Read Online Four Weddings and a Break Up by Elyssa Patrick - Free Book Online

to be there for her.
    Except he hadn’t recognized her at first. Real smart move there . He’d been so distracted by thoughts of his dad and his piss-poor relationship with his brother Jake that he’d blanked and forgotten. He just plain sucked as a person.
    Plus, he hadn’t been able to stand Lois pressing Ginny about who she was dating, much like she had done to him earlier this morning. Before he’d realized it, he’d said that it was him. Then the whole revelation about the shooting came out, and he’d seen the glimmer of tears in Ginny’s eyes . . . the idea had come to him. They could help each other out and be friends.
    Except she had turned him down.
    She would call him. Eventually. He had a gut feeling that she would. It was just a matter of time. And Wes could be an extremely patient man when it was warranted.
    But for now he had to make dinner.
    He took out the box of Velveeta macaroni and cheese. The directions were easy, and if he couldn’t make this, then there really was no hope for him. He set the water to boil and waited. Dad was in the other room watching a Phillies game with Jake. The front door opened and closed.
    “Seth, you’re early,” Jake remarked from the living room. “No Liz tonight? It’s so odd to see you without her. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
    Seth laughed. “She’s doing some things for the wedding with her mom. Besides, I know it’s Wes’ first night here. I thought it could just be us guys. Where is Wes, by the way?”
    “Making dinner,” Jake answered.
    A few moments later, Seth entered the kitchen. At thirty-one, Seth was the middle child of the family. Like Jake and Wes, Seth also had black hair and steely gray eyes. His hair was a little on the shorter side but had more wave in it. A small scar sliced his left cheek. Instead of looking rough and raw-boned, Seth was polished and refined. Even though Seth had caused trouble when he was younger, he’d always been the peacemaker of the group.
    Seth didn’t hesitate. He went up to Wes and hugged him briefly, then clapped him on the shoulder. “Wes. I’m so glad you’re here. What’s on the menu tonight?”
    Wes held up the Velveeta box in answer. “Just your every day five-star cuisine.”
    “I’m not complaining. I’ve always enjoy processed, melted orange cheese.” Seth opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. “Want one?”
    “Sure.”
    Seth tossed the bottle, and Wes easily caught it. Then Seth took out another one, uncapped it, and took a long pull.
    “Everything okay?” Wes added some salt to the water before facing his brother. “How’s your fiancée?”
    Seth’s smile widened. “Liz is great. You know how women can get, especially a few weeks before their own wedding. With the cottage still not finished—”
    “You’re building a cottage?”
    “I thought you knew?”
    No. He hadn’t. Then again it wasn’t like he and his brothers had any sort of regular correspondence. And it wasn’t like he had readily availed himself to open lines of communication with his brothers. Or his dad.
    This is why he was in Cape Hope—to help out his brothers and Dad, and to forge a better relationship with his family.
    “I didn’t. Building it from scratch?”
    Seth took out a head of lettuce, washing it under the sink. “Might as well make myself useful.”
    “By washing lettuce?”
    “By making a salad.” Seth removed the cutting board from above the stainless-steel fridge. He started slicing the lettuce. “As to the cottage, it’s all new. Right on the southern point—there’ll be views of the ocean on all sides.”
    “Sounds nice. How big?”
    “It’s a cottage, so not terribly big or too small. Just right. Comfortable,” Seth said. “It’s going to have three bedrooms and two full baths. The kitchen is this nice little nook that overlooks the back—there’s a small yard, just enough for a swing set and tiny garden. Maybe even big enough for a doghouse. I’m going to paint the