by Debbie Civil
Chapter 32
Carmen
This part of the night sucks. We are all standing around in a plain room that has fourteen folding chairs scattered about. Eli decided on matching bridesmaid dresses. It’s a champagne-colored ball gown that poofs out and has a corset. I swear that we all look like we are from the 1700s. All of us including the bride are wearing slippers that have jewels. I want to complain about this dress because it’s mid-august which means that it’s hot outside. But there is no use. We are still stuck in the monstrosity. I lean against the wall because sitting is worse. I can barely breathe in this dress. My hair is hanging loosely, and my makeup is minimal. That was something else that Aunt Shelly encouraged all of us to do, allow our hair to hang loose. Aunt Shelly isn’t in this wide room. She’s in the audience. Our groomsmen are late, and I’m half tempted to text Jake. But my phone is in my father’s pocket because we were also encouraged not to have matching purses. I so miss Chelsea right now. She would have cracked jokes about how stupid this all is. Her wedding was much more exciting. I still remember how Jake had to put the garter on my leg after he had caught it. I think that it was then that I noticed how beautiful he is. He doesn’t say much, but his actions are the equivalent of a roar.
“Hi Carmen,” Jake says. He catches me by surprise mainly because I was lost in thought.
“Hi,” I say, looking at him. He’s dressed in a black and white tux and his dark hair is slipped back. He’s clean-shaven and wears black shiny dress shoes. With the way we were dressed, I had half expected him to be dressed in a kilt. I’m just about to tell him that when he gently presses his lips against mine. Despite my desire to slap him, I can’t ignore how hard my heart is pounding in my chest. When he pulls away, I raise an eyebrow.
“You’re beautiful.” He says the words as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing. I’m speechless.
“What about our rules?” My question comes out breathlessly because that’s what I am, breathless. Jake rubs the back of his neck.
“I never said that I agreed with them.” So that’s his argument? I ignore the hope that fills my chest. This can’t happen. Jake belongs to someone else.
“What do you mean?”
“Carmen, I love you. I can’t go on pretending that I don’t. You are the one that I want to be with. I…”
“I saw you kiss Jill. It’s hard for me to believe that you want to be with me. Why would you want to be with me when you can have America’s Darling?” Jake shakes his head at me.
“Because you’re who I want to be with.” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. August Jacob Jones loves me, and I haven’t said it back yet. Nuts!!!
“I love you too,” I softly say and he gently caresses my cheek.
“Hello, what’s going on over here?” The question comes from my pissed off mother. Jake spins around, and I walk forward to get a good look at her. Mom most likely came in here to get some pictures of Dom and me for one of her scrapbooks. Instead, she probably saw Jake and my romantic moment. I’m definitely embarrassed, but Jake acts like this isn’t a big deal.
“I’m telling Carmen that I love her,” he bluntly explains, as if this is an excuse that people hear every day. Mom’s eyes narrow on him.
“What about America’s Darling?” I’m guessing that Dad hasn’t caught her up to speed. I don’t blame him. She worries way too much.
“That was an act to make Uncle James happy,” Jake answers.
“Jake, give me a moment with my daughter,” she insists. He nods and heads over to Dom, who is talking to an irate Stephanie. “Carmen, is he the reason you’ve been so depressed?”
“Sort of,” I answer, not wanting to get into this right now. So many people would be able to eavesdrop on this conversation.
“Can we talk about this later?” I ask. Mom seems confused.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were falling for Jake?”
“I didn’t think that it mattered. He was with Jill,” I reason, and she sags with relief. Now, I realize that she had been worried that a gap had been bridged between us. A twinge of guilt runs through me. I hadn’t been making much of an effort to bond with Mom. Considering that I almost lost her two years ago, one would have thought that talking to her would be something that I did constantly. But August Jacob Jones consumes my entire being. I guess that I love him that much. But it doesn’t mean that he isn’t going to have to work for me. There will be ground rules. He won’t be able to kiss me Willy Nellie. I will set the pace.
“It does matter,” Mom insists. “Everything that you feel matters.” I smile up at her and Jake, probably sensing that Mom’s claws have been retracted walks back over to us.
