“Just out of curiosity, are you planning on wearing a white dress?” Harper queried, taking an inadvertent step back when Zander scorched her with a dark look.
“I’m gay, not a cross-dresser,” he announced.
Harper recognized she’d stepped in the thick of things and instantly began searching for a way to extricate her foot from her mouth. “I know. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just ... brides usually wear white.”
“Oh, really?”
Harper wasn’t a fan of the sarcasm, but she managed to hold it together. “I was just trying to talk things through with you. If you’re going to be like this—”
Zander cut her off with a head shake. “Of course we’re talking about the wedding. I’m taking a whole stack of magazines into the woods with us. I packed a separate bag. Don’t be an idiot.”
Harper’s frown only deepened. “You plan on taking an extra bag of magazines on a work camping trip?”
“We’re going to have downtime.”
Harper wasn’t convinced that was true. “We’re supposed to be participating in all the events. We agreed to weigh in with our opinions on things to help them improve and even tout them on our website if things go as planned.”
“So?”
“So ... I’m pretty sure wedding plans aren’t part of the equation.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.” He let loose a haphazard – and thoroughly dismissive – wave. “Wedding plans are part of every equation. Besides, there’s going to be hikes through the woods ... and bonfires every night ... and special bonding time for best friends.”
Harper was positive he’d made up the last part. “I guess it’s up to you.”
“It is.” Zander flicked his attention to the stacks of clothes. “Is that all you’re packing? You’re going to run out of costume changes on day two if that’s all you’re bringing with you.”
“I’m pretty sure that costume changes are out of the question.” Harper folded her arms over her chest and stared down her best friend. “You know we actually have to carry our own stuff to the campsite, right?”
He avoided eye contact. “I’m well aware.”
“My understanding is that we have to hike a mile from the cars into the woods. Jared looked at a map or something and that’s what he deduced.”
“So?”
“So, who is going to carry all these bags you plan on packing? They’re going to have tents at the site ... and pots and pans ... and a few other necessities. We’re responsible for everything else ourselves.”
“I know that.” His voice rose an octave, telling Harper he was getting testy. “I’ve got it handled.”
It wasn’t that Harper didn’t trust him — he was her best friend for a reason — but on things like this he tended to exaggerate. That’s exactly what she was worried about now. “I’m not carrying one of those bags for you either. Jared and I have carefully measured out the space in our bags. We each get a midsized bag for clothes and then we both have to carry an additional bag of other supplies.”
“I said I’ve got it covered.” Zander’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Why do you always assume I don’t know what I’m doing?”
“I never said that.”
Jared picked that moment to stroll into his bedroom. He was fresh from the shower, a towel knotted around his waist, and his bare chest gleamed with water droplets. “Do I even want to know what you two are arguing about right now?” he queried as he moved toward the dresser. His eyes momentarily scanned the piles of clothes. “I thought you were going to have that stuff packed by the time I was finished with my shower.”
Harper pinned him with a dark look. “I’m working on it.”
“Not very fast. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“Zander distracted me.”
“Oh, right,” Zander muttered. “Blame it on me.”
Jared was used to the other man’s antics and he was having none of it today. “I want to avoid rush-hour traffic. That means we’re leaving in an hour. I don’t really care if you’re with us, but this particular train will be leaving the station on time.”
Rather than be offended, or race out of the room to continue packing, Zander cocked his head. “Has anyone ever mentioned how cute you are when you decide to be bossy? I mean ... you’re just so adorable when you’re snarling like a militant cocker spaniel.”
Jared refused to be drawn into a fight. “Are you packed?”
“Mostly.”
“See, something tells me that’s a lie.”
Zander worked his jaw and looked to Harper for support. “He’s calling me a liar. That’s the sort of man you’re marrying. I just ... I can’t believe you would let him talk to me that way.”
Harper had navigated enough minefields to know she was venturing into dangerous territory, but she pushed the matter anyway. “He’s not kidding, Zander. He’ll leave you behind.”
“And I’ll enjoy it,” Jared added, strolling to the dresser and yanking open one of the drawers. “You packed the allergy meds and stomach stuff, right, Heart?”
Harper nodded. “Once you mentioned that we would likely be eating beans and hot dogs for the duration, I tossed in two bottles of heartburn relief ... just to be on the safe side. You don’t know who might want to borrow from us.”
“Good thinking.” Jared paused next to her long enough to press a kiss to her cheek. He had a pair of boxer shorts in his hand and looked to be returning to the bathroom. “If you’re concerned, throw in an extra shirt and pair of pants. I think everything we picked out is going to be more than enough, though.”
Harper chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “I’ve just never
