Chapter 2

two

River

At That Same Time

"We're all set, dude, don't stress." I clap a hand on Lee's shoulder attempting to provide some reassurance despite knowing he's still going to stress. At least I assume you're always stressed before proposing, not that I have ever gotten close. Hell, I haven't been with someone half as long as he and Stef have been together.

"Easy for you to say," he replies, shaking out his sandy blond hair. It hangs a bit longer than usual. From his clean shaven chiseled jawline to the hint of trouble in his bright blue eyes, he looks like the quarterback type. "Once she says yes, George River Hendrix, best bartender in town with one bar, will you be best man with her brother? I'm not sure how often we'll see Mateo before the wedding."

"I'm honored, of course." I smile wide burying my anxieties about being the best man in another wedding. The last time I was a best man was for Lily Long and my former friend Grant Morgan.

As we hug, he says the last thing I expect to hear, like he's reading my thoughts or something. "Did Delia tell you? I'm at 70/30 odds that Lily Long makes her first appearance in Peacock Springs since high school." Clapping my shoulder and mimicking my previous reassurance, "We're all set, like you said, nothing to stress over. "

My stomach does a somersault, as I step back and turn away. I regain composure while grabbing a bag from the kitchen window. Shoving the to-go order marked Carter into Lee's hands, "Go home, feed Stef, I'll walk you out."

She might come back, my mind shrieks. Those familiar pangs of longing warring with self loathing flood my system. I should have stopped the wedding, this is my fault.

"Go, get out of here. I need to check that we have the AC on." I gesture for him to head towards the door. Watching his gaze drift to the moving fans and blowing vents; thankful he's ignoring my lie.

Lily Long will be here , my mind continues to scream as my entire body burns up.