12. Dawson

The song "Shut Up and Dance" belted through Dawson's bedroom as he struggled with a cuff link. He had a love hate relationship with the tiny things, and he bit back a few choice words.

By the time the chorus hit, the link finally clicked into place, and he joined in, bobbing his head to the beat. His friends were getting married, and Dawson had every intention of dancing the night away.

The song stopped, and his phone dinged with a text. He peeked at the screen on the nightstand before picking it up.

Anna: I'm so sorry. I can't go today. We'll talk soon.

Dawson quirked a brow at the phone. Anna wasn't going to the wedding? That was a curveball if he ever saw one. She'd been giddy about it for weeks.

Before he could text back, an incoming call from Chicken Tender lit up his phone.

"Hey. What's up with Anna?"

"She's sick. Sooo sick," Olivia said. "She wanted me to tell you how sorry she is that she can't make it today."

A traitorous wave of relief seeped from his shoulders. He hadn't figured out the best way to handle the date with Anna, so getting a free pass was a blessing. "Not a problem. She can't help it she's sick. Is she okay?"

"Yes, but it's a stomach virus, and she's miserable. I feel terrible about not being able to be there for her, but her mom is helping."

"Good. Well, I guess that means I'm flying solo tonight. Want me to pick you up on my way to the ranch?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm already here. Lyric's parents really went all out and got a nice photographer who wanted some shots of the bridal party getting ready together."

Dawson sat on the bed and settled into the conversation with Olivia. Who knew being dateless could be so freeing? It wasn't that he'd dreaded the day with Anna, but she definitely wasn't on the same page as him.

"Will there be photos of you with your hair in curlers? If so, can I get on the list for one?"

"So sorry. I think I avoided all of those. You'll have to wait another fifty years for a chance at that sight."

"I'm a patient man. You know, you'd be a cute old lady."

"You're ridiculous, but I have to go. You're supposed to be here in an hour," Olivia reminded him.

"I'll do you one better and see you in forty-five minutes."

"I'm sure the photographer would be happy about that. See you soon."

As soon as the call ended, he checked the time. He could make it to the ranch in half an hour. Maybe Olivia would delegate a few tasks to him.

Silver Falls Ranch was just outside of town, and he passed fewer and fewer vehicles as he drove. The cattle ranch didn't normally host weddings, but their rec center hadn't been used in a while, and the owners, Matthew and Tammie Benson, had offered it to Asa and Lyric at a cheap rate in exchange for some help fixing the place up. Dawson had spent a few weekends painting walls and resealing floors in the last few months.

A sign just before a fork in the road directed him to the bridal suites to the right of the main house. Two small cabins side by side were labeled for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Dawson parked far enough away so other guests could have the better spots. He walked past a horse pasture and held out his hand to an Appaloosa with dark eyes against a light coat. The horse spooked and ran off in a hurry.

Figured. Apparently, dogs weren't the only ones wary of him. Why didn't they like him? Did he smell?

No, he'd showered this morning. He sniffed the collar of his shirt. Maybe it was the cologne. He didn't always wear it, but the spice was pretty intense.

Inside the groom's cabin, Jacob sat in a corner playing a video game while Asa, Beau, and Lyric's dad watched a football game on a tablet propped up on a table.

"Where's the party?" Dawson asked as he held out a hand to Jacob.

"I don't know, but waiting is boring," the kid said, putting his game aside.

Dawson jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Want to go check out the horses?"

Jacob was on his feet in an instant. "Please. I've been here for hours."

"We got here half an hour ago," Asa corrected.

"It feels like forever," Jacob muttered.

Outside, Dawson and Jacob approached the fence, and a blue roan stepped up to greet them. She took to the kid like an old friend, and Dawson kept his distance. He'd only scare her off if he tried to get in on the petting.

"What's this one's name?" Jacob asked.

"I don't know. Want to take a guess? We can ask Matthew and Tammie later."

A door creaked behind them, and Olivia stepped out onto the small porch of the bride's cabin. Her dark hair was pinned up in curls, leaving her neck on full display. The navy dress flowed out, brushing against her calves.

"Wow." Dawson's reaction slipped out before he could censor it.

"She's pretty," Jacob said.

"Truer words were never spoken, kid."

Olivia turned their way and waved when she spotted them. Then she stuck her head back inside. A woman with dark hair pulled back into a high ponytail wearing a white blouse and dark dress pants stepped out. Olivia pointed at Dawson and Jacob, and the woman cradled the camera hanging on a strap around her neck close to her chest.

"Oh no. We've been targeted," Dawson said.

"What for?"

"Photos," Dawson whispered ominously.

"Ick," Jacob said. "Dad said I had to smile a lot today."

Dawson bumped Jacob's shoulder. "I'm sure everyone would appreciate that."

Jacob tilted his head from side to side. "Okay. It's just that my cheeks hurt if I smile a lot."

"It's a good thing you're tough."

The woman made her way over and greeted them with handshakes. "Hi. I'm Gloria, one of the photographers. Olivia said Lyric would really like some photos with you two and the horses."

Dawson held up his hands. "I'd love to, but the horses don't like me so much. Jacob, on the other hand, has them wrapped around his finger."

Gloria smiled at Jacob. "Can I take some photos while you play with the horses?" she asked.

"If you want."

Dawson hung around while Jacob made friends with the horses. The kid befriended Gloria too, and he had her laughing the whole time.

