“So promise me you’ll be careful with the tender hearts of two of my favorite people in the whole wide world.”
I nodded.
“I’m talking about you and Bridger, by the way.”
“Yes.” Another weak laugh slipped out of me. “And … I promise … I won’t risk hurting him or hurting myself. I’m definitely guarding our hearts.”
The truth is, I want to guard the whole group. What the four of us have—our little square of friendship—is way too precious to give up. And as for Bridger and me specifically, I’d never wish the pain of loss on either one of us. There’s been too much loss in our lives already.
So from now on, I’m holding on to the good we still have with my whole chest. For as long as I can. Which is why, oncewe’re back at the table, I make sure everyone knows exactly where I stand.
On top of Mount Platonic.
“If we’re done comparing cup sizes,” I say, “let me assure you my old clearance-rack wedding dress will be just fine. All we really need to get out of tomorrow is a legal document.”
“Right,” Bridger agrees. “And some pics and video for my mom.”
Did I put a little pepper on the wordslegalanddocument?
Yes. Yes, I did.
Sayla meets my gaze across the table.See?My eyes tell her.He already knows.
“On that note.” Bridger clears his throat. “I’ve got a long to-do list to accomplish and not a lot of time.”
“Better save some for our bachelor party tonight,” Dex quips.
“Hey, now.” Sayla pretends to pout. “Easy, tiger.”
Dex flashes her a grin. “You and Loren should definitely do the bachelorette thing too.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Bridger says.
“It’s not like this is our actual last day being single,” I add.
“Isn’t it, though?” Dex shrugs. “You two are getting married tomorrow, and any footage Sayla gets of us celebrating tonight will only make the evidence seem more real for Bridger’s mom.”
“No strippers, though,” Sayla warns.
“Eww. Blech. Gross.” Dex sticks out his tongue, laying it on thick. “Obviously no strippers.”
“You may have a point,” Bridger says. “Not about the strippers. About the evidence. But if we’re doing this for the photo op, we might as well meet up at the same place. Make things easier on everyone.”
“We’ll have to stay under the radar, though,” I chime in. “We don’t need all of Harvest Hollow knowing what we’re up to.”
“Hmm.” Sayla hums a little, in thinking mode. “Tequila Mockingbird shouldn’t be crowded on a Monday night. And they have that back area with darts and shuffleboard. It’s pretty private. Dark lighting. Moody.”
“That’s my wife.” Dex high-fives her. “Beauty and brains.”
“Just please no silly stuff like tiaras or sashes that say Team Bride,” I beg.
“No problem,” Sayla says. “Still, this will be fun, though, right? Just the four of us. Like always.”
“Right. Like always,” I repeat.
“So, we’ll finish our wedding stuff, then meet up after,” Dex confirms. “How does nine o’clock sound?”
“Nine works for me,” Sayla says.