Wedding Date (Dating #6) - Monica Murphy Page 0,16

Craig goes to the window that overlooks the Monterey Bay. “Pretty nice view you got here,” he says.

“I like it.” Most of the time, I don’t even notice it.

Craig turns to face me as I make my way to my desk “You’ve really made yourself into something, haven’t you?”

I shrug, feigning modesty. I’d love to rub it in his face that I’m pretty fucking successful, but there’s something to be said for acting like it’s no big deal too. “I do all right,” I tell him.

“Yeah.” Craig glances around once more, then down at himself, as if he just realized he’s in his vaguely dirty uniform. Not that I’m judging him. “Jessica and I were glad to see you’re coming to the wedding.”

I nod. Don’t say a word. The only reason I’m going is because my family is forcing me to. Not that I’m going to tell Craig that.

The silence stretches, and I wish he’d just get to the point.

“And that you’re bringing a date.” Craig smiles, his gaze hopeful. “You met someone, huh?”

“I did. She’s amazing. Gorgeous. We’ve been together for quite a while now.” Not a lie. Kelsey and I have been together that long—as friends.

“I’m so glad, man,” Craig says softly. “Jessica and I—we never meant to hurt you.”

“Right. Sure.” My voice is clipped. “I don’t doubt you two were very worried about me and my feelings.”

“Hey, don’t act like that. We felt like total shit after everything that happened. You know I love you like a brother,” he says.

None of my brothers would’ve ever done me as dirty as this asshole, so that statement doesn’t mean shit to me. “What exactly do you want, Craig?”

“Right. Uh, I’ve had a last minute bail out when it comes to my groomsmen. Literally. One of my friends—he just got sentenced and has to do some jail time.” Craig frowns. “Lost his job and everything.”

Sounds like Craig is hanging out with some high-quality people. “That’s a shame.”

“I know. Billy’s had a rough time of it lately. But anyway, I now have a slot to fill and I was kind of hoping…” His voice drifts and he smiles brightly. “That you could be my groomsman.”

“Oh hell no.” The words shoot out of my mouth automatically and without much thought.

His face falls. “Come on. We were always so close when we were kids.”

“Were we, though? Really?” I ask, running my hand along my jaw as I contemplate him. He has to know the truth. I wouldn’t call our relationship close. More like we had to spend time together because my father and his mother are siblings. They were close. Of course they wanted to raise their families together. We were together for every single holiday when I was a kid. Big family bashes reminded them of their own childhood, and yeah, I can’t deny I have a lot of fond memories.

But most of them don’t involve Craig. Forced by age and circumstance, that’s the only reason we hung out together. Craig was always trying to one up me throughout our growing up years. I was the responsible one of my family. The oldest brother. Craig was an only child and completely spoiled.

“We totally were!” Craig exclaims, like my question is a no brainer. “I know you’re probably not too—happy with me, but you have to know I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Uh huh.”

“I swear! I had no idea who Jessica was when I met her.” His expression turns contrite. “I met her on a site, you know?”

My entire body goes cold. “On a site.”

Craig’s eyes nearly bug out of his head at my flat tone. I’m guessing he just realized he stepped in it, the idiot. “Uh yeah. Not that it matters. I can’t help it if we have the same taste in women.”

He’s trying to make light of this. Like it’s a joke. As if him pulling the figurative rug from under my feet and sending me into freefall was just an oops moment. It wasn’t. The breakup, the betrayal fucked with my head. Fucked with my life.

“I don’t know if I can be your groomsman,” I tell him truthfully. “Find someone else.”

“My problem is there is no one else. I can’t have one of your brothers. They’ll give me endless shit,” Craig says.

It would be their right to do so. He deserves endless shit.

“You’re the only one I can count on. That Jessica can count on too. Come on, man. Just—give it some time to consider our request. Let