Keeping Secrets in Seattle by Brooke Moss Read Free Book Online Page B

future Mrs. Parker hates me.”
    “She doesn’t hate you.” He looked away. “She likes you. It’s gotta be weird, though. For her fiancé to have a girl best friend.”
    I nodded. “I guess. But there’s nothing between us. We’re completely platonic. Nothing to worry about, right?”
    His face fell. Just the tiniest bit. “Right.”
    We just watched each other for an awkward pause.
    “Listen, I wanted to ask you if…” Gabe paused and laughed nervously.
    “If?”
    “It would really mean the world to me if you would be my best man.”
    The race engine in my heart sputtered to an abrupt halt. I probably should have thanked him for the honor. But my initial reaction was to jump off the bed and yell, What the hell, dude? After all we’d been through, Gabe wanted me to stand next to him while he pledged his life to Alicia?
    “You do realize that I’m not a guy, right?” I answered slowly.
    “Believe me, I know that.” He swatted me with a pillow. “But you’re my best friend. And it just wouldn’t be right without you standing beside me. Let me rephrase…will you be my best woman?”
    I smiled despite myself. “Isn’t Alicia your best woman?”
    Gabe rubbed his eyes tiredly. “Stop busting my chops. All right, will you be my…best person?”
    “That sounds stupid. Just call me your best man.”
    “Fine. Will you be my best man?”
    “And Alicia’s totally okay with this?” I watched his face for signs of impending doom.
    “Oh, yeah, of course. She knows how important it is to me.”
    My chest tightened. I was not only going to witness Gabe getting married, but now I would have a front and center view while doing so. How intoxicated would I have to be to stand there without having any comprehension of what I was witnessing? Could one actually request a lobotomy?
    “Vi?” Gabe snapped his fingers underneath my nose a few times.
    I fisted my hands under the pillow in my lap. Part of me wanted to tell him to drop dead. After all, I’d only recently begun the arduous process of getting over my love for him. How dare he ask me to be his best-freaking- man in his wedding, which was being held on my birthday? But the other part of me wanted to play the part of the cool, collected best friend. Willing to do whatever brought joy to my oldest and dearest friend. I felt like I was going to split right down the middle, leaving my guts—and my adoration—all over my bedspread for him to see.
    Gabe cleared his throat, and I snapped to attention, offering false enthusiasm. “Of course. I would be honored to be your best person…er, man.”
    He graced me with a wide grin. “Yeah? Thanks, Vi. I was afraid it would be weird for you.”
    I bit my lip. “Not weird at all.”
    “I have no idea what Alicia will dress you in, so don’t do the girl thing and ask me what you’re wearing. That’s why she wants you to come to brunch with her bridesmaids on Valentine’s Day.”
    “Oh, I see. Gee, I’m really looking forward to that.” I pressed my lips together to avoid making a face.
    Gabe nudged me. “Come on. I won’t let her dress you like a complete fool.”
    I let my fake smile drop. “Please try to rein her in, okay? I know my fashion sense isn’t like Alicia’s at all, but don’t let her put me into a chicken suit or something like that.”
    “A chicken suit?” He laughed. “Fat chance. She’s got visions of grandeur. Expensive grandeur.”
    “Well, I guess I won’t be too dressed up. Wouldn’t want me to be a threat or anything, right?”
    Gabe’s expression was indecipherable. “That’s absurd.”
    His comment had an invisible sting. “Exactly.”
    Gabe stretched, and the tails of his shirt rose, showing a sliver of skin at the waist of his slacks. “I’ve got to get going. I’m being dragged to taste menu choices tomorrow morning between my work meetings.”
    My pulse sped up at the sight of his abs, and I immediately bounced up off the bed. “Menu choices, huh? No rest for