by Gini Koch
Chuckie kissed my cheek. “Have fun. Control yourself. At some point, the males will rejoin you. Make sure you’re not doing something Martini will make you regret.”
“Thanks for the warning, Voice of Doom.”
He laughed. “I’m here for you should something go wrong.”
Reader got the rest of the gals inside, then hugged me. “Behave.”
“It’s a bachelorette party, not tea with the Queen of England. Why are you and Chuckie telling me to be a good girl all of a sudden?”
Cover-boy grin flashed. “Because we know you, girlfriend. So does Jeff, so you’ll probably be okay.”
“Yeah, Chuckie said no Aerosmith or Sir Elton.”
“True. Just think you’ll like the alternative.”
“Motorhead?”
“Considered it. Then realized that most of the guests don’t want to hear the loudest rock and roll band in the world up close and personal.” He looked really pleased with himself. “I got Emily and Melanie to promise to take pictures when the band hits the stage.” He kissed me on my cheek, sauntered over to Chuckie and they both sauntered off.
Food and drink were all over the place. I was pretty full from the girly food, but House of Blues had some yummy stuff out. I managed to find the room to stuff in a good sampling.
Drinks were flowing. The bars were clearly marked as alcoholic and nonalcoholic. The room was about one-third alkies to two-thirds abstainers. A couple of my cousins, cousins supposedly in the know now, grabbed me and asked me if I was marrying into a Mormon family. Shared I wasn’t, didn’t share that I was marrying an alien—maybe Christopher had come to his and everybody else’s senses and wiped all their memories.
I’d originally thought we only had the over-eighteen crowd, but I discovered all the little girls were here, too. They all seemed to know something I didn’t, because they were already in the concert hall, practically vibrating with excitement.
There was a very pretty blonde in there with them. She was dressed nicely like the other guests, so I figured she wasn’t an employee. “Hi, I’m Kitty.” Put out the paw.
She stood up, took my hand, and smiled. Looked very athletic as well as gorgeous. “I’m Denise Lewis, Kevin’s wife.”
Figured. The gorgeous guy with bags of charisma had married the gorgeous gal with bags of charisma. I figured I’d be able to pick their kids out easily—look for the gorgeous ones with bags of charisma.
“Great to finally meet you. And thanks for coming.”
“Happy to be invited. We really appreciate how the A-Cs have protected us.”
“Did you know what Kevin did before last year?”
She laughed. She had great teeth, just like Kevin did. Wow, amazing. I wasn’t gay, but if I’d been forced to go to the Free Women planet, this would be the mate I’d pick to take with me. “No, but when you’re being kidnapped by a terrorist organization and a group of the most handsome men you’ve ever seen rescues you and your kids, you catch on really fast that your husband didn’t stop being a running back because of a bad knee.”
“So Kevin was a professional athlete before? I knew it!”
“Yeah, not too long, though. Your mother recruited him early in his career.”
This was probably a story for another time, but I made a note to get said story later. “So, why are you on babysitting duty?”
“Oh, the kids are so excited about the band.”
“It’s not Hannah Montana or the kids from High School Musical, is it?” I could see Chuckie doing that, but not Reader.
“No.” Denise laughed again. “And no one’s going to tell you, so don’t try to ask.”
“So, again, you’re riding herd on the rugrats why?”
“I don’t really know anyone.” She looked as though she hadn’t meant that one to slip out. “I mean, I know Gladys and your mother, sort of.”
I looked around. “Kids, Denise and I are going to the bar area for a little bit. Who’s big enough to behave themselves without us?” All the hands went up. “That’s why I love you all, you lie so well and quickly. Injure no one, including yourselves, break nothing, rip nothing, be good or I’ll send in a lion to eat you all up.”
Shrieks of laughter from the littler girls, rolled eyes from the bigger ones. I grabbed Denise’s hand and dragged her out. “You don’t get to hide in here while I have to see everyone and pretend this is fun.”
She laughed. “Kevin said you were a fun girl.”
