Page 48 of Wrecked By You
My rebuttal wasn’t fair. Both Penn and Gia worked as hard, if not harder, than I did. Penn not only ran the Kingcaid restaurant chain, which had over four hundred outlets, but he ran an independent restaurant too—Theo’s, named after his best friend, who’d died in a car accident some years ago. And Gia had opened her own Italian restaurant earlier this year and had big expansion plans.
But since when had I allowed the truth to stand in the way of a snarky remark?
“God you are salty this morning,” Gia said. “Saltier than normal, if that’s even possible.” She pushed a coffee across the table. “Get some caffeine into you.”
I ignored the gesture. “Well?” I motioned to her. “What is it?”
Penn caressed the back of Gia’s neck, then touched his head to hers. “I want you to be my best man at the wedding.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Me? You wantmeto be your best man?”
“That’s what I said.”
A band wrapped around my chest. I hadn’t always been the black sheep of the family. Sure, as the middle child, I’d had one or two issues to work through, but before that night, I would’ve been considered a normal guy who’d lovingly fought with his brothers and enjoyed spending time with his family.
Everyone dealt with life-changing events differently. Some gutted up, faced the problems head-on, and forged forward. Others, like me, withdrew into themselves, then woke up one day and realized they didn’t even recognize who they were anymore. I’d love nothing more than to find my way back to the man I once was, but I was caught in a maze, and no matter how hard I tried, the exit point eluded me.
“You should choose Ash.”
A flash of hurt crossed Penn’s face. “I’ve chosen you.”
“But you were Ash’s best man. That means he should be yours.”
Penn scratched his nose then pinched the bridge between his thumb and forefinger. “For fuck’s sake, Johannes, can’t you, for once in your miserable life, just say ‘Thank you’? Why is everything a battle with you?”
Because my life is a constant battle.
Gia drummed her fingers on my table. “You’re doing it, Johannes. Whether you like it or not. So pull on your big girl pants and stop your whining.”
Gia. The woman whoalwayscalled it as she saw it. She’d used the termgirlon purpose, just to needle me.
I adored her. Didn’t stop me scowling at her, though.
“When is this fucking wedding, anyway?” If it interfered with theHottest Nightclubaward dinner, I knew which one I’d pick.
“We’re thinking in the fall, when the leaves are all gold and orange and bronze. Late September.”
I grunted.
“Besides,” Penn continued. “If you’re my best man, that means Ash can be yours and we all get a turn.”
“Then he’d better prepare himself to miss out on the best-man shit, hadn’t he? Tell him that and maybe he’ll change his mind.”
“Johannes.” Penn sighed. “You can’t let what that bitch Sadie did ruin the rest of your life. You—”
I snapped my hand in the air. “Stop, Penn. Just stop.” I pushed back my chair and stood. “I’ll be your fucking best man, okay? Just tell me where I have to be and when, and I’ll be there.”
“And said with so much grace.” A smirk tugged at Gia’s full lips. “We’re lucky to have you.”
I shook my head. “Don’t forget to lock up when you leave.”
“Our flight doesn’t leave until tomorrow,” Gia said, looking far too smug for my liking. “So you’re stuck with us for another night.”
“Just as well I’ll be at work, then.”
I turned and walked away. I got as far as the door leading into the hallway when Gia spoke again.
“We’ll swing by the club and pick you up for dinner. Seven o’clock.”