Simon: Brothers. Got an e-mail from Cooper asking that I add the following message to the thread so he isn’t left out of the wedding celebrations: Congratulations to Dave, the first of us to fall. May you be happy and prosperous and gain fifteen pounds from Katie’s delicious cooking so you will be slow and easier to beat on the field.

Dave: A poet, that one.

Jamie: Are you nervous?

Dave: Not at all. Just excited.

Simon: I need to ask a favor. Of both of you.

Jamie: Shoot.

Simon: I’m bringing a date to the rehearsal dinner.

Jamie: Dude. Way to rebound.

Simon: That’s why I brought it up. I know it’s soon after the breakup. Please don’t make it a big deal.

Dave: We’ve got your back, man. But are you ready to date again?

Simon: Probably not. But loving someone who can’t love you back stinks. The distraction helps.

Jamie: Don’t play her though, man. That’s not okay.

Simon: I would never do that. It’s just a date. And she’s nice. Who knows if it’ll go somewhere. But just don’t react. Jamie—I’m looking at you.

Jamie: Noted. I’ll be on my best behavior.

Chapter 18

I hated being a third wheel.

It wasn’t really by anyone’s choosing, but since I wasn’t in the wedding party and everyone else I knew was, I spent a lot of time at the rehearsal dinner hanging out on my own. Or for the most awkward moments of the night, hanging out with Simon’s date, Melia. Exotic, lovely Melia who was totally rocking a high-waist, black pencil skirt and killer red heels. I watched Simon and Melia from the opposite end of the large private dining room the Hamiltons had rented for the dinner and tried to convince myself the burning in my chest wasn’t jealousy. Because I had no right to feel jealous. Not even a little.

“How long have they been dating?” I asked Jamie about halfway through the dessert course.

“This is the first I’ve heard of her,” Jamie told me. “So it can’t be long. He says she’s a grad student at Duke.”

“I guess it’s good to see he’s moved on from Karen.”

“I’m not so sure. Feels a little rushed to me. He asked me not to make a big deal about it though, so he must really like the girl.”

My stomach tightened. “You think?”

“He texted me and Dave both and asked us to lay off the teasing. That’s got to mean he likes her, right? And doesn’t want us to embarrass him.”

“Huh.” So I guess that cleared up one potentially awkward conversation in my future. No reason to even think about talking to Simon now. “Did you talk to your mom about Thanksgiving?”