“That’s me, Miss Fun.” Found the women I was looking for. “Emily, Melanie, Ericka, this is Denise Lewis, Kevin’s wife. Denise, Ericka is Paul and Michael’s mother, Melanie is Lorraine’s, Emily is Claudia’s. This may not help much. Denise doesn’t know anyone. Let’s change that, shall we?”
Ericka laughed. “From what my sons have told me, Kevin’s an honorary member of the family, so that makes you family, too.” She linked her arm through Denise’s. “Let me take you around and force you to meet everyone. I’d do the same to Kitty, but she’s supposed to be having fun.”
Denise grinned. “Like your friends and family, Kitty.” I would have replied, but Ericka was already moving her off.
“Nicely done,” Melanie said.
“Even gorgeous people can be shy.”
Emily hugged me. “I’m so glad you’ll be a real part of the family soon.”
“Oh, yeah, how are you guys related to Jeff?”
“Oh the usual several cousins several times removed.” Melanie laughed. “Really, don’t try to keep it straight.”
“Wow, no worries there. So, who’s the band? The kids are beyond excited.”
“I’ll give you one hint,” Emily said, and it was clear she was trying not to grin. “Most of the men are going to be happy to miss them, and all of the women are going to love them.”
“Everyone loves a mystery.”
“Yep!” Lorraine and Claudia came up. “James told us to make sure you got a drink, even though it won’t be alcoholic, and to get you into the seat of honor in time. Band starts in a few, so, stealing our girl now.” She and Claudia each took an arm and dragged me off.
Since I had to relax and have fun, I forced myself to do it. Lorraine and Claudia were great at the Aunt Carla avoidance, also great at the moving me away from the nosy friends and relatives stuff.
Ran into a gaggle of my sorority sisters. After the shrieking, hugging, and recitation of the not-so-secret sorority pledge were over, and Lorraine and Claudia were introduced, I got a lot of hairy eyeballs from the girls. I tensed for what I knew was coming.
“So, Kit-Kat, Chuck’s throwing this party for you but he’s not the guy you’re marrying?” Jeannine asked, semi-nicely. She was the only brunette in the group—our pledge class had run toward blondes, light browns, and redheads. Like all the rest of the girls, she was pretty and petite. We’d run to the short side, too.
“It’s not like that, JellyBean—” I started.
“I’m more upset that Caro Syrup’s not here,” Tamara said quietly. “She was your bestie, Kit-Kat.”
“She still is, Twix,” I said quickly. “She just couldn’t—”
“Get here in time,” Cathy said. “Yeah, Chuck told us.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you dumped Chuck.” Well, at least they weren’t discussing their concerns about me marrying a space alien. That was something, right?
“We weren’t an item, Wonka. We’re still friends. Same with Caro and me. She’s out of the country right now.” I was starting to get worried that this was going to turn into a nightmare fast.
“Chuck said Kit-Kat’s marrying a great guy,” Kay said, cheerfully, thank God. “Face it, this puts Chuck back on the market. I say hurray for that.”
Oh? This was news. I knew my sorority sisters loved him, but I hadn’t realized they’d considered Chuckie off the market. “Why so, Almond Joy? Not that I’m saying he isn’t on the market and all.”
Kay grinned. “Chuck was interested in one girl and one girl only, and that w
as you, Kit-Kat. He seems okay with you marrying someone else.”
Christie snorted. “He’s not okay with it. He’s just faking it the way he always did when she was head over heels over some guy who wasn’t good enough for her.” Guilt came over, drink in hand, to enjoy the party. Stress was already here, having a blast, and made room for its buddy.
“Skittle, have I mentioned that my friends Lorraine and Claudia are my fiancé’s cousins?” My voice was starting to head to dog-only levels. Not good.
Claudia shook her head. “I’m still sort of stuck on the nicknames. You’re all named after candies?”
“Or sweet things, yeah.” I felt my cheeks getting hot. It never seemed stupid until I was telling someone outside of the sorority about it. To a girl, my sorority sisters’ eyes narrowed.
