Page 41 of Red Eye Rendezvous

I shrug. “Worth it.She’sworth it.”

Julian looks at me carefully. “You’re serious.”

“I’ve always been serious when it comes to Sky.” The words come out before I filter them.

Four men stare at me. Waiting.

I smile despite myself. “She’salwaysbeen it.”

Fred shakes his head with a soft laugh. “Men of your generation waste a lot of time.”

“You better not drag this out another decade.” Irving points at me.

“I’m not rushing her,” I protest.

“How in the hell would you be rushing her?” Julian asks.

“Because things changed on the way over and she asked me not to say anything,” I try to explain. “Sky doesn’t want to take the spotlight away from your wedding.”

The four of them exchange looks.

Jose strokes his chin with his fingers. “Time is a funny thing. Sometimes you think you have plenty—”

“Sometimes you discover you don’t,” Fred finishes.

Irving lifts his glass again. “You’ve both already waited fifteen years.”

Julian grins. “Clock’s ticking.”

I finish my beer and set down the empty glass. The advice isn’t subtle.

But, it’s solid.

In a few hours we’ll be back at the castle for the rehearsal dinner.

Sky will be across from me again.

Publicly we’re practicing patience.

Though, I’m starting to think it’s overrated.