“What’d you do?” Aiden gives her a judgy look before helping her into the car and scooting across the seat to sit beside her. He drapes an arm over her shoulders and pulls her close.

Those two have a weird, touchy-feely relationship. Weird because she’s a lesbian. If you didn’t know it, you’d never guess by the way they interact with one another. Get a few drinks in ’em and the sparks start flying.

Sometimes I wonder if she’s the reason he’s never seriously dated anyone. Of course, he could just like fucking with her and knowing she’ll never expect it to lead anywhere.

“Why’s it have to be my fault?” She takes the offered shot glass from his hand and gives the amber liquid a sniff.

My former wingman tosses a shot of whiskey back himself, trying not to choke on his response. “Because you’re a raging cunt.”

Now it’s her turn to choke.

While everyone’s entertained by their antics, I fire off a quick text to Sammi.

Me: Just landed. The guys picked me up for a surprise bachelor party. I hope you’re having a great day with your friends. Miss you plenty already.

Jailbait: It was good. Got the license. Frank’s about to drop me off at dinner with my parents.

Me: Tell them I said hey. Friday can’t get here soon enough. Love you, Li’l Bit.

Jailbait: I love you too. Have fun at your party.

Me: Can I call you when I get in?

Jailbait: You better.

“So, why the urgency?” Rhett, our lead singer and band’s namesake asks. “I’m not trying to be a dick. I really am happy for you, but why’d you jump right into marriage instead of just asking her out? Seems a bit extreme.”

It’s a fair question. “Her dad, man. He, uh… He’s dying.”

“Shit.” His face falls. “I’m sorry.”

I clear my throat, still having a hard time accepting that this man who was like a second father to me will be gone so soon. “I knew how much it meant for her to have him walk her down the aisle, and if we didn’t do it right then, he’d likely not get the chance.”

“That was a really selfless thing to do,” Nick says, the mood in the car sobering.

“Doesn’t feel selfless though,” I say, finally understanding why it drove my mother so crazy when everyone told her what a saint she was for adopting me. When you love someone, the last thing you want is for anyone to reduce them to a charity project. It doesn’t matter how good their intentions are. It digs. Truth is, if either of us is lucky, it’s me, and I know it. “Not when I was just freaking the fuck out, thinking she was about to marry another man.”