by Moss, Brooke
Straightening my shoulders, I wiped my cheeks and looked Demo dead in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Demo. I can’t do this.”
Fisting my hands at my side, I turned and walked away.
“Ms. Vargas?” the waiter repeated. “The touloumbes?”
I gasped for air and pushed on the kitchen door. “Bend over and I’ll show you what to do with the touloumbes!”
“What the hell is going on?” Lexie slammed a pan down and charged towards Demo. As soon as she rounded the corner of the rack and spotted him, her eyes narrowed. “You,” she growled, pointing a greasy spoon at his face. “What in the world are you doing here?”
“I needed to see her.” Demo put his hands out defensively. “Put the spoon down, would ya?”
“Make me!” Lexie snarled. “You wanna know why she’s rejecting you?”
I closed my eyes and pushed through the door. I didn’t need to hear Lexie reading Demo the riot act. Nothing she said would change the fact that I was in love with him… and totally unable to commit. Blame my mother, blame my father. Hell, let’s get real, and blame me. But the bottom line was: I was forever stunted, and it was time to accept that.
The door swung closed behind me.
Chapter Twenty-one
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” I stopped singing to myself and nodded at a groomsman who’d approached the buffet to grab a few more dolmades.
He gave me a smug grin. “Were you singing to me, beautiful?”
I would have laughed, had I not been singing to keep myself from weeping all over the food. That stupid song from the fish movie Candace’s kids watched approximately eighteen thousand times a day kept rolling off my tongue as I refreshed all of the foods on the buffet and prepared to wheel out the wedding cake. It was all I could do to keep myself in one piece after I saw Demo leave the hotel, stomping back to his tow truck with his hands shoved in his pockets.
At first I wondered what Lexie said to him. Then I decided I didn’t care. At least he was gone, and I could go back to being emotionally constipated again.
Wouldn’t Annalise and my dad be proud?
“Tempting, but not today,” I told the groomsman, who’d just checked to make sure his fly was up. What a winner.
He leaned against the buffet table, making it shift slightly. So help me, if he knocked this food over…
“Hey, uh, did you know this ballroom is in a hotel?” he asked, not-so-subtly, setting the beer bottle he was carrying down on the table.
“Please tell me you’re kidding,” I said flatly.
“No, really.” He nodded. “It is. I’m staying here this weekend. I’m from Arizona.”
I wasn’t quite sure how to react to this. A few short months ago—okay, let’s be honest, maybe a month ago—I would have asked him which room he was staying in, and then possibly enjoyed a lovely nightcap with an inebriated groomsman after the reception. After all, I could tell just by looking at him that he was wearing Gucci shoes and a Jack Spade watch. He was my type… when he wasn’t dressed like a plowed penguin.
However, as I looked into this man’s nice green eyes and caramel colored hair, all I longed for was Demo’s heavy, grease stained boots and his sweat soaked brown curly hair in perpetual need of a haircut.
“Well then, I’m glad this place is a hotel.” I forced a smile, knowing it was coming off like a grimace instead. “Otherwise you’re going to be mighty uncomfortable tonight.”
He laughed like I’d just done an entire stand up set. “You’re funny, has anyone ever told you that?”
I blinked at him. “Once or twice. Well, enjoy the food. Cake will be coming up soon.”
I started to walk away, but he reached across the table to touch my shoulder. The bottom hem of his suit coat brushed across a dish of tzatziki sauce, making me bristle. “Hey, wait—”
“No, you wait.” Shaking off his hand, I pointed at his now soiled clothes. “First off, you need to learn how to take a hint. I’m not interested, okay chief?”
His eyes widened. “You got a boyfriend, or something?”
My hands went to my hips. “And second, if you drag your coat through my buffet again, I’m going to have to jump over this table to break your arm. That’s just the kind of mood I’m in.”
“Yikes. Easy.” He put out his hands. “Sorry to have ticked you off, beautiful. Just trying to have a good time.”
