The Bride (The Boss 3)

That seemed like a conversation ender, but to my surprise, he didn’t excuse himself. I had to think of something to say. “So, you went to school with Neil. Any scandalous stories you could tell me?”

Ian’s eyes sparkled at the chance to tattle on his friend. “I assume he’s already told you about the unofficial university kink club? And stealing the pro-chancellor’s son’s car and getting it stuck in a very narrow hallway?”

“The former, yes, the latter, no,” I laughed, leaning forward for every juicy detail. “Tell me.”

He mimicked my posture, creating a tableau of very obvious conspiracy. “This kid, he was the definition of a wanker. The kind of guy who would act like he had your back and then he’d throw you under a fucking bus if he got the chance. And he made such a huge deal about his father being in administration. We were meant to do a group study project, one of those horrible things nobody likes to do, and he fucked us over. You don’t need the details of that to appreciate the story.

“So Neil gets this brilliant idea to push the twat’s car through these big double doors in the maintenance department and roll it down the center hall of this building. Now, this wasn’t the most modern building. and Neil hadn’t taken into account that while the hallway looks big enough to fit this mini down the center, it’s not the same width all the way down. We get the damn thing about halfway, and suddenly it’s stuck. It’s just not going to budge a fucking inch.”

I was pretty sure my eyebrows were in my hairline as I listened to the story. I would never, in my entire life, have guessed that Neil had been the kind of college kid who’d done pranks. Let alone poorly thought out pranks that ended in disaster.

I was impressed, too, by Ian’s colorful vocabulary. Something about the way he cursed suggested it was an art born of dedication, rather than a hobby on his part. It was hypnotic, the way profanity rolled effortlessly from his mouth. I swore a lot. Neil swore. Holli was a fountain of obscenities. But this guy was a pro.

“So, Neil and I climb over the roof of the car, denting the living Christ out of it all the way, and we try to push it back the way we came. But it’s really lodged in there, and it won’t move. So he says—”

“‘Why don’t you climb through the side window and put it in reverse, you stupid wanker!’”

We both looked up to see Neil standing beside me. Ian rose and held out his hand. “Congratulations, father of the bride.”

Neil used the proffered hand to pull Ian into a hug, and they drunkenly clapped each other on the back. “So, you’re telling Sophie all my secrets, then?” Neil put his hand on my shoulder, and though it looked like a gesture of affection, he was really just keeping himself upright.

“I thought she should know what she’s getting herself into, marrying you.” Ian indicated Neil should take his chair, and he pulled up another. “Do you want to finish telling her the story, or shall I?”

With visible reluctance, Neil said, “There really isn’t a very good ending to it. Ian couldn’t get in through the window, we couldn’t reverse it, and we had to run from the scene because a night watchman heard the commotion. It was only by the grace of god that we didn’t get caught.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t give us away,” Ian said, tapping two fingers against his knee in the unconscious gesture of a smoker in a smoke-free area. “Every time I heard anyone say the words ‘mini cooper’ I nearly shat myself laughing.”

“Well, now that you’ve thoroughly unmasked me as a complete jack ass,” Neil began.

“I’m sure she knew before, right, Sophie?” Ian cut him off with a noise of friendly impatience. “But that’s what friends are for, aren’t they? You need to keep some of the old guard around to warn the new people in your life just what a fucking tragedy you are.”

Just hearing the easy banter between the two caused a phantom pain in my heart. It reminded me that a part was missing. A part I felt acutely, even though it wasn’t there anymore.

It must have showed on my face. A slow song had somewhat cleared the dance floor, and Neil said, “Well, Ian, I think I’ll have another dance with my fiancée. Unless the two of you would rather—”

“No, no. I need to take advantage of the open bar you’re paying for.” Ian got to his feet. “If I don’t see you before I go, give me a call sometime. We’d love to get together and catch up.”

As we went back onto the floor, I nudged Neil with my arm. “You didn’t have to stop talking to your friend, you know. I wasn’t going to die from lack of attention.”

“Believe it or not, darling, I am not blind to your emotions.” He w

rapped an arm around my waist and drew me close as Miley Cyrus’s “Adore” played. The super slow song meant the night was coming to an end, I feared.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be thinking about all that tonight. I should just be enjoying myself.” I rested my head against his shoulder. There’s no shame in getting comfort when you need it.

“You’re thinking about Holli, and her wedding, aren’t you?”

I lifted my head to meet his gaze and flexed my fingers where they were entwined with his. I hadn’t been thinking of that. It was May now, and we hadn’t spoken since February. I wasn’t going to get an invitation. I obviously was no longer the maid of honor. That chicken had flown the coop the moment I’d snitched on Deja. But to not even be there…

I blinked back tears and got myself under control, quickly. “Not along those lines. But yeah, I suppose that will be coming up soon. I can’t believe we’re not going to be at each other’s weddings.”

“When I see what you’re going through, I can’t help but imagine what it would be like for me, if I were to lose Rudy. Or Ian.” After a cautious pause, he added, “Or Valerie, for that matter. I know you believe I’ve been a control freak since I emerged from my mother’s womb—”

“Graphic.”

“But.” He tried for a stern, don’t-interrupt-me look and failed as it slid into a smile. “The truth is that without the support of my friends when I was starting my career and getting on my feet, I would have been utterly lost. I never wanted that for you, and I wish things had been handled…differently.”

I wish your bitch ex hadn’t fired my best friend’s girlfriend and ruined my whole life. I took a breath, my chin tucking slightly to my chest, carefully censoring my reaction. “What happened happened. I’ve got you. And I’ve got Emma, now. I never thought we’d get along, but I think she’s come to like me a little. She put me in the wedding pictures.”