“I was busy with football.” I hope they’re sitting on the other side of the table from us tonight.
Layla whacks me playfully on the shoulder. “That’s always your excuse.” It’s meant to be teasing, but I hear some of the hurt behind it. I was not a very good boyfriend. I never cheated or anything, but she never came first in my life. It was always football, then the farm, and then her. I’m glad she’s with Grant. He’s not a farmer or a football player, so he likely has the ability to put her first in his life.
Thankfully, we’re interrupted by Henry before I can bury myself in this conversation any further. “Can everyone please take their seats? The wait staff is about to come around and take drink orders. Thank you.”
The room fills with the mumbling noise of thirty people all moving at once. I take my seat next to Nash again, putting my napkin in my lap. When the waitress comes to our table, I order us both a Spotted Cow, my favorite beer that’s only available in Wisconsin.
Henry sits down directly across from me, done making his guests feel welcomed. “When are we rehearsing?” I ask.
“Tomorrow before the ceremony.”
My brows raise up. This is my first wedding, so I had no idea. “Then what are we doing here?”
He chuckles—yep, this is my older brother who seems to always know how things work and has all the answers to the mysteries of life. “People used to do them the day before and then eat dinner, but now most wedding venues only let you have the day of because other people are using it the day before. So we just smash it all into one.”
“That’s cool. Either way, we get to eat and I’m good with that.” I thank the waitress as she sets down our drinks.
Nash points to the first beef selection on the menu. “You get one, I’ll get the other?”
“Sure. We can trade if you don’t like yours.”
“You guys are so cute,” Hazel coos.
Nash looks suddenly extremely interested in the beer glass in her hand. “Thank you.”
They go on about the dresses they’re wearing and how Hazel is going to have her hair styled for the big day. Before the entrees come out, Henry interrupts them. “Excuse me, but Hazel, it’s time for us to thank everyone.”
“Oh, right,” she says as she pushes her chair back to stand.
Henry picks up the glass in front of him and clinks it with a knife, getting everyone’s attention. “Hello, everyone. Before dinner comes out, Hazel and I just wanted to thank everyone for coming. We know it’s a long way for some of you coming from different states.” He looks at Nash. “Some of you are fresh off a championship game, and we are so glad to have you.” My heart practically bursts with pride. “Wyatt, I’m glad you’re with a woman who has lived in Wisconsin andunderstands the eccentricities that make this place special. I’m so honored you agreed to be my best man.”
“I’m honored you asked. Though,” I fake look around me. “I don’t see any other brother here who could do it.” The crowd laughs.
“That’s true. I always said you’re my favorite brother, and my only brother.” He offers his glass to me, and I clink it with mine. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” I say back.
Henry turns back to his bride. “And cheers to my bride, who has been with me for every celebration and every hardship for the last five years. I hope to have more celebrations than hardships in the future, but I’m happy to have you by my side because I know I can survive anything.” They clink glasses and kiss, phone cameras flash and the crowdawwws.
Despite all the happiness surrounding us, I feel a little sick to my stomach. My crush on Nash hasn’t been as strong as my call to come back home, but now that I’m here with Nash…I’m not sure this place is what I need anymore.
Chapter Fifty-Four
NASH
I’m full of mixed emotions as we say goodbye to everyone at the rehearsal dinner even though we will see them again tomorrow at the wedding.
On one hand I’ve enjoyed being back in Wisconsin, enjoyed seeing Wyatt back in his hometown, and I’ve been thinking about what it might be like if I moved here. Madison isn’t that far from here, and they could have a team next year. All his family is here, so we’re going to have to travel. How would that work? It would be the same if I convinced Wyatt to stay in Houston. Plenty of people live away from their families.
On the other hand, meeting Layla rocked my confidence in what Wyatt sees in me. She’s the opposite of me in every way. She has luscious, dark hair to my dirty blonde. She’s petite in a way that brings back all of my high school insecurities. I bet she’s never had a problem finding jeans that weren’t high waters, or cute shoes in her size. She probably wasn’t dateless to her high school prom because all the guys were too intimidated by her height to ask her.
I’m sure she’s a very nice girl. Obviously, she and Wyattgot on well, at least for a while. It’s unfair of me to put this on her, but it was like seeing her made me the awkward, too tall, brace-face, sixteen-year-old again.
When we slide into Wyatt’s old truck to head back to the farmhouse, Wyatt asks me, “Did you have a good time?”
I did, and I want to be able to brush this odd feeling off and move on with our night, but I’m terrible at hiding what I’m thinking. “Everyone was really nice.”
“It was good to see some of the guys again. Usually when I come visit it’s just to see family and get back.”