by ANDREA SMITH
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she replied, giving me a major eye roll. “Besides that, Taz’s brother Easton won’t be arriving until the morning of the 13th, so that wouldn’t work anyway since he’s Taz’s best man.”
I shook my head. “I still can’t believe Slate’s not going to be Taz’s best man. They’re best friends. That’s crazy.”
Lindsey sighed as if tired of explaining. “Darce, my grandfather’s dead; my dad’s either dead or on the run, so Mom insisted that Slate be the one to give me away and that no bride should have to walk down the aisle alone. So, having my step-father escort me down the aisle makes perfect sense. Besides it solved the problem Taz had with his father being so adamant about including his older brother in the ceremony. Problem solved.”
I wrinkled my brow in confusion. “Yeah, what’s all that about with Taz’s father? I mean, what’s the deal with his whole family anyway? Does he hate his brother or something?”
“No, nothing like that. I guess they’re just not close. Actually, Easton is his half-brother. He’s 33 years-old, and has spent the majority of his time over in England with his mother, since she and Taz’s dad divorced. I guess she’s a real bitch too, and from some sort of wealthy British royalty. Easton spent summers in California with his dad, though. But, with Taz being three years younger and all, they just really didn’t have a lot in common.”
“Huh,” I said, “Sounds like there’s a lot of water under that bridge.”
Lindsey had snorted. “I think there’s a whole lot more to the story than what Taz has shared with me. I get the idea that Easton’s a spoiled prick. Apparently, he used to pull some shit during those summers he spent with Taz and the younger sister, Paige. He didn’t elaborate much, but I’m sure I’ll get it out of him sooner or later.”
“Where does Easton live now?” I asked.
“All over, I guess. He’s some kind of wealthy mogul. Actually, he’s kept in touch with Taz somewhat over the years. I guess he was in D.C. a couple of years ago and they hung out for a week or so. Taz says he’s quite the ladies man, too,” she added, giving me a wink.
So, against my objections, the rehearsal dinner was to be held at the Country Club my folks belonged to on Friday the 13th. Eli was escorting me. Yes, that’s right. I need to catch up here.
I’d found an apartment in D.C., so it actually kind of worked out perfectly when I found out Eli would be moving to the same city, because I wanted someone to live with and Eli was…well, Eli. My parents now knew the whole story about Eli’s being gay, which of course disappointed them as far as being husband material for me. Not me though, because their faces when they found out? Freakin’ hilarious! I mean, they were still crazy about the guy—who wouldn’t be? Plus, I think they felt better having me out on my own knowing Eli was looking out for me.
I had finished my on-line classes and officially would graduate in March with a B.S. in International Marketing. Eli and I had both started entry-level positions as Management Trainees with my father’s company. Eli was working for the Director of Customer Relations. I was working in the Public Relations group. We learned how to prepare press releases, presentations, advertisements, and designed booths for clients participating in trade shows and technical training sessions. Both of us hated our bosses.
My boss was Jon Rollins, a tall, lanky guy in his mid-forties with acne scars and a crew cut. Eli worked for Leanne Harshman, a self-proclaimed cunt that was banging Rollins. Eli said she was a royal bitch if she didn’t get her way. Both of our bosses liked to micro-manage. We’d bitch about it at home after work, along with complaining about our lack of love lives. I no longer felt any sorrow about the break-up with Darin.
It was strange that my thoughts occasionally drifted back to New Year’s Eve with E.J. I wondered if we’d ever see each other again. And that question bothered me because, after the stunt he’d pulled, I should’ve blacklisted the guy from my mind altogether. But God…those fingers. And his voice as he whispered dirty promises…
I shook those thoughts from my mind for the hundredth time, at least. It had been over a month ago. I needed to move on and focus on tonight’s rehearsal dinner.
There, I was ready. Glancing in the full-length mirror, I assessed my dinner dress for tonight. It was an Anne Klein simple black dress with a squared neckline trimmed in royal blue. I’d accented with royal blue earrings and necklace. My hair was down and straightened flat.