A few early guests were starting to arrive, and before long the groomsmen were all accounted for. Gloria ushered Dawson and Jacob back to the groom's cabin where she took a bunch of photos of them pretending to get ready, even though they'd been in their suits for an hour.

"Why are we pretending?" Jacob asked Dawson when the photographer walked a few feet away.

"Because people like to remember their wedding day. Lyric wants to remember that we all knew how to get dressed."

Jacob nodded. "That makes sense."

After pretending to get ready, the men moved outside for a few more photos. Another photographer was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Olivia near the small chapel where the wedding would take place. She was far enough away that he couldn't see her face, but he'd know Olivia's stance anywhere. She pointed to the camera screen the woman beside her held and said something to the photographer.

A man was walking toward the two women, and Dawson groaned. He hadn't come with a date, but Olivia had. The guy was stocky with a bushy beard, and he wore a dark-green button-down with neon-green swirls all over it.

"What is that guy wearing?" Jacob asked.

The thought could have been pulled straight from Dawson's mind, and it took everything he had to resist making the joke perching on his tongue. He crossed one arm over his chest and covered his mouth with the other.

"He's heading for Olivia. Does she know him?" Jacob asked.

"I hope not," Dawson said, keeping his attention trained on the guy he wanted to squash like a bug.

"He looks like a peacock," Jacob said low.

Dawson swallowed the chuckle that crawled up his throat. He should be the adult here and remind Jacob to be nice, but it was hard to do when Dawson couldn't practice what he preached.

"I'll be right back," Dawson said, already walking toward Olivia.

The guy reached Olivia and the photographer and interrupted the women to introduce himself. Olivia smiled and greeted him warmly before pointing to the chapel where other guests were headed.

Presumably Mark nodded and started toward the chapel, looking back over his shoulder at Olivia.

Keep walkin', peacock.

The photographer stepped back into the bride's cabin, and Olivia brushed a hand over her hair, not quite touching the curls as she looked up and spotted Dawson.

Shoot. What was he doing here?

"Hey," she said, pausing to look him up and down. The glance was almost too quick to pick up, but there was a fleeting look of shock right after her assessment.

"Don't look surprised. I know how to get dressed. Gloria even has photographic evidence."

Olivia swatted his arm. "I knew that. You just look…"

"Handsome?" Dawson offered.

"You look good."

"Just good? Is it because I didn't wear my peacock suit?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "You saw that?"

"Actually, Jacob pointed it out."

She glanced behind Dawson, and her shoulders fell with a sigh.

He looked behind him to see Trey walking across the parking lot. Of course, he had a very overdone blonde woman wearing a short dress on his arm.

No matter who Olivia's ex brought to the wedding, he was still a loser.

"Don't worry about him. It's his loss. He probably cries himself to sleep at night because he was dumb enough to let you slip away."

Olivia shook her head and tucked her chin to her chest. "Not quite."

"I'm sure your exotic pheasant will make him jealous," Dawson added.

She didn't even look up. Not even a grin at his bird joke.

"Did you really like him?" he asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Her head jerked up. "No. I didn't, but rejection hurts just the same." She swiped her hands down her sides and over her waist.

Dawson reached for one of her hands and lifted the knuckles to his lips. "You're gorgeous. He can eat his heart out."

Olivia pressed her lips together and looked up at him. She thought he was joking, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

"Let's both make a promise to be nice tonight," she said.

"Are you afraid I'll make a scene?" Dawson asked.

"Should I be worried?"

"Possibly. I can't make any promises."

"Trey deserves a cold shoulder, but Mark is an unassuming stranger. Please be nice," she begged.

Dawson narrowed his eyes. "I'll think about it, but I don't have to like him."

"You haven't even met him," Olivia said.

Dawson shrugged. He didn't have to meet the guy. He probably wouldn't like anyone Olivia dated, but he'd keep his mouth shut for her.

Unless speaking up was necessary.

What determined "necessary?"

"Dawson!"

He turned, looking for the source of the shout, and spotted Bethany heading his way in a tight pink dress and outrageously high heels that reminded him of stilts.

Walking in those things probably took skill. Bethany practically bounced with each step, sending her long, strawberry-blonde hair flowing behind her.

"What are you doing here?" Bethany asked as she stepped up to his side, stopping a little too close for comfort.

He'd met Bethany at a barn dance at Wolf Creek over the summer. She was working at the front office there and very much in her wild and crazy era.

"It's my best friend's wedding," Dawson said. "Have you met Olivia Lawrence?"

He turned back to Olivia who had a very fake smile plastered on her face. She gave a small wave.

"I haven't. Sorry, you must be Dawson's date," Bethany said.

"Oh no. My date is inside."

Bethany looked around. "Oh, where's your date?" she asked, looking up at Dawson without as much innocence as she intended.

"She got sick and couldn't make it," Dawson reluctantly admitted.

Bethany gasped and slid her arm around his. "You can be my date!"

He pulled his arm away and desperately looked around for a distraction. "Um, I really have a lot to do today. You know, groomsmen duties." He started backing toward the groom's cabin. "I'll catch up with you at the reception, but I… I think the photographer is waiting on me."

"Okay! Save me a bunch of dances!" Bethany said as he backed away.

He waved at the women, and Bethany waved back ecstatically.

Olivia, however, covered her mouth to hide her chuckles.

Dawson turned and headed toward the cabin. Bethany was pretty, but it was hard to even see her when the only woman he wanted was standing three feet away.

So close, but just out of reach.