Cole chuckled. "Well Magnolia, you aren't the only one he left in the dark. How long have you two been a thing?"
It took me a second to understand what he meant, but Hayden got there faster.
"It's a fairly recent development," he said, sliding his hand into mine. The move made me nearly swallow my tongue. His skin was warm, his touch reassuring, but I so wasn't used to this.
"Oh really?" Cole said with a smile. "Hayden Davenport on lockdown with a girlfriend. I never thought I'd see the day."
"First time for everything."
"And you didn't tell me about this monumental first because…?"
"Like I said, it's new." Hayden shrugged.
My brows rose. That was the understatement of the century. We'd only been fake boyfriend and girlfriend for what? Five minutes?
Cole looked to me then. "Thanks for getting him here, Magnolia. You're a real sweetheart."
I blushed. "I'm sure he would've come through in the end."
"I'm not," Cole said.
"Me either," Hayden agreed.
"Anyway, thanks.Annnd since my bride will probably light me on fire with her eyes if I'm not in place when she comes down those steps, I should be getting back."
I had to smile at that. "I agree. You better go."
Hayden leaned in to say, "I'll just grab a seat near the back, and—"
"Oh no, you don't." Cole shook his head, clamping a hand on Hayden's shoulder. "You're my best man. You're coming up there to stand at my side."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes," Cole and I said in unison.
Hayden let out a long-suffering sigh, but as Cole brought out a pink rose and tried to pin it on him, my pretend boyfriend took a step back.
"No way," he said. "I am not wearing that."
"Jas wants us all to wear them."
"But it's…pink."
"Actually, the rose is blush and the little flowers are lavender to match the bridesmaid dresses," Cole corrected. "Those are her favorite colors."
"Well, they're not my favorite."
Shaking my head, I grabbed the boutonniere and pinned it on Hayden's lapel before he could object. It was a good thing I moved fast. Hayden's grimace told me he wasn't at all a fan. He was literally staring at the flower like it had given him a personal insult.
"You'll wear it," I said, patting his chest.
His eyes narrowed on the flower then moved to meet mine. "And why would I do that?"
"Because you're the best man." I leaned up to his ear to whisper, "Cole is your best friend. He's marrying my very observant, very stressed out sister who would definitely notice if you didn't wear this like the other groomsman. And, at least for a little while, you're my pretend boyfriend." Pulling back, I said, "Please?"
Hayden was quiet a moment, then he said, "Okay, Maggie. For you, I'll wear pink."
I bit back a smile. "It looks good on you, Bartholomew."