Eli called from the hallway, reminding me that we needed to leave now or be late. “I’m coming,” I hollered out, slipping my heels on and grabbing my coat. Why Lindsey picked February for the wedding was beyond me! She was all into having it on Valentine’s Day, though. And the dresses were gorgeous, so I was fairly excited about the event. It was going to be a small wedding in a Methodist Church. I was maid of honor and Jill was a bridesmaid. Easton was to be the best man, and Gabe a groomsman. Lindsey had won that battle, putting her foot down and explicitly informing Taz that Darin was not only out of the wedding party, but not to show his cheating face at their wedding either.
Eli let out a whistle when I joined him in the entryway. “You look fabulous as always, Darcy,” he complimented.
“Ditto,” I replied, buttoning up my coat. “Now, let’s do this.”
A valet greeted us as we pulled my Mercedes up to the arched overhang at the entrance to the club. We proceeded inside and were directed to the “Wisteria Room” where the bar was set up for pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers. Soft music was being piped into the banquet room. Eli took my coat for me, once we were inside. I immediately saw Lindsey’s grandmother and Slate talking to a man and woman I’d never seen before. Taz’s parents maybe?
Eli returned with our drinks and I all but slurped mine down.
“Easy,” he cautioned, with a smile in his eyes. “Nervous much?”
“You know I hate Friday the 13th,” I replied, “Nothing good ever happens for me on days like this.”
“I’ll get you one more if you promise to sip, and not slurp.”
“Fine,” I said, shooting him an innocent look, as he began his trek back over to the bar. “But make it a double.”
Taz and Lindsey had just come in, so I hurried over to them, giving Lindsey a hug.
“You both look gorgeous,” I said, hugging Taz now. “I’m so very happy for you.”
“You aren’t drunk are you?” Lindsey asked, cocking an accusatory brow. I gave her a very offended look. Taz chuckled as he leaned in to give me a brotherly kiss on the cheek. “You look hot as always, Darcy,” he said.
Eli returned with my drink and greeted them both. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I asked about Jill and Gabe.
“They should be here any time now,” Lindsey replied, with a hint of nervousness. “They had a slight delay in Philly.”
“Calm down, babe,” Taz soothed her. “They’ll be here. Let’s go over and say hi to Mom and Dad, okay?” She nodded and they made their way over to where both sets of parents were, well except Slate was the stepparent, obviously. Standing there while Eli chatted with someone nearby, I leisurely looked around the room for a face that resembled Taz’s as I wondered what his seemingly-absent half-brother looked like, and when he’d make his appearance.
By the time I finished my second cocktail, I knew I needed to make a trip to the Girl’s Room before we sat down to dinner. When I told Eli where I was going, he opted to join me. We rambled down the carpeted hallway and around the corner, where I knew there were a set of lavatories that served the banquet rooms in this wing of the club.
As we rounded the corner, there was a line of women waiting outside of the Ladies Restroom, complaining about the door being locked. One lady was lightly tapping on the door, asking repeatedly if anyone was in there.
“Looks like the little boy’s room is free,” Eli commented, “Be back in a flash.”
“What’s the hold-up?” I asked, as I took my place behind the last lady in the line. �
�I know there are several stalls in there.”
“Someone has the main door locked,” she said, clearly irritated. “It’s been nearly ten minutes now. Some of the others went to find facilities in the other wing. This is my first time here and I don’t feel like getting lost in this mammoth building, or I’d do the same.”
Just then, the woman at the front of the line started banging loudly on the door. Frustrated, she huffed off saying she was going to find a manager to get the door unlocked. A couple of guys came out of the men’s room and waited with their respective dates for the evening, asking them what the hold-up was in getting inside. Eli returned to me, clearly puzzled that the line hadn’t moved at all.
Just as the pissed-off lady was coming back with one of the staff following closely behind her with a key ring, we heard the sound of the lock being turned on the door. By this time, Lindsey had come up behind me.
“What’s going on?” she asked, taking her place at the end of the line.
“I guess someone’s locked the door so no one else can get into the ladies’ lounge,” I replied with a shrug. The door opened and, I swear, my heart stopped for a slow-motioning second as I saw the guilty party step into the now-crowded hallway.
