Bren. PLEASE. I’m desperate here
I start typing a response, then delete it, then start again.
Brendan
I don’t want to pressure her.
Carmen
This is literally a family emergency. Just ASK her.
I glance over at Scarlett, who’s sleeping peacefully and has no idea she’s about to become the subject of Marco family wedding drama.
Brendan
I’ll ask. But no promises.
When we pull into the arena parking lot, Scarlett finally stirs, giving an enormous yawn before sitting up.
“I really needed that sleep.” She stretches her arms over her head. “Did I miss anything important? Because I was completely unconscious the entire trip.”
“Uh, nothing much.” I gather my things, thinking through how I should approach this new twist with the bridesmaid request.
It feels like a much bigger ask than just showing up as my wedding date.
When we reach her car, I take Scarlett’s bag and load it into the trunk.
“Well, that was definitely an experience,” she says, searching for her phone. “Never thought I’d survive a weekend with a sprained ankle and a bus full of hockey players.”
“Did you get a chance to talk with Rafael?”
With my coaching responsibilities, I never even spotted him at the arena, which isn’t unusual. I’m too busy watching the game.
“I couldn’t. He was constantly surrounded by people in expensive suits, but at least he saw me there.”
“That’ll earn you bonus points.” I shove my hands in my pockets, knowing I need to ask her now before I talk myself out of it. “Hey, there’s something I need to run by you.”
She glances up from the driver’s seat. “What’s that?”
“Well, Carmen texted me on the bus. Her maid of honor broke her leg in Switzerland and?—”
Scarlett tries to start her car, but the engine grinds, then dies completely.
“That’s weird,” she says, frowning at the dashboard. She tries again, but this time there’s nothing except ominous silence. “This is not good.”
“Want me to drive you home?” I offer.
“You don’t have to do that.” She picks up her phone. “I’ll just call Eli.”
“How quickly can he get here?” I ask, concerned. “I don’t want to leave you in a parking lot with a dead car.”
She worries her lip like the offer makes her uncomfortable. “Well, yeah, but I don’t want you going out of your way for me.”
“Scarlett, it’s not out of my way. And I’d feel considerably better about driving you home than leaving you stranded here.”
“Okay, I guess.” She frowns as I pull her bag back out from the trunk. “But only because you’re being weirdly insistent about this.”
That’s when I realize I’ve never actually been to her place. I know she lives upstairs in a duplex with Eli, but that’s it.