Autumn applauded herself for her trick. At least she’d bought herself some time before she had to strap on that pink flowy thing of death.
“You’ll get it dirty,” Jenna said. She wiped her eyes, which now had black smeared beneath them. “Okay… You can fix the arch, but the curlers have to stay in another fifteen minutes.”
Autumn nodded. Curlers she could sport for a few minutes, especially since she was going to fix an arch, not chat with guests.
“Colt should be downstairs in the bar,” Jenna said. “He or one of the guys will have tools. You sure you don’t mind fixing it?”
If it got her out of this cry fest? “I don’t mind at all.”
Jenna nodded. “Okay. Thank you so much.”
With that, Autumn checked the urge to run from the room and downstairs to the bar. She instead left the room at a careful pace. And then, as soon as she was out of sight, she quickened her step.
She’d met Colt briefly earlier that morning, but she hadn’t met anyone else from the wedding party—outside the other bridesmaids—since she’d arrived. She’d just have to keep a lookout for a cluster of dudes in tuxes.
Should be easy to spot them.
…
“Good god man, you need to calm down. You’re…” Huck eyed his friend Colt McCade. “…bouncing.”
“He’s excited,” Sebastian said, slapping Colt on the back. “Can’t blame you. Marrying the woman of your dreams must be bliss.” Sebastian Strafford was a tall, take-no-bullshit attorney, and he was actually grinning like a girl toward the ceiling. “I can’t wait until Penny and I get married.”
“Did you just sigh?” Huck asked.
“That’s it.” He held out his hand, palm up, and wiggled his fingers. “Give me your man card.”
“You’re the one who helped me get Penny back.”
“Yeah, and she’s great. But it doesn’t mean you have to giggle and preen like a damn pageant tween.”
Bass just shot him the bird.
In truth, Huck was happy for both his friends. They’d found the women they loved and were talking about forever—something he’d never again consider with a woman, and for good reason.
But after last night, he was in a shitty mood. The incredible raven-haired dream he’d been inside of had ditched him while he was sleeping.
She left me.
The thought sat real bad with him, brought up unwanted feelings, and worse, he actually had been wishing for a bit more time with the incredible stranger. The way she’d loved on him, no holding back, and had come apart around him had been fucking incredible. All of her soft skin and sexy moans in his ear had driven him crazy. She’d tried for the upper hand, and he’d given it, but eventually he had won, and she’d been at his mercy.
And he’d loved it, the silent war of wills they’d played, and he wanted another turn.
But that wasn’t going to happen. She was gone. He should be grateful. As long as she wasn’t there, he wouldn’t be tempted to ask for another night and risk being left again.
Colt smiled and said, “Ah, Huckleberry, the forever bachelor. You just don’t know how good it is when you find the one—”
Colt stopped mid-sentence, realizing who he was talking to. Huck knew damn well what it was like to find “the one.”
And then to have his heart ripped out and stomped on when that “one” ran off with someone else. Which was why Huck had spent the last three years not thinking of his ex, Sydney, and instead focused on one woman at a time, one night at a time.
“Sorry, bro. I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
Huck slapped Colt’s back. “It’s cool.”
And it was. Colt would never say or do anything to purposefully give him grief. His friends were his family. Huck hadn’t exactly broadcasted the full story to them, but they understood how Sydney’s leaving had affected him.
Commitment equaled a sad Huck. He could barely watch the same movie twice without getting hives, let alone be with the same woman. He’d never admit he was afraid of committing; it just scared the shit out of him is all. Because rejection was a bitch and no way in hell would he set himself up for that again.