Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

His wedding was next weekend.
    "Hey Best Man, how's it going?"
    "Great, great." Actually it sucks. "How are you? Drowning in wedding plans?"
    Bobby chuckled. "Man, I'm the groom, thank God . I just have to show up, Kate and her mother and girlfriends are handling all the wedding crap. My one duty is to keep track of the men in the wedding party. So, I'm calling to make sure you're all set to come right? You know when and where? And you'll be here before the rehearsal dinner Friday night?"
    "Yes, yes, big brother, no problem."
    "And you and Chase are still driving up together, right?"
    Shit. I remember Chase asking me that a couple weeks ago and we had agreed to drive up to San Francisco together. It made perfect sense at the time. Now I wasn't so sure.
    "We'll be there." That answer was ambiguous enough.
    Bobby hung up and I sat there staring at the phone trying to decide what to do. Do I call him? Do I wait for him to contact me?
    About an hour later the decision was made for me when he texted me:
    Just talked to Bobby about nxt wkend. Leaving @ 7:30 am Friday if you're still coming.
     
    My fingers shook as I typed my response: R U sure?
    Stupid for us to drive separately & both show up exhausted. We can split the driving. 7:30. Don't be late.
    I let out a big sigh. His text was pretty terse, but he was still willing to put up with being in a car for me for eight hours. This was either going to work out well or be a complete fuck up.
    ****
    Friday, 0730 hours, I was waiting in front of Chase's house. I was still a little unsure whether I wanted to do this. Then Chase came out of his house with a suitcase to load into his SUV, and I figured he'd see me sitting in my truck. I got out, locked the truck and grabbed my bag from the back of the truck. Chase was just coming around the corner of the SUV when he saw me and stopped.
    "Right on time. Thanks, I really want to get started."
    We got everything packed in the back and then climbed in. Neither of us spoke. I clicked my seatbelt in place and Chase was just getting ready to start the ignition. This was going to be a long-ass uncomfortable drive if I didn't say anything.
    "Chase, wait." He paused and looked over at me.
    "I need to apologize for being such an asshole at the club last week. I'd had a few drinks and I was just surprised to see you with that guy. I mean it's cool if you like him, I just— I mean, we're friends, we've hung out so much and yet, you had never mentioned him at all."
    Chase sighed and just looked down at the keys in his hand. He still wasn't saying anything and I was afraid he was still pissed. So I decided to try something supportive. "Umm... so did you have a good time the rest of the night?" I sounded like a chick.
    He started a chuckle, which turned into full laugh.
    "Hey, don't laugh at me."
    His laugh gradually died down. "I'm not laughing at you. Thanks for the apology though. You were actually right. He and I were never really... compatible. I was just trying to force something that wasn't there."
    He shook his head and started the car. We'd only been driving a few minutes when Chase cleared his throat.
    "So, how did your night end up?"
    My face heated up. "Um, it was fine." I wasn't going to talk about it; I was embarrassed for him to know the condition I ended up in. I could see him out of the corner of my eye looking over at me, but I kept staring out the window and didn't say a word.
    "Okay, then."
    ****
    Thank God that was the end of the awkward conversation. By the time we passed the Encinitas exit things were back to normal between us, like nothing had ever happened.
    The road trip was actually fun after that, we joked and laughed and argued over music. Eight-hours went by really quickly and before we knew it we were pulling up to the hotel where the wedding was being held. I texted Bobby as Chase unloaded the car. A few minutes later Bobby was meeting us in the lobby.
    "My Co-Best Men! Finally!" He gave us both big hugs and started babbling away like a kid hopped up on sugar as he took us up to our rooms. In the elevator, I finally got him to shut up long enough to get a word in.
    "Bobby, calm down, man. Have you been drinking already?"
    "No."
    "Did you take anything else?" Once he realized what I was saying, he cuffed me upside the head.
    "I am not on any drugs, doofus. I've just been bored out of my mind. I love Kate, but her brothers are kind of lame. I've been dying for you two to get here. Plus now Kate will let me hang