Page 2 of More For Me

I put a hand on his shoulder. “Everything is fine, Leo.”

“But it’s not too much, right?” he asks, sounding anxious. “Because Rose really isn’t into a making a huge fuss and—”

“It’sfine. Better than fine. It’s fucking perfect. Stop worrying.”

“It’s just, I know you and Paige tend to go for extravagant and—”

“Leo.” I wait until he meets my eye in the mirror. “I know you. I know Rose. I promise I made this a wedding you’ll both be happy with.”

He relaxes a little. After Rose and Leo got engaged, they handed over most of the wedding planning to me and Rose’s Aunt Paige. They said they’d be happy with a barbecue in the backyard. Over my dead body.

“Listen man,” Leo says, turning from the window to face me. His forehead is furrowed, his mouth set in a grim line. He looks like a man who just ate a bad plate of shrimp, or maybe someone suffering a bout of serious constipation. Which can only mean one thing.

I grin, holding out my arms. “I’ve been waiting for this. Tell me how much you love me. Let the scary feelings roll out of you, Leo.”

The pinched expression is replaced by a scowl. “I seriously have no idea why I didn’t ask for a room change the second I met you freshman year.”

I snort. “Like anyone else besides me would have been willing to live with you. Face it, man. I’m the only guy you wouldn’t have been able to scare away.”

A smile tugs up the corner of his mouth. “Probably true.”

I stare at him for a moment, waiting for him to an add an insult. When none come, I arch an eyebrow. “Because I’m such a weirdo, right? A glutton for punishment? A crazy person?”

“Nah,” he says easily, smiling bigger now. “You’re just a really good guy.” He crosses the few feet between us and pulls me into a hug. Not a lame bro back-slap deal but a real hug. “You’re the best damn friend I’ve ever had, Bodhi. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I’m allowed to crynow, right?”

He chuckles, but he doesn’t release me. “You’re allowed to do whatever you want.” He pulls back, only smirking a little when he sees I wasn’t joking about the crying—my eyes are totally wet.

In a very masculine way, of course.

“Let’s open that whiskey.”

“Good call.” I move to walk away in search of the bottle, but Leo stops me with a hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, Bodhi? In case I forget later, thanks for planning this, man. The wedding was beautiful.”

I arch an eyebrow. “You haven’t even been into the reception space yet.”

He shrugs. “I don’t need to. I already know you did a kick-ass job with everything.”

“Dude,” a voice booms through the room. “What the hell did you do to Bodhi?—did you punch him or something?”

“Why are you making Bodhi cry on your wedding day?”

Leo laughs, turning to face two of Rose’s brothers—Fox and River—as they walk in. “He just has something in his eye.”

“Yeah, if by something you meanemotions,” River says, grinning. He catches sight of the bottle in my hand. “Oh, nice, we’re in time for the whiskey.”

“What are you guys doing in here?” Leo asks. “Is everything okay with Rose?”

Fox waves him off. “She’s fine. Surrounded by all her girls. Figured we’d come hang out with you guys until this thing gets started.”

Leo blinks rapidly, looking away from the Ransomes. I bite my tongue so I won’t tease him abouthisemotions. I think he assumed Rose’s family would all stick together before the ceremony, and I can tell he’s moved by the fact her brothers are here with him instead.

A few minutes later, Rose’s cousins, Wyatt and Will, join us too. River puts on some music, Will pulls out a box of cigars, and pretty soon we’ve settled into a nice little party.

I look around at these people, people who have become close friends over the last few years, and I feel so damn happy for Leo. The guy grew up without a family. No siblings. No dad. A mom who did her best but caused a lot of upheaval for him due to her issues. There’s a reason Leo Malone was a grumpy, closed off bastard when I met him.