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“Means there’ll be an after-party”

“This is like pulling fucking teeth, brother, but I’ll play your game A party after what?” Zach asked in an overly interested voice

“Party after Steph and I get hitched” Mav did an internal backflip as he dropped the bo for Zach to react

His best friend didn’t disappoint Zach froze with the beer bottle halfway to his lips “Coain?”

“Not sure I could right now Steph’s already wrung two outta me today”

“Christ, can you stop thinking about doing your woetting married on New Year’s Eve?”

With a nod, Mav lifted his beer as though toasting “That’s the plan, brother Asked her a few days ago At first, she said she wanted to wait until her pops got out of prison, but the old guy flipped his shit when she told him that He wouldn’t hear of it If he’s on board, why the fuck else would ait?” Thank Christ, because the thought of delaying years for Steph’s father to get out of prison sucked ass He’d do it, of course, but he wanted them married and as soon as possible

“Son of a fucking bitch,” Zach said as he slapped Maverick on the back “Congratulations, brother Man, I’rin he wore conveyed the truth of his words

“Thanks” Mav took a sip, cleared his throat, and cast his friend a side-eyed look Zach still had a goofy s”

“Sure, anything”

Insecure wasn’t a word often used to describe Mav Yeah, he was a confident guy Why not walk through life with a high head and a King Shit attitude? Beat self-doubt and uncertainty any day Been there, done that shit But at that nificant question, nerves had Mav’s tongue lying limp in his mouth

“You good?” Zach asked with a frown

“Yeah” Christ, his voice sounded stiff and strangled “I, uh, ondering if you’d…uh…”

Zach s is back once again only this tiy man I’da kicked your ass to Kentucky if you’d picked someone else”

Well fuck, noas gonna go and get all choked up Instead, he cleared his throat, shoved Zach away, and said, “Christ, you turn into a pussy with stuff like this, don’t you?”