiques in Paris. The clothes seem made for a petite size like mine.
Brendan appears at my side, shutting the car door behind me. “I should’ve opened that for you.”
I cock my head. “I’m perfectly capable of opening a door.”
He leans close. “Yeah, but you’re my date. Just friends, but still. My dad is a stickler for manners, and he’ll notice if I’m not pouring on all the gentlemanly etiquette or whatever.”
Weird but okay.
He offers me his arm, and I stare at it. He takes my hand and rests it on his forearm; then he starts walking toward the church. I’m suddenly intensely aware of him, the heat of his arm through his gray blazer, the hard muscle, his woodsy sexy scent. I swallow hard and stare straight ahead.
“I bet ya Jack pulls a prank today,” he says.
“On his wedding day?”
He laughs. “Any day, but especially one when you least expect it.”
“If I were the bride, I’d be pissed.”
“She’s just as bad. They’re constantly pranking each other.”
“Then I guess they’re well matched.”
“No one else could put up with him,” he says with a laugh.
As soon as we step into the front of the church, two groomsmen in black tuxes offer us a program. They’re his brothers—same dark brown hair and sky blue eyes—though I can’t remember which is which since the resemblance is so strong. Beast is easy to pick out with his huge muscles. And Dylan, the oldest, stands out just from the way he carries himself. The other three are a blur of dark brown hair, sharp cheekbones, and various amounts of scruff.
“Sean, you made it,” Brendan says, giving one of the ushers a bro hug and a slap on the back.
“Got in around midnight,” Sean says, smiling. His hair is cut short and he’s got just enough stubble to make a dark shadow on his jaw. “Couldn’t miss Jack’s big day. I’m heading back tomorrow. Unfortunately, Josie couldn’t get away, her schedule leaked into the weekend. Sometimes that’s the way it goes with union hours.”
Brendan introduces us, reminding his brothers of my connection to the family, and catches me up on them. “Josie’s