“I’m guessing that you’re here for pictures,” Jake says, pointing at Mom’s camera. She smiles.
“You aren’t being escorted by Dom, anymore?” she asks.
“Nope,” Jake replies before I can tell him yes. We both raise a brow at him. “No, I switched with Dom,” Jake explains, his lips stretching in a wide smile. Now this makes my heart flip over. But again, I remind myself that Jake and I do have a lot of talking to do. Because he decided to publicly date America’s Darling, this will get complicated. I hope that Jake is prepared to sort everything out. Mother gestures for us to get into position. Jake wraps his arms around my waist and tucks me into his side. Mom takes pictures of us, and I can tell that she’s enjoying the view. Her eyes are filling with emotion, and I want to ask her why she looks so relieved. But Mom doesn’t answer me. Instead, she walks over to me, brushes a soft kiss across my cheek and leaves the room. It is then that Stephanie lets out a shriek. Dom is attempting to hook his arm through his, but she’s fighting him. I frown at Jake, who doesn’t look surprised in the slightest.
“I guess she’s really unhappy that she’s partnered up with Dom.” I frown up at Jake, who still has his arm wrapped around me.
“I thought that you switched with Dom.”
“I did. But I didn’t want Jill anywhere near Dom, so I asked Matt to escort her,” he explains. I snicker. Dom is probably three sheets to the wind. He can barely stand.
“How much Whiskey did he drink?” Something about my question makes Jake unhappy. He doesn’t answer my question. Instead, he strokes my cheek with his finger tip. I want to protest, but Danny rushes over to us and scowls at Jake.
“You’re supposed to be with Jill,” she says with a lot of attitude.
“Ever since you and Stephanie’s little screw up, it doesn’t Matter who I date. Uncle James’ family values campaign is out the window.” Jake’s words seem to transform Danny. Her dark eyes are filled with exhaustion, and it looks like she’s going to fall over.
“People make mistakes, Jake,” she tells her brother and I almost agree with her. I suddenly wish for a piece of paper, wanting to write an apology. We use to be best friends. I can remember sleepovers where we watched scary movies. But now things are different.
“So you say,” Jake mutters. I’m about to suggest that maybe Danny and I should chat. After all, we do have a lot to talk about. But Malcolm, looking stony walks over to us. He doesn’t even spare a smile for Danny. Instead, his eyes are traveling between Jake and me.
“Carmen, it’s good to see you,” he says softly.
“Malcolm, what’s up?” I ask him. He doesn’t answer me. Instead, the guy gives Jake an odd look.
“Do you have something to say to me?” Jake asks, seeming agitated. He apparently doesn’t want this much company. Malcolm nods. “You’re really into her or is this a ploy to keep Dom away from her?” I stare at Malcolm with interest.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“You missed it. Dom…”
“No,” Jake snaps. I frown at the darkness in Jake’s gaze. What’s the real problem between the two of them? As far as I knew, Malcolm and Jake were on good terms. Malcolm looks like he really wants to talk to me. I’m guessing that he has news to tell me.
“He wants to tell you that Dom wants
to be with you,” Jake gruffly summarizes. Danny’s mouth falls open.
“That doesn’t make any sense. He told us that you stocked him relentlessly and that he wanted a breather from you. That’s why he invited Bridget to the wedding. I…” Danny’s eyes narrow.
“What?” I ask.
“Do you think that Dom and Bridget were working together to sabotage his campaign?” I shake my head.
“I don’t think so. Dom’s a drunk,” I reason. Danny looks thoughtful.
“It could all be an act,” she argues. I’m mulling this over when Malcolm suddenly sighs.
“Sorry man, I just don’t want Carmen to be played with. I realized that I had been protecting the wrong person,” Malcolm confesses. I have no idea what Malcolm means. And I don’t care either. All I want to know is if Danny has a point. Who is Dom Oliver really allied to? I hate thinking about politics during my cousin’s big day, but it can’t be helped. Maybe, when all of this is over, we will sort things out. We don’t discuss this further because the wedding planner enters and yells at us to line up.