“Good evening, everyone. Sorry about the inconvenience,” the familiar, masculine, sultry voice floated to my ears, sending shockwaves. It was E.J., impeccably dressed, smiling as he straightened his tie and smoothed his jacket into place, walking down the hallway towards us.
“Oh my God,” I hissed, once I closed my gaping mouth. I heard Eli’s amused snicker. E.J.’s smile faded slightly when he recognized me in the line. His lashes lowered to half-mast and then I heard him address Lindsey.
“Lindsey,” he greeted, “See you at dinner.”
“Let Taz know I didn’t fall in will you, Easton?” She gave a small giggle then turned back to me, seeing my shocked reaction.
“What?” she asked, furrowing her brow.
“Easton?” I sputtered. “That’s EASTON?”
“Yeah, Taz’s half-brother, he got in this morning.”
“That’s E.J!” I hissed. “You know—the one I told you about?”
“No!” Lindsey said, clamping her hand over her mouth.
I gave her a look. The look.
“The man-whore who finger-fucked you to a mind-blowing O?”
“Why not say it a little louder, Lindsey? I don’t think the east wing heard you,” I hissed.
“Oh shit, sorry,” she said, pressing her fingers against her lips.
“Fuck,” I heard Eli murmur behind me. I turned back around to face him and that’s when I saw her! Fucking Lacee was now coming out of the restroom, fixing her hair and at least having the courtesy of looking a little sheepish until she saw me. In that moment, her expression morphed to haughty as her blue eyes flickered recognition. A cat-like smile graced her lips as she passed by, nodding to Lindsey as she made her way back to the banquet room.
Friday. The fucking thirteenth.
chapter 8
Everyone was gathered in the church waiting for the wedding procession to begin. Above, in the choir loft, the organist and vocalist had begun the song that was to be Lindsey’s wedding march, “Love of a Lifetime,” by Firehouse. The vocalist was doing a damn great job of sounding exactly like C.J. Snare from the band.
Lindsey had picked the entrance song; Taz had picked the song for the exit procession—the one where I’d be escorted out by Easton. Who knew Taz would be such a romantic and pick “The Search is Over” by Survivor? We’d all been given our cues as to what lyrics of the songs signaled our entrance down the aisle.
I fixed an errant wisp of hair for Jill, as she stood nervously in the vestibule of the church waiting for the lyric signal. We needed to pace ourselves so that the song finished as Lindsey and Taz ascended the steps to the altar.
“You look beautiful, Jill,” I whispered to her.
“I’m shaking like hell, Darce. I hate having to be first out of the gate.”
“It’s not a horse race, hun,” I reassured her. “You’ll be fine.
“We’ll make a wish and send it on a prayer…”
That was Jill’s cue as she started up the long, white satin runner that had been placed on the marble-tiled floor of the church aisle. I could see her bouquet shaking just a bit as she proceeded. Jill was keeping the proper pace and was halfway up to the front where Taz, Easton and Gabe were standing next to each other in front of the steps to the altar, facing the back of the church, waiting for the beautiful bride.
Lindsey’s dress was an exquisite winter white satin gown that was form-fitting, but flared out slightly at mid-calf; there was a bustle in the back where the long train was attached. The front had a low-cut square bodice, with capped long tapered sleeves, appropriate for a winter wedding. Sammie and I had helped her with her hair, piling it on top of her head, intricately weaving Baby’s Breath throughout it. Just then, I heard my lyric cue.
“A love to last my whole life through…”
I started up the aisle, now understanding why Jill felt so nervous. Everyone in their pews turned to watch the wedding procession head up the aisle, waiting for the star of the event to make her entrance. I finally reached the front of the church, noticing Easton’s piercing gaze as I did.
Humph—Man-whore in a tux! Damn sexy man-whore in a tux.
Eli gave me a smile and a wink as I passed his pew and turned left at the front and took my place in front of Jill, turning then to the back of the church, seeing Lindsey standing there, with Slate looking hot in his black suit, his arm wrapped around hers as her lyric cue started.
