Of course, a lot of that had to do with the fact that Rachel was sporting a diamond large enough to blind Kelsey . . . and the rest of the Earth’s populace.
But, seriously, she was happy for them both.
Sebastian and Rachel were perfect for each other, and they deserved all the happiness in the world.
She slipped out of the opening and let the door start to close behind her, but before she got too far, Sebastian caught it. He slid through, dropped an arm around her shoulders. “Let me walk you to your car.”
“I’m fine,” she said, shrugging him off. “Go enjoy your fiancée. It’s not your guys’ fault that my flight is ridiculously early in the morning.”
He rolled his eyes. “You know you’re not going to win this argument, so just accept my chivalry. It’s my brotherly duty, after all.”
“You sell it so effectively.”
“Shut up.”
“You shut up.”
“No, you shut up.”
“No—“
They broke off with grins, and Kels let Bas sling his arm around her neck, tugging her into a hug. “I love you, brat,” he told her.
“Well, I don’t love you.”
“Rude.”
“You know it.” But she hugged him back before leading him to her car. “I am really so happy for you both, you know that, right?”
“Of course, I do,” he said.
They spent the next few minutes discussing the wedding—the date and location were set, as was the food—and the whole crew of females, including Kelsey, were going honeymoon shopping—because apparently that was a thing—the following week.
“It sounds like you’ve got it pretty much sorted.”
Bas smiled. “Rachel’s a force of nature,” he joked. “Seriously, though, she wanted to ask you this, but I preferred to do it myself.”
Kels frowned. “Ask me what?”
“To be a bridesmaid. We were hoping you’d be in the bridal party.” He lifted his hands, palms up. “No pressure, of course, but we’d love to have you in the wedding.”
No pressure? This was her brother. But her brother was a reformed anti-social and so she understood the gesture—him asking her himself—for what it was. He wanted her there and it meant something. See? That M.S. in Neuroscience she had done in her spare time over the last few years had paid off—or at least the psychology classes that had been required for it had. She put her mental detour to the side and let her lips curve up. “I’m happy to play whatever role you want, Bas.”
“How about flower girl?” he teased.
She shot him a glare. “Seriously?”
“So bridesmaid it is then?”
Since they’d reached her car, she unlocked the passenger’s side door, and tossed her purse on the seat. “Yes,” she murmured. “I’d be honored.” Then added, a little firmer, so he’d know she was serious. “As long as you’re sure that’s what you guys want.”
“I know this is all last minute,” he said. “But it is what we want. We’re ready to start our future together and want our family to be part of it.”
Aw. Rachel was so good for him, bringing Bas out of his shell, making it so her brother could say something like that when he never would have managed it before.
“Thank you.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “And count me in. Thank Rachel for me?” She’d call her future sis-in-law later to sort out dress details, but based on what she knew about Rach, Kels figured the dress was already purchased.
“Done.”
Kels rounded her car, paused with her hand on the driver’s door handle. “Oh, besides Devon”—their brother—“who are the other groomsmen?”
“We’re keeping it small.” He shrugged. “Heather is going to be the maid of honor, you a bridesmaid, and Devon is going to be my best man.”
She smiled. “And Clay is going to be the other groomsman.”
Bas shook his head.
Kelsey had opened her mouth, ready to tease Bas about choosing to include Rachel’s boss over his when her gut sank.
Small bridal party.
Two on each side.
One of which was not Clay.
Her quiet, often taciturn brother only had a few close friends growing up. None of whom she could see in the bridal party.
Except one.
Fuck.
But she was worrying for nothing. Bas hadn’t talked to Tanner in years as far as she knew. They hadn’t talked in years. They couldn’t have—
“Who is it then?” she asked through stiff lips.
Because it couldn’t be Tanner. Her brother didn’t know about them. She’d made sure of it. They’d kept things on the down-low and then when the short thing between them had gone bad . . . she’d nursed her broken heart two thousand miles away.
“Tanner.”
Her gut twisted.
Double fuck.
And a shit for good measure.
“That’s fine, right?” Bas asked. “You guys always seemed to get along great.” Concern rippled across his face. “Is there something wrong? Did—?”
“No,” she said quickly, fingers clenching on the roof of her car as she attempted to clear her expression of old pain while still keeping her tone light. “That’s great. I’m sorry. I’m just preoccupied with my new project.”
He grinned. “Always work with you.”
“That’s me,” she said weakly. “Always working.”
Of course, work was safer than risking another broken heart. Not that she wasn’t fully over Tanner, because she was.
Definitely.
Liar, her big, juicy brain declared, never one to let anyone—including herself—hide from the truth.
Whatever.
“Great,” Bas said. “Since you’ll be paired up with him. And I know it’s been a while, but he’s coming into town next week to catch up.” He tapped the roof of her car, took a step back. “You want to grab dinner with us?”
“I’d love to,” she lied before getting into the car, and with a wave that hopefully didn’t show her dismay, Kelsey drove away.
Paired up with Tanner.
Been there, done that.
Got the souvenir broken heart.
Triple fuck.
Two
Tanner
He shouldered his carry-on, smiled at the flight attendant who’d been flirting with him since the plane had crossed the Rockies, and strode off the plane. It had just been one in the latest of many flights, his job as a photojournalist having taken him all over the world.
But it was also the last of many in a way.
Because his career was over.
He was almost thirty, at the top of his field, and . . . he didn’t want to do it anymore.
Bypassing the baggage claim carousel, Tanner exited the airport. Bas was waiting at the curb, huge grin on his face as he lowered the passenger’s side window and gestured for him to get in.
“You look great, bro,” he told his friend, and it was the truth. Bas was happier than Tanner had ever seen him.
“Rachel does a man good,” Bas quipped.
“I can see that.” Tanner shoved his bag into the backseat and buckled in. “How is the fiancée?”