Marrying His Best Friend (The McKinnon Brothers Book 3) by Jennifer Gracen

Author:Jennifer Gracen [Gracen, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781944925970
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2016-08-15T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

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Baz flicked a glance at his phone to check the time as his friend eased onto the barstool beside him. Five-thirty, right on time.

“Thanks for meeting me,” Aidan said.

“Thanks for buying the first round,” Baz replied.

Five minutes later, he raised his glass in salute before sipping his beer. One of their regular pubs in the heart of City Centre, The Harp, was full of patrons like them, people glad to have a pint at the end of a workday. Music played, two different rugby games flashed on the flat screens, and the welcome noise of Dubliners filled the space.

But Aidan was quieter than usual. Baz studied his longtime friend. His whole body was coiled, and stress tightened the lines in his face. “What’s the craic?”

“Well…” Aidan took a long swallow of beer. “I need to ask ya somethin’.”

“All right.”

“I’m getting married in September. Will you be my best man?”

Baz’s mouth dropped open. He drew back, almost falling off his stool. “Go on with ye! Ha-ha, very funny. You’re coddin’ me.”

“Not joking.” Aidan finally grinned. “You don’t want to be my best man? Here I was thinkin’ it was the best way to not have to decide between my brothers. Ah, well.”

Baz gaped. “What kind of shite is this?” He looked around wildly. “Are we on one of those stupid reality shows, and we’re on camera? Some tool’s gonna come runnin’ out now?”

“No.” Aidan met his gaze. “I’m dead serious, Sebastian.”

At that, Baz stilled. Like his parents, Aidan only used his full name when shit got real. “Who the hell are ya marryin’, much less so soon?” A thought hit him, and he leaned in to drop his voice. “You knock someone up?”

“No, ya animal.” Aidan laughed dryly. “I’m marrying Maura.”

Baz blinked. “What? Whaaaaat?”

Aidan sipped his drink again. “It’s a bit of a story…”

Baz gripped his friend’s arm. “You tell me what the hell’s going on, right now.”

Aidan poured out the tale, sparing no details. He’d known Baz since they were kids; it was like talking to a brother. And it was a relief. By the time he was done, they’d gone through another round of drinks, a basket of chips, and he felt himself relax a bit.

Baz sat back on his stool and gazed at his friend with admiration. “You’re a good man, to do that for them. Seriously.”

Aidan just nodded.

“And ya also get the girl of your dreams. So stop looking so bloody miserable. Fate helped you to get what you’ve secretly always wanted—to end up with Maura.”

“And what happens when she thinks on it, and comes to the same conclusion? How convenient it is? That I’m actually getting something I secretly wanted, but never told her? Is she going to feel… I dunno, betrayed?” Aidan’s fingers flexed with trepidation. “Now that I told her the truth about how I feel, what if she thinks I’m not doing this for the right reasons, which I am, but because I just wanted to rope her in for my own selfish wants?”

Baz met his stare.

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