“Still, we both know that the road is long…”
Damn this song always gave me chills. Now it brought tears to my eyes as I watched my best friend coming down the aisle. The long train of her dress flowed elegantly behind her as Slate had her by the arm, walking her down the white satin runner to the front of the church, where Trace waited for her with nothing but pure love in his eyes.
Taz looked gorgeous in his long-tailed, black tuxedo, as did Easton and Gabe. The cummerbunds matched the color of the gowns Jill and I wore. They were floor length, midnight-blue satin, with plunging necklines and long tapered sleeves. Our flowers were white roses mixed with dark-blue carnations that matched the gowns. I watched in awe as Slate took Lindsey’s hand and placed it into Taz’s outstretched one. The song was just finishing up as Taz and Lindsey, hand-in-hand walked up the three steps to where the minister waited.
Forever in my heart, I finally found the love of a lifetime.
That was my cue to go and take Lindsey’s bouquet from her so the prayers and vows could begin. When she turned to me, I saw tears of joy in her eyes as I gently relieved her of the gorgeous, overflowing wedding bouquet.
The minister started the service, letting everyone know the purpose for which we were gathered here today…blah, blah, blah. I wanted him to get to the good part. I knew Lindsey and Taz had composed their own wedding vows in secret from each other. What I didn’t understand was why she refused to share what she’d written with me, her best friend, for Chrissake! Naturally, I suspected she thought I’d roll my eyes over that kind of stuff, but really? Would I do that to my best friend? Well, definitely not on purpose, anyway. Oh good, it was time. The minister announced the couple would be exchanging their vows. They turned to face one another. Taz went first. He cleared his throat, taking her hand in his.
“Lindsey Erin Dennison, I love you. You are my best friend. Today, I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you; to laugh with you and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad; when life seems easy and when it seems hard; when our love is simple and when it’s an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. I promise my faithfulness and devotion to you. These things I give to you today, and all the days of my life.”
I could tell Lindsey was crying. She could be so emotional at times, especially where Taz was concerned. Their love was the real deal, no doubt about that. She paused for a moment, brushing a tear from her cheek and then raised her head to him, gazing up into his eyes.
“Trace Michael Matthews, because of you I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again. The sun smiles on us today, our wedding day, and how can it not? For our love is stronger than forever and our hearts beat together as one. I look forward with great joy to spending the rest of my life with you. I promise to be a true and faithful partner from this day forward, in all life’s circumstances, as we face them together. I will always be there for you, to comfort you, love you, honor and cherish you. This commitment is made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made to you. I love you.”
Crap. And there goes my mascara…
The minister had a bit more to say, then he motioned for Easton to bring the wedding bands up to the altar. Taz slid Lindsey’s wedding band on her finger, lifting her hand and kissing it as he did. She placed the plain gold wedding band onto his finger, smiling up at him adoringly.
The minister then said all the usual stuff about the power vested in him through the District of Columbia, pronouncing them husband and wife. He then instructed them to kiss. Once finished, they turned to face the congregation and the minister introduced them as Mr. & Mrs. Trace Matthews. Everyone clapped. I looked over at Easton and he was watching me with those intense, gray eyes as he clapped for the newlyweds.
My attention turned when I heard Harper start to fuss. Constance Matthews had not let that baby out of her arms since arriving from California. Slate was holding Sidney. Sammie had Bryce. The organist started the first chords of “The Search is Over” and I knew it was time to follow the newlywed couple out of the church.
Here we friggin’ go…I have to touch him, as the instructions were, we had to be arm-in-arm.
While Taz and Lindsey descended the steps from the altar to start down the aisle, it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn’t noticed Lacee in the congregation as I had made my entrance. I took the opportunity to gaze through the pews and didn’t see her in attendance. Maybe she was only interested in showing up for the reception, no doubt in something skimpy and glittery to take attention from the bride. I scoffed internally at the notion. My mom caught my eye and gave me a smile and a wave. Daddy looked totally uncomfortable in his suit and tie, running his finger around the inside of his collar, as if it were too tight.