Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4)(67)

“I’d like to, but I can’t. I know him too well.” I walked over to the table. “You can get anything you like to drink here, or snacks are over there. I hope you like SEC football, because that’s all we watch around here. The other teams aren’t really important in the grand scheme of things.”

Jason laughed. “So you SEC people really are as obnoxious as I’ve heard.”

“Not obnoxious. Just being honest. The facts are the facts,” I replied, and winked at him.

“The facts, huh?”

“We can go over the last ten NCAA national championship winners if you want to clear up any confusion,” Rock drawled as he walked into the room.

“Case in point. If you want to make friends, don’t dis the SEC,” I said, nodding toward Rock.

“Got it,” Jason replied.

“Hey, Amanda,” Brent said, following Rock into the room.

“Hey, you! I didn’t know I was going to get to see you tonight,” I said, going over to hug him.

He wrapped his arms around me, then nodded toward Rock. “I’m here with Rock and Trisha. They’re gonna let us go live with them. Jimmy and I even got bunk beds and an Xbox. Preston keeps beating us at the football game he bought us, though. I’m practicing. I’m gonna take him out next time.”

I would not get all weepy over this. I was just so happy for them. Hearing the joy in his little voice was wonderful.

“I have no doubt you’ll be beating your brother in no time. I have complete faith.”

Brent nodded and looked over at the table of food curiously.

“You want something to eat? Help yourself. I need to go see who has the flower girl. We’re about to start soon.”

Brent hurried over to the table.

“Bring me one of them cookies,” Rock told Brent as I walked out of the room

Preston



Rehearsal had been difficult for reasons much different from those I’d come here dreading. Being near her was hard, but seeing her with him was harder. I’d had to keep myself in check while walking down the aisle beside Amanda. She wasn’t wearing a bra. She needed to wear a bra, dammit.

The rehearsal dinner had assigned seating, and Amanda’s was beside Jason. Mine was directly across from them, since I was the best man. I got to witness their joking around and flirting. I didn’t even pretend that it didn’t bother me. I spent my entire meal glaring at him. The next time he called her “Bama” I was going to come across the table and pummel his face in. He didn’t get to give her nicknames. She wasn’t his. Or was she?

I managed to make it through the meal without causing anyone bodily harm. The moment it was finished, I bolted for the door. I had to do this shit all over again tomorrow. I was never going to make it.





Chapter Twenty-Six



Preston



The Hardys were putting the wedding party and out-of-town guests up at a hotel across the street from the beach house where the wedding was being held. I’d gone downstairs this morning for some breakfast just in time to see Amanda walking out the front door on the arm of Jason Stone. His rock-star brother and Sadie White were with her. I lost my appetite.

I wasn’t going to be able to make it through today if I didn’t get a grip. I had to control my emotions. I’d been keeping them in check until I’d seen Amanda again last night. She’d tried to talk to me and I’d been rude. I’d protected myself. A lot of good it had done me.

I’d go talk to Marcus. He’d make me feel better. I was heading for the elevator when it opened and Marcus came barreling out. His eyes looked panicked. “Have you seen Low?” he asked, looking past me to the lobby.

“No, I haven’t. Why?”

Marcus swore and gritted his teeth. “Because she’s missing. We had an argument, but it was over. I thought we were good. Then I went to get her, and she wasn’t in her room. I’ve called Mom, and she’s not at the beach house. I can’t find her anywhere.”

She was probably off somewhere taking a breather. “Calm down, dude. The girl ain’t going anywhere. She’s here somewhere. You just got wedding nerves.”

Marcus took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll find her.”

He took off for the front door. I didn’t follow him. Instead, I headed back up the elevator to my room.

I stopped outside the door I’d seen Cage go into last night. I could talk to Cage. I needed to talk to someone. I knocked on the door.

It opened up, and Eva was standing there in her robe looking like she just got out of bed.

“Hey, Eva, sorry if I woke you up,” I said, and walked into the room before she could turn me away. I was running out of friends to talk to. Cage was a last resort.

“Preston?” she replied. It sounded more like a question.

“She’s here. I mean, I knew she would be, but f*ck me I hadn’t been prepared to see her with him. What the hell does she see in him? He’s a prick.” I stalked over to a chair and gripped the back tightly. I wanted to hit something. Anything.

“Who is she?” Eva asked.

“Where’s Cage?” I asked her instead. I wasn’t here to talk to her. I needed a guy to rant to.

“I don’t know,” she said sadly.