“How do you keep all the nicknames straight?” Claudia asked. She sounded like she did whenever she was discussing something scientific: interested and serious.
“Um, just do.” I enjoyed winning the Lame Reply Award on a regular basis. Guilt and Stress both sniggered and got another drink.
Lorraine laughed. “I think it’s cute.”
Claudia grinned and nodded. “They do seem to fit you all. From everything Kitty’s said, you’re all very sweet, just like she is.” My sorority sisters seemed to relax; at least they weren’t glaring any more.
“And I think it’s great your sisters are going to be around to keep Jeff on his toes.” Lorraine nudged Jeannine. “Trust me, I’m with you. I think brains are the better option, too, but who can fight love?” I was tempted to ask Lorraine why none of the Dazzlers I knew were throwing themselves at Chuckie, but I had enough sense to know where that question would take this conversation, and things were already bad enough.
“Jeff’s not stupid.” The Dazzler brain-love was great, but not at the expense of Martini’s feelings.
“Where are your girlfriends from high school?” Tamara asked. She looked the most upset of the girls, but in a quiet way. I wasn’t sure why.
Claudia answered before I could. “They couldn’t come out, either, because Jeff and Kitty had to move their wedding date up.”
“Why?” Cathy asked. “Oh, my God, are you preggers already?”
“No!” This was devolving into that nightmare I’d hoped to miss. I scrambled for an acceptable reason for my wedding date and party being as they were and came up with nothing that was going to work.
A throat cleared behind me. “Nice to see you girls,” my mother said. She sounded pleasant and, as always, in complete control of the situation. But I wasn’t sure if I should relax or not.
The choruses of hellos and hugs took a while. When they were done, Mom went on without missing a beat. “We’re not talking about it, but Jeff’s family is quite politically connected. Religious issues meant they had to move the wedding up to ensure the head of Jeff’s religion could officiate. And Kitty didn’t have a lot of choice in her wedding party, either. She was hoping to have the five of you in, but we had to choose the wedding party based more on political expediency than the bonds of friendship.”
Mom sounded totally believable, and she looked it, too. Amazingly enough, Lorraine and Claudia didn’t give away that at least the latter half of this explanation was something of a whopper.
But it worked. My sorority sisters went from upset to commiserating instantly. It dawned on me that they were hurt they hadn’t been asked to be in my wedding party, which should have dawned on me much sooner. Of course, I’d been distracted with that whole saving the world thing. Not that it would get me a free pass, because it never did.
“Jeff’s a prince,” Claudia said conspiratorially to Christie.
“Chuck said he was a great guy,” Jeannine agreed.
“No, a real prince,” Lorraine said. My sorority sisters looked impressed.
“Does that make you two princesses?” Kay asked.
“No,” Claudia said with a laugh. “We’re too far away from the main bloodline.”
“Will that mean Kit-Kat’s a princess, sort of like Grace Kelly?” Tamara asked, perking up. Apparently if I was marrying royalty, all was going to be forgiven.
“Um . . .” However, I had no idea and no answer. I also didn’t think Mom wanted these details discussed, and I sure didn’t. But I was saved from any further journey down the Excuses Rabbit Hole by what had been saving me from day one with Centaurion Division—rock ‘n’ roll.
CHAPTER 64
WE ALL HEARD A GUITAR BEING TUNED and wild shrieking from the little kids. “Gotta get our girl into her seat,” Lorraine called to my mother and sorority sisters. Then she and Claudia zoomed us into the theater, and there I was, front row center. I stopped worrying about anything other than figuring out who the band was going to end up being.
Kimmie, one of Martini’s many nieces, came running to me. “Kitty! Kitty! The band’s going to start soon!”
I pulled her onto my lap. “Yeah, and I don’t know who it is.”
She grinned, and I saw the resemblance to Alfred and Martini. “Uncle Christopher said we couldn’t tell you. And Uncle Jeff said he wanted me to make sure to watch your face. He said it should be funny.”
“Your Uncle Jeff is going to get it when I see him again.”
“He said you’d say that. I can’t wait to see them—Uncle Jeff gave us all their CDs for Arrival Day.”