“Yeah, well, go hit on one of them.” I pointed across the ballroom where one of the bridesmaids was doing the worm on the dance floor, her peach satin dress flopping up over her ample bottom, revealing a lovely black pair of Spanx. “You’ve got a much better chance at one of those ladies.”
He grimaced, and plucked his bottle of imported beer back off of the table. “Come on. That’s just mean.”
I sighed, and I felt my shoulders drop a few inches. “I’m not being mean. Listen, I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
He flashed a grin. I waited to feel the spark of attraction flare inside of my gut, but instead there was… nothing. “James. James Koffer.”
“Well, James-James Koffer, what do you do?”
“I’m a criminal defense lawyer.”
I paused, waiting for my girl parts to start singing. But there was nothing. “Interesting,” I said, shifting some baklava on a tray. “What do you do for fun, James-James?”
“I like waterskiing and spending time on my boat.”
Again, I waited. Surely at any time my inner temptress would wake up after being dormant, and encourage me to hook up with this lawyer to get Demo out of my brain. After all, the best way to get over one man was to get into bed with another.
At least that’s what my mom told me.
James-James took a swig of beer, then tilted his head. “Come on. Why not?”
I watched wistfully as the bride and groom went to the center of the floor and started to laugh and dance together. “Because I like men who have dirt and grease underneath their nails. I like to eat tacos out of a truck, and I like men who smell like gasoline, and who live two houses down from their mother and grandmother so he can score free meals off them every night.”
“Huh?” He made a face. “Please. I bought a house for my parents in Palm Springs so they’d get off my ass.”
Sighing, I plucked a crumb off of the table. “You’re just not my type. We’re complete opposites.”
“Don’t be a snob.” James-James waved his hand, sloshing beer. “Aren’t opposites supposed to attract?”
“Not this time.”
“Whatever… so we’re different. Maybe we’ll find out that we’re like…” He looked up and down the buffet, then grinned and pointed to an elaborate fruit tray I’d made, complete with pineapple owl and a watermelon swan. “Apples and oranges. And what’s to say that wouldn’t make for a great hookup.”
My mouth dropped and I stared at him. Had he really just said that?
James-James spoke again before I had a chance to react. “We might make a delicious fruit salad, huh?”
My stomach roiled, and a pain shot through my chest. “Excuse me, I’ve got to get out of here,” I said, bolting for the kitchen door. I needed air. Lots of air. And maybe a stiff drink.
A super stiff drink, with a stiffer drink chaser.
What the hell was I doing sending Demo away? He was everything I would ever want in a man—flaws and all—and by some sort of miraculous alignment of the planets, or a gift from God or something, he wanted me, flaws and all, right back. If Candace had known that Brian was going to drop dead of a heart attack on a golf course one day, would she have walked away from him at that frat party and never had a family with him?
Oh hell no.
So why in the crap was I sending Demo packing at the mere notion of less-than-perfect times?
I had to get to him. I had to find Demo and tell him that I loved him, too. That I wanted a life with him… and his kid… and his crazy family… and his little run down house on Lincoln Lane. In fact, I could no lo
nger imagine my life any other way.
Shoving on the door, I was met with a muted thud, and then an “Ooof!”
“Oh, damn,” I muttered, peering around the edge of the door to find Lexie rubbing her forehead. “Sorry. Hey, I’ve got a ten-minute break coming. I’ve got to go.”
Her eyes widened. “You never take breaks.”
“I know.” I peered at her head. “It’s not swelling. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” She gave her head a shake, then smoothed down the front of her apron. “But seriously, you can’t go. Just go check the pastry table. Make sure they’re still stocked.”
Panic started to spread through me like a fog. “Lex, I’m sorry. But I’ve got to run. Most of the guests are done with the buffet. We just need to ask the wait staff to clear, then we can get the deejay to announce it’s cake cutting time.”
Lexie’s brown eyes flashed. “Yes, exactly. There’s so much to do. You can’t leave now.”
