The morning sun spilled across the greenery as I turned off the gravel road and pulled back into the lodge’s lot. My fingers brushed the edge of the steering wheel where Jack'd gripped it the day before. His recent presence still lingered in the truck. His scent caught between old leather and late summer air. His final farewell was echoing in my mind, and my lips buzzed with the memory of his goodbye kiss. 

I had no idea what would happen from that point on. But at least that morning, for once, I hadn't woken up all alone. 

I killed the engine and stepped out of the car, begging myself for a final confrontation. 

The guys were already loading up. Patrick was playing dad, triple-checking the cabin for leftovers. Kevin looked hungover, yawning and squinting in the sun. And Jared was leaning against the porch post, finishing his coffee, eyes fixed on me like he’d been waiting.

“Morning, pal.” Kevin patted my back, yawning loudly. “Where’d you lose Jack?” 

“He's on his way to Salt Lake already.”

“What? He missed Mary so much?” Kevin cackled, but Jared's chill stare made him shut up. 

“Aren't you a giggler, Kev? Get inside.” Jared snapped, throwing his own bag on the truck bed.

Kevin climbed into the backseat, obedient now, like a kid who’d been scolded. Jared took the passenger seat without even asking, his face stiff with something that wasn’t quite anger.

“Is Jack alright?”  Patrick asked me quietly, lifting a backpack. “He seemed uneasy. Texted me to pack his stuff, but didn't say anything else.”

“He needs to figure some things out.” I said. “Give him time.” 

“Hey, man,” Kevin piped up again after I slid behind the wheel. “That was one hell of a bachelor party. You plan to repeat it when you two marry, right? Count me in.”

“Cork it, you moron, or you'll be going back by foot.” Jared gave him the final warning, staring out the window.

I pulled off the plot, leaving a thick cloud of dust behind us. In the rearview, I saw them - Kevin half-asleep, Patrick already scrolling his phone. I wondered how much Jared had told them. I wondered if he’d told Mary.

Well, I had to agree with Kevin on one thing - it was a hell of a party indeed. And it seemed the groom was going to stay bachelor for a while longer.

For a moment we rode in complete silence. Tires bit into gravel, the radio hummed some dull country ballad, and the wind kept slipping in through the cracked window. Kevin and Patrick dozed off in the back, leaving Jared and me suspended in the quiet hum of the road. 

“I didn't mean to blow this up so much.” said Jared at last, voice low.

“Yeah?” I replied, bitter. “You pulled out a great performance.”

“I just wanted him to be honest at last. I wanted to see the real Jack. I wanted Mary to see the real Jack.”

“Have you told her?”

“I didn't plan to… but you weren't coming back, and I lost it. We had a late night call.”

“How did she take it?”

“She cried. A lot.” He paused, and I saw him going miles away. 

“If he wasn't my friend, I would fucking beat the crap out of him. You don’t do that to people you love. And I think… in his own broken way, he does love her.”

I didn't answer, but I heard him. There was more to his words than he was ready to unpack. I could feel it. We drove the rest of the way in silence. 

Mountains softened into open plains. Jackson’s outskirts blinked into view. We pulled into the parking lot, the guys yawning awake, gathering their things. I climbed out, stretching. 

And then I saw it - Jack's hoodie - slumped in the corner of the backseat, like it was still waiting for him. Or maybe he’d left it on purpose? That view lit a tiny spark of hope within me. Like a promise made without words. I smiled to myself, faintly, as if too much joy may break the spell. 

And for the first time in years, I was ready to wait.