“He did? Why?”
“He said they helped keep you and him and Uncle Christopher alive. My mommy loves them too. Grandma does, too. Everyone likes them.” She looked very pleased. “I get to be your flower girl.”
I hugged her. “I know!” I could lie better than anyone when I had to. “And I’m so glad, too!” I was. If anyone had asked me, or, more importantly, it had dawned on me to think of it, Kimmie was who I’d have wanted. I reminded myself that Reader was the best friend in the world. He was also on the stage. “Why is James on the stage?”
Lorraine laughed. “He’s the emcee, silly.”
“Is there anything he can’t do?”
Claudia leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Turn straight. Otherwise, nothing.”
“True . . . true.” I looked around—the place was filled, at least the lower level. Looked up. Wow, we had Dazzlers up there, too. The entire A-C female population was in here. My sorority sisters were surrounded by Dazzlers. They seemed to be fitting in with no issues, and apparently they knew who the band was, because they looked as excited as everyone else.
I spotted Mom and the other mothers and grandmothers behind us a few rows. Chuckie’s mother was there, too, and waved to me. I waved back, relieved she didn’t look disappointed in my romantic decision. Mom didn’t wave—she was scanning the crowd, and I had a feeling she was doing a lastminute security check. She caught my eye and gave me a smile and a nod. Okay, we were secure. “So, you and Lorraine excited about the band?”
“Can’t wait, we love them.” Claudia started to bounce in her seat. Lorraine already was.
Reader flashed the cover-boy grin. I heard a lot of squeals. Yep, even bald he was amazingly hot. “Ladies!” More squeals, a few shrieks. “I know you’re all excited to be here. I’d make a big speech, but that’s what the reception’s for.” Laughter from all the adults. “But before I get out of the way of tonight’s entertainment, let me just congratulate our bride-to-be on her musical choices.” Lots and lots of screams.
I heard music starting in the background. It was low, just the guitar riff, just the first few chords, played over and over, waiting for the intro. But they were opening chords I knew really, really well. I hugged Kimmie tight. It was a hypnotic beat, rocking, but soothing at the same time. I started bouncing. The rest of the crowd was going easily as wild as when the Beatles first hit America.
Reader grinned again. “Kitty, from me, Tim, and all the rest of Alpha and Airborne teams, thanks for loving this band. Now . . . ladies, all the way from Bath, England, please welcome our very special guests . . . Tears for Fears!”
/> Okay, I admit it. I screamed. Loudly. Hey, needed to let the band know I was with them, right? It was only polite. And I was beyond excited.
Reader got off the stage, and the curtain rose. I was already on my feet, holding Kimmie up. The band opened with “Cold,” which meant Claudia, Lorraine, and I were already singing along at the top of our lungs. In between screaming.
I’d seen them before, and I had the T-shirts to prove it, but it was different seeing them here, and knowing they were here for, well, me. It was also a really neat surprise to discover that Martini had turned Dazzlers of all ages into TFF fans. I wouldn’t have to worry about finding someone to go with on their next concert tour.
They did song after song, and not just all the hits, but all the ones I liked the best. I assumed Tim had had a lot to do with the song selections. After me, he knew the music I liked to listen to the best, both when and why.
They did a full ninety-minute set without anything other than a water break. They were awesome, charming, and funny. But even great concerts have to end. They closed with “Goodnight Song.” The screams were deafening, and continued on.
I was shocked, but they came back out for an encore. “We had a special request for this encore, from the groom-to-be.” The band went into a slow song that I recognized in a few lines: “I Choose You.” There was a lot of sniffling in the audience. I did my best not to start bawling my head off.
The band let the end of the song hang on the air, then went into “Closest Thing to Heaven.” I was still trying not to cry. I felt someone watching me and handed Kimmie to Lorraine. Looked around and spotted him. No idea how long he’d been in the room—like the rest of the guys, he was in the shadows. He was leaning against a wall at the end of the row, watching me. I ran past the rest of the front row and jumped into his arms.