Read The Best Man: Part Two for Free Online

head bowed, meeting no one’s eye now. “I’m gonna be late, so—”
    “Yeah, see you,” Noah says vaguely, watching him walk away.
    Lenny nudges him. “He seems nice.”
    “He’s all right.” He has no idea what else to say, how to put into words his opinion on Patrick without getting himself in trouble.
    “Sticking around, is he?” Lenny asks, and it’s with a hint of bitterness that Noah says no, he’s not, he’s going back to the States after the wedding.
    Leaving Connor without a best friend. Leaving him.
    Although he doesn’t say that part to Lenny.
    Connor comes into the shop later, surprisingly. He never pays Noah visits at work. But he’s here today, and he gives Noah a grumpy kiss over the till.
    “Feel like I haven’t seen you properly for ages. You wanna go out for dinner tonight?”
    “Ah I can’t,” Noah says awkwardly, goes back to laying out the brownies he baked that morning. “I already told Patrick I was making meatballs.”
    “Oh. Well tomorrow then?”
    “Yeah, okay. We also need to sort out the music for the wedding.”
    Connor’s face scrunches up. “Uh…Saturday?”
    “It’s Christmas this weekend, you idiot,” Noah says, laughing a little.
    “Shit, ‘course it is. It’ll have to be Friday then.”
    “I’ve got the tux fitting with Lenny during the day,” Noah reminds him.
    “Yeah, and I’ve got a night shoot. Jesus.”
    Seems like finding time for this wedding is becoming an impossible feat these days.
    “After Christmas?” Noah tries.
    “Not really any other option, is there?” Connor grouches. He checks his watch. “Look, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you tonight.” He plants another kiss on the corner of Noah’s mouth before hurrying out.
    Three seconds later, Noah’s following him. He’s planning on doing the Christmas food shop this afternoon, and he needs to ask Connor what alcohol he wants.
    Only Connor’s already vanished like a damn designer-clad ninja and Noah’s left standing there, sighing, considering calling him instead.
    Then his attention’s caught by Patrick once again, who’s now making his way down the steps that lead to the flats above the coffee house. Noah walks over to him, frowning in confusion.
    “What were you doing up there?”
    Patrick stops at the bottom of the steps, puts his hands in his pockets. “Just checking something out.”
    “Lenny lives up there,” Noah says suspiciously. “You weren’t trying to scope out the competition, were you?”
    Patrick blinks, then shakes his head. “What competition are we supposed to be having, exactly?”
    “Fuck if I know,” Noah says, laughing. “Best stag night maybe? Lenny’s a bit intense about being the best at everything.”
    “Right, good to know.”
    Patrick seems lighter, less guarded, now that they’re alone. His expression more open, his eyes brighter.
    “Don’t worry,” Noah teases, giving the front of Patrick’s shirt a little tug, “I’m sure you can more than hold your own.”
    “I wasn’t worried, but thanks.” Patrick smiles at him, and stares at him for a moment, before his eyes clear and he takes a breath. “What are you doing now?”
    “About to go shopping actually. Christmas food. You?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Nothing?”
    “Nope,” says Patrick. “Free agent.”
    The way he says it gives Noah the impression that maybe he’s hinting, and Noah, tummy swirling pleasantly, goes with it.
    “Do you wanna, uh…give me a hand?”
    “Food shopping?” Patrick asks, and Noah nods. “No.”
    “Oh…”
    “I hate supermarkets.”
    “I get it.”
    He goes to take a step back, inappropriately disheartened by the blunt rejection. Stupidly, a part of him assumed Patrick would always want to spend the time with him, regardless of what they were doing. Recent events have given him a false sense of importance, it seems.
    His step back leads him into the path of a young woman. He didn’t see her coming, but he feels her wrath as he steps on the toes