Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare, #1)(50)

“Well, absorb and we’ll discuss.”

Kady took another drink. “But when did this happen? I thought she lost her virginity with some guy named Rick in…” Her eyes lit up and he could see all the pieces forming in her mind. “Oh my God. Mexico. It was you.”

He averted his eyes and tugged on his collar. Why hadn’t he gotten out of his suit before coming down to the bar? “Hi. I’m Rick. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh my God, that explains so much. I mean…I knew she had a crush on you, but I couldn’t understand why she kept asking about you all these years. Why, after one short trip in Mexico years ago, she had to know what you were up to all of the time. What you were doing. If you were seeing anyone.” She shook her head and let out a soft laugh. “I’m such an idiot. That’s why. Because of Mexico.”

“She didn’t care about me. She just needed intel so she could plot her payback, is all. For her list.” He shook his alcohol-hazed head. “Why else would she care about that stuff? She doesn’t even like me.”

Kady shook her head, her eyes still on the bar. She seemed to be trying to understand everything. “How did this happen?”

He snickered. “Do you really need me to explain the logistics of how to—”

“God, no. Ew.” She smacked him on the arm again. “You know what I mean, so answer the question.”

He sighed and rubbed his abused arm. “She was upset about her parents and left the group. I followed her and found her crying in the hallway of the hotel. I tried to comfort her. Next thing I knew…” He waved his hand. “Well, you know.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, images bombarding him from that night. The sight of her leaning against the wall, tears creeping down her cheeks as she tried to straighten her clothes. The way she’d held her hand out to him as he bolted from her side. She’d looked…devastated, confused, and scared.

Well, no shit, Sherlock.

No wonder she wanted a little payback. He deserved it. She had every right to want to punish him in some way for what he’d done to her, and he’d flipped out on her like a lunatic.

“Okay, so now I know what happened back then. What happened tonight?”

“We spent the last few days together…reconnecting.” He cleared his throat. “And I thought we had something going on. But she was only playing with me. Nothing more. She even made a list of ways to do it. It was all a game to her.”

Kady smacked him on the back of the head hard enough to make stars shine in his vision. “Do you hear yourself?”

“Ow. Stop hitting me.” He rubbed the sore spot. “Why did I get hit that time?”

“Tell me this.” She leaned in, her eyes spitting fire. “Would a girl who only wanted payback want updates on where you were and what you were doing?”

Shit if he knew. Women didn’t make much sense to him. “I…I don’t know. Like I said, maybe she was making her list.”

“She wouldn’t do that. She’s not cold enough, or duplicitous enough, either. I guarantee if you told her how you felt, she’d give you another shot if you wanted it.”

“But she’s moving to Maine.” He dropped the remainder of the napkin on the bar. “I can’t believe she’s leaving, right after I took the job in Denver to be close to her. What kind of twisted sense of humor does God have, anyway? I’m going to—”

“Wait a second.” She held a hand up. “You took a job in Denver to be with her? Seriously?”

He averted his eyes, knowing she was seeing the similarities to their situations and feeling like a dipshit for thinking he and Christine could have the same happy ending as Colt and Kady. “Yes. I figured since it worked for you two…maybe it would work for us. Stupid, right?”

“No.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Not stupid. It’s romantic and sweet. Do you still want to be with her, even after all of this?”

“I don’t know. I just know…I don’t want to lose her. I f*cking love her. I do. I love her.” He wanted to be her person. Wanted her to need him. He stood up, clumsily righting himself, and tossed some cash on the bar for the bill and tip. “I’m going to go tell her right now.”

Kady stood. “No, you’re not.”

“Yesh, I am,” he slurred. The floor swayed under his feet, and he grabbed the bar edge to keep himself upright. When did hotels start moving like f*cking boats on an ocean? Once the hotel stopped moving, he nodded decisively. “She’s not getting away from me that easily.”

Kady shook her head. “You going up there drunk as a skunk won’t do a damn thing to help your cause.”

“But—”

“No.” She grabbed his arm. “You’ll ruin it all. If you go up there, slurring and bumbling up the declaration of love you’re bound to make, she’ll push you away. I mean, hello. Her parents were killed by a drunk driver. Something tells me a drunk declaration of love isn’t the way to go.”

He nodded and swallowed past this dry throat. “Shit. You’re right.”

She relaxed. “I never thought I’d hear you admit that. I might have to get this moment recorded in writing. Are you too drunk to sign your name?”