Page 113 of Bridesmaid By Chance
“No,” Sloane says, surprising me. “We actually met in Bora Bora.”
“Oh wow, what an exotic place to meet,” Sheridan says.
“It was. Breathtaking. Too bad when I met him, he was running from a snake, screaming his head off.”
Excuse me?
“Come to find out, it wasn’t a snake. It was just a branch.”
The entire table erupts in laughter besides me.
When I turn to look at her, I can see her wince. Well, at least it seems like she regrets her response.
“Are you afraid of snakes?” Archie asks as his laughter dies down.
No, Brody is. That exact thing happened to him in Bora Bora.
“Uh, I was just startled. I mean, who really likes to come across a snake out in the wild?”
“But it wasn’t a snake, it was a branch,” Devin says.
Trying not to lash out at the prick next to me, I say, “At the time, I thought it was a snake.”
“It was very lifelike,” Sloane says. “So lifelike, that I actually screamed a little too, startled backward, and fell into a pool of water. One of those rapids, you know?” And there she takes a hit to the ego, but she does it with class and an adorable self-deprecating tone.
“Oh wow, seriously?” Sheridan asks.
“Oh yeah, took me right under.”
“Oh no. Did you have to be rescued?” Archie asks.
“Yup, by this big old lump of man,” Sloane says while leaning her head against my shoulder. “Once he realized that the snake was a branch, he leapt into the water, rode the rapids until he was able to snag me, and dragged me up on shore to safety, where he gave me mouth-to-mouth. I always like to say our first kiss was a lifesaving one.”
Sheridan presses her hand to her heart. “Oh my God, that’s so sweet.”
“Because I had to be resuscitated, they took me to the hospital, where I stayed for a few days, just for observation since I took in a lot of water. And this guy sat by my side the entire time.”
“I wasn’t going to leave her,” I say, even though the story is not true—pretty convincing though. “I wanted to be there for her.”
“And you were.” Sloane turns toward me and cups my cheek. “You’re always there for me.”
“Well, you two are the cutest,” Sheridan says. “And I’m so glad you could help us out for the wedding. It works out that you and Devin know each other. He actually suggested that you be partnered up for the dancing.”
Oh, I’m sure he fucking did, that goddamn weasel.
What is with this guy? He can clearly see that Sloane has a ring on her goddamn hand, that she’s happily married, so move the fuck on and stop clinging to someone else’s wife or I will fucking end you.
“Oh, that’s nice,” Sloane answers.
“That’s why I suggested we practice together, so we can get used to each other,” Devin says. “And of course, so Hutton over here doesn’t have to waste his time.”
Oh that motherfucker.
He did that on purpose.
He knows my goddamn name.
“It’s Hudson,” Sloane says.