I used my eyes to plead with her. “I’ve got to go. I can’t explain, but… but I promise I won’t be long, okay?”
“No,” she said flatly, her jaw twitching.
“Excuse me?” One of my eyebrows rose high on my forehead. Lexie never bossed me around. We were coworkers. Not boss-and-employee.
She squared her shoulders. “You’re not going anywhere. I need you here.”
“Actually…” I paused to suck in a deep breath and collect myself. Swearing at my best friend in Spanish would not help the situation right now. “I am going somewhere. In the state of Washington, where we reside, it is a mandated ten minute break every three hours. So I’m going to take my—”
“No. You’re staying.” Lexie bit her lip. I think she thought I was going to punch her. Maybe I was.
Gritting my molars together, I rocked back on my heels. “Listen, Lex, I’m not gonna lie. I need to go to Triple D’s. I swear upon everything holy that I’ll be back in ten minutes. If I’m not, you can take the entire commission for this wedding.” I put my hands on her shoulders and looked her square in the eye, willing her to understand how important this was to me. “If I don’t get to Demo now, I’m going to shatter into a million pieces, Lex.”
She blinked at me a few times, and the music across the room stopped. “I’m sorry, Marisol. I need you right now. You… you can’t leave. I mean it.”
I tried to step around my friend, but she just moved so that I couldn’t get through the door. My eyes blurred with tears. “Mother of God, Lexie. You are really pissing me off.”
Lexie winced. “I don’t care.” She took my arm and turned me towards the buffet. “Go check the pastry table. Now.”
“Vete al infierno,” I hissed, stumbling over my own feet as I stomped away.
“Okay, everybody, if I could just get your attention turned this way for a few moments,” the deejay said, his voice booming through the oversized speakers.
I glanced up at the head of the dance floor where flashing lights were rolling from ceiling to floor. Guests were gathered around the stage, some holding drinks, others with their arm around a loved one. The evening sky was visible through the floor to ceiling windows, the purplish sky streaked with orange, and it was gorgeous.
I wanted to be enjoying it from the comfort of Demo’s arms. Not working while he thought I no longer wanted him. My heart ground inside of my chest.
Demo.
“We’ll be getting to the cake cutting very soon, folks, I know you’re all excited for that,” the deejay’s velvety deep voice announced. “But a friend of the groom’s family has gotten special permission from our happy couple to make an announcement.”
Cringing, I used the corner of my apron to dab at my eyes. This was my least favorite part of catering weddings. Listening to cheesy toasts and dedications being made by sappy, inebriated guests. Ugh. Kill me now.
“So without further adieu, folks, please give family friend, Mr. Demetrious Ant… anton… an… anotoff…” My head snapped up in time to see Demo lumbering up to the deejay booth with a scowl.
I gasped out loud. “What the…”
“Antonopolous,” Demo growled at the deejay.
“Yeah,” the deejay said, clapping him on the back. “What he said. All right, buddy, do your thing.”
Demo walked over to the microphone and cleared his throat. His dark eyes scanned the crowd looking for me, and when he found what he was looking for, they locked onto mine like a vice grip. Sweat stung my skin, and I felt like everyone in the joint was gaping at me—though they weren’t. They were looking at Demo. But he didn’t notice them. He only watched me. Me.
“Uh… hello, everyone. Congratulations…” He glanced at a paper in his hand. “Paul and Nikki, on your wedding and all that. As promised, I’m back with my Yiayia’s award winning recipe for her Melomakarona. Those of you who know my family know that my grandmother’s recipes are top secret. She only shares them with people she considers… family.”
A shiver rippled down my spine, and a clenched my hands at my side. I was considered part of that blessed family. Or had been. Once.
I gulped, but didn’t break eye contact with him.
He acknowledged me with a nod. “And so, because what I need to say is so important, I went and begged Yiayia for the recipe, to give to the brides’ mother as bribery. Apparently Yiayia’s Melomakarona has beaten Mrs. Katopokaus’ recipe two years in a row, and she’s ready for the streak to end. And because Yiayia knew how dire the situation was, she agreed to allow this. So, Mrs. Katopokaus, here you go. Use it wisely.”
