Page 53 of Last Night Was Fun

He casually sipped his coffee, apparently having recovered from his earlier fluster, and shrugged. “I figured I’d see what all the oat milk fuss was about.”

Emmy sipped her own coffee and eyed him over her mug. “And?”

His mouth twisted into a wobbly line that made her acutely aware of how soft and lush his lips looked.

She immediately took another gulp for distraction.

“I guess it’s not terrible,” he said.

A silence ballooned between them. Strained and awkward and so huge, Emmy knew popping it would startle them both.

But she did it anyway.

“So, last night was...”

“Fun?” he offered when she couldn’t find the right words to finish her sentence.

For a brief moment, her reflexes made her worry he was mocking her with a call back to the text that started it all. But then she saw a gentle smile curve his lips and realized he was simply as uncomfortable as she was. As nervous that this new territory was going to blow up in their faces and leave everything irreparable.

She quietly laughed, feeling the tension loosen. And then he laughed too, and it fell away altogether.

“Listen,” Emmy said, and leaned on the counter beside him. “I’m wondering if—and you have every right to say no because I know this is all kind of absurd and ridiculous—but I’m wondering if... you’d still be willing to go to the wedding with me.” She bit her lip and nervously watched his reaction.

A look bloomed over his face, tangling on itself somewhere between surprise she was asking and sincere contemplation like he might say yes. “Really?”

She desperately leapt on the opportunity. “Yes! I will buy your plane ticket and everything.Please.”

He softly chuckled. “You don’t have to do that.” He set his coffee down and stroked his jaw. “I guess I just thought, you know, you were never going to talk to me again after last night, so I’m a little surprised.”

Emmy blinked at him in relief. “I thoughtyouwere never going to talk tomeagain, so I’m surprised you’re even considering this.” She leaned back and looked at him with a narrowed gaze as if to check he wasn’t pulling a trick. “Youareconsidering it, right?”

He smirked at her, and a flash of the Gabe Olson she knew wellpeeked through. The one who relished any opportunity to lord something over her. But a softer version chased him away. “Yes, I’m considering it.”

“Really?!” Her hand shot out and gripped his forearm of its own accord. He didn’t shake her off, so she left it there.

A grin spread his lips. “Desperation is a new look on you, Jameson. I kind of like it.”

She rolled her eyes and dropped her hand, afraid she’d misjudged the whole situation and he’d been playing her from the start.

Gabe looked amused. “Sorry, old habits die hard. I’m just messing with you. Yes, I will come with you to your sister’s wedding in Cancún.”

Emmy’s heart lifted, but she eyed him with great caution. “Not messing with me now?”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Not messing with you, promise. But can I be there by Friday? You’re right this is short notice, and I have some things to take care of before leaving.”

“Yes!” Emmy almost jumped on him again. “Yes, that’s perfect. The rehearsal dinner is at five. Any time before that is fine. And we have the hotel until Monday, so you can stay as long as works for you.”

“Cool,” he said with a nod. “Can you text me all the information?”

And just like that, he invited the awkward elephant right back to the party. Because Emmy Jameson did not have Gabe Olson’s phone number. But Bird Girl had Axe Murderer’s.

Emmy pursed her lips. Nerves coursed through her body like an army of ants. “Yes, but about that. I think it would be best if you come to the wedding as you, not... the other guy. We don’t have to tell anyone who you really are. There will be fewer questions that way.” She bit her lip and awkwardly looked away.

She felt his eyes studying her. The nervous ants started dancing in a conga line. Then he nodded in understanding. “Oh, right. Because you told your sister and your best friend about me. Well, the other me.”

“Right.”

She silently thanked him for not mentioning what her sister had said about Emmy hating him the night of her bachelorette party.