Demo held a tattered note card out and forced a smile. A titter went through the crowd, and a very satisfied looking woman wearing a corsage the size of a hubcap stepped forward to collect it.
As soon as the ballroom went quiet again, Demo cleared his throat and wiped some sweat off of his brow. “So… uh… I’ll make this quick. Because I’m not much for public speaking, and frankly, the woman I’m trying to speak to just told me to take a flying leap, so she could call security on me at any time. She’s back by the dessert table… wearing an apron.”
The wedding guests all chuckled and looked around, searching for me. My face started to scald, so I started walking backwards towards the kitchen door. A pair of small hands grabbed my shoulders from behind. “Oh, no you don’t,” Lexie whispered. “You get to stay out here and listen to every word he has to say.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “You were in on this.”
Her brown eyes filled, and she grinned at me. “I love you, Mar. Of course I was in on this.”
“I… I love you, too.” The words tumbled out of my mouth, and as soon as they were out in the open air between us, I felt self-conscious. “I don’t know what to say. I thought you were being a bitch, I—”
She gave me a squeeze, then pushed me forward. “Don’t be so mushy, you big sap.”
Demo’s eyes met mine again, and he locked one of his hands on the microphone stand. “Look, I know everyone here is ready to cut into that cake, but here’s the deal. I met the woman I love a few weeks ago, and she’s been the only thing I could think about since. She’s everything I never thought I wanted in a woman. She’s sophisticated. She prefers fine dining over a cold beer and fishing. She’s the opposite of me in every way, and yet—for some reason I don’t understand, and may never understand—she is the perfect fit.”
Suddenly there was no one else in the ballroom. Just Demo and me. Everyone else just faded into a blurry background image like a chalk drawing in the rain.
“The problem is, she’s afraid to be with me, because her friend—er, her family—went through something traumatic recently.” Demo’s eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth pulled downward. “And between that, and a recent and, uh, unexpected turn of events in my life… she’s scared to commit to me. She’s afraid that if she gives in, and agrees to let me love her for the rest of her life, something will go wrong, and it won’t be easy peasy anymore.”
“Did he
just say easy peasy?” Lexie whispered behind me.
I ignored her.
“The thing is, life isn’t all about passion and romance and all that crap.” Demo tugged a hand through his dark hair, making it flop across the forehead in the front, and stand adorably upright in the back. “It’s about finding the person who will take the ride with you. It’s about being with the same person through all the ebbs and flows, and the great things and the shitty days.” His eyes widened. “Oh, sorry. I mean the rough days. My parents and grandparents all found their perfect mate, and so did my siblings. Paul and Muriel, you’ve found yours. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Finding that person who loves us even when we’re a complete train wreck, but still doesn’t want to get off at the next stop?”
Everyone laughed, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even breathe. He wasn’t giving me up without a fight, and I no longer wanted him too. I’d actually found my one person. The apple to my orange, and was I willing to give that up again?
Oh, hell to the no.
I started weaving my way through the crowd, sidestepping guests and members of the bridal party as Demo started to talk again.
“I knew as soon as I saw her that she was the one I was meant to take the ride with.” His voice thickened and he pressed his lips together. “I haven’t felt that way for a long time. Years. Maybe ever. But I’ve found her now, and I’m not willing to give that up again.”
“I’m not either,” I called, nearly stepping on the bride’s train. “Oh, sorry.”
She turned to me and smiled. “You’d better get up there.”
Demo smiled, his white teeth gleaming and the wrinkles around his eyes in full force. That smile was going to be my own personal kryptonite for the rest of my life. “I don’t care what the future will bring. I don’t care how great or not great our life will be. The only thing I care about is spending it with you, Marisol Vargas.”
I emerged from the crowd and stood just a few feet apart from him, my heart pounding in my chest like a snare drum.