by Bri Stone
“Breakfast?” I ask her.
“Whatever you make.” Her voice is muffled, she must be washing her hair. I chuckle and leave, throwing on flannel pants before I head downstairs.
ESPN is on, typical for a Wednesday with the guys. They’re in the kitchen, already at a massive egg and bacon breakfast. Half-naked as always.
“Matching boxers today?” I tap them when I weave between them to get to the fridge. Daniel is mixing a shake, Jim is at the stove.
“He copied me.” Jim answers first. Daniel shakes head.
I grab a premade shake and sit at the counter, since they’ve already got breakfast going.
“So, I was thinking, we could keep our stuff here. When we leave.” I say.
They stop and both turn to face me. Daniel is going to Houston to work for his dad, Jim compromised for management at the company, and his masters back in Austin. So, we’re all leaving this house. But it’s been with us for years, so I figured—
“That doesn’t sound bad. We own the place, everything in it.” Jim shrugs.
“Yeah, we could rent it out.” Daniel adds.
I make a face, “Eh I don’t know. College kids?”
“We’ll only let chicks rent, they’ll be clean.” Daniel says, Jim shakes his head.
“Nah, I know some dirty females. Leave it as is.”
“Yeah, my mom will come by and check on it, if she needs to.” I add.
They both nod, “Agreed.”
“Saves us packing and moving shit. When do you leave again?” Jim asks.
“The eighth. You two?”
Daniel says, “Right around then.”
Jim adds, “We’ll leave after you and Melinda do. Where is she?”
“Shower. Eggs are burning.”
Jim turns to check, Daniel smirks at me.
“I didn’t hear any sex this morning.” He sings, brows wiggling.
“You’re across the hall, do you listen?”
“Sometimes.” He shrugs and moves back to his chopped fruits, tossing it in the processor.
Melinda doesn’t usually take long anymore, at first, she was a little apprehensive about the guys being around, but they don’t look at her any more than they would look at me or something. And it’s important to me that she always felt safe. Sooner rather than later, she stopped worrying about how she looked in the house too.
“Make some soft.” I tell Jim about the bacon.
“I know by now,” he calls over his shoulder. Melinda likes them soft.
I watch the television over the counter. Melinda comes down, we sit at the breakfast nook and I bring her food to her.
All of us eat together, it’s starting to feel like a countdown. The guys and I have lived here for three years, and with Melinda for almost a year. I’ll miss it, but Daniel and I will be in the same city most of the time, Jim just three hours away with Melinda. He agreed to drive her down, whenever she can, and they can fly too. It isn’t complicated, it’s barely hard. I want to wake up with Melinda every morning, that’s the heartbreak.
“Okay, Pete, you can’t leave us hanging this long.” Daniel clanks his silverware after eating his plate clean.
We’re all finished, Melinda sips at her coffee with her legs crossed and my gray shirt on her like a dress.
“With?” I elaborate, my hand absently on Melinda’s knee.
“Who your best man is? Duh.”
Jim laughs and shakes his head. “To be fair, I met him first.”
I laugh, that’s loosely true. We met on the same day, Jim on the field first day of freshman practice, and Daniel in the locker room asking for a towel and hour later.
“Guys, you can split it. I don’t care.”
“What?” Daniel chides, “I’m insulted. I’d rather be Melinda’s maid of honor.”
“That has to be a girl, nimrod.” Jim swats his head, he shoves him back and they go on.
I glance down at Melinda, she just shrugs. We’ve had this conversation, she doesn’t keep friends. I’m her friend, it’s fun that way. But, Phoebe already said she might do it, they have an actual relationship outside of my other sisters. Like actual texting and phone calls of such.
“You can do it, Daniel.” Melinda sets her mug down.
“Really?” he leans forward, smiling.
“Yes, but you have to make sure my dress is pressed and steamed, my hair is done right, the rings, oh, and make sure the bachelorette party has plenty of hot dudes. You know, for stripping.”
We all watch Daniel’s face get as red as possible before he stammers the shit out of his words.
“Uh, that’s okay. Love you Melinda, but… that’s okay.”
She giggles and nudges my shoulder, I grin down at her and turn my attention back to the guys.
“So, it’s settled, you’ll split it.” I stand up and drag Melinda with me.
I point to the table and kitchen, “Clean this up.”
PETE
* * *
“Shit man, you’re really getting married.”
I smile at Jim in the mirror. I haven’t stopped smiling, not for months. Not since I met Melinda.
“Yeah, I am.” I say proud, my chest puffing under my tux.
Mom got it for me; she got everything. I wasn’t included in the dress shopping for Melinda so I don’t know about that, but I’m dying to see her in that dress. Dying to see her, period. My sisters have been a dream, and they’re usually a nightmare. They helped mom with everything, treat Melinda like one of them. Soon, she will be.
“Mom says to stay on schedule. The Minister is on his way, everything is set up downstairs and your relatives from hell are on their way.” Jim informs me.
He and Daniel split best man duties. Daniel is tasked with bringing Melinda here, I figured he’d keep her entertained if she got nervous. And Jim has everything down here. All of my family is coming, which is no small feat. But it’s another Buchanan wedding, hell half the town is coming too. My young age doesn’t even come to mind, when I know what I want I just know.
It’s Melinda.
Everything she comes with. Whatever she may come without. She’s mine—soon enough, the state of Texas will recognize that too.
“And the food?”
“In the stay house.” Jim answers. “You’re messing up that tie.” He taps my shoulder, I turn to face him. His suit is plain, black, to not match up to me. I get to be the super star today.
“I’m not usually bad at it.” I huff. He ties it for me, laughing as he does.
“Yeah well, you get to be useless today. It’s a big day.”
“Is this your idea of a pep talk?”
“No. You don’t need one of those.” He ties it off and whacks my chest.
“I know.” I grin.
He smiles back, a proud look in his eyes. He is my best friend after all, half of the whole that Daniel completes.
“It’s good you’re marrying Melinda. I won’t be the only black person around this house.” He chuckles.
“Price’s husband is black.”
“And does he come around?” Jim raises his brow, ponders the question. I laugh and shake him off.
“Right. How long until they get here?” I sit on the edge of my bed, tapping my heels.
My feet have been clammy since last night, it might have been the alcohol of the bachelor party then, but not it’s just the anticipation. Soon, I’ll be marrying the absolute love of my life. The feeling is epic, more than the high of winning every game all season, of going pro, of meeting Melinda the first time. It’s the sheer acceptance of the rest of our life together, that gets the icy hot surge through my body, pooling at my heart.
“Should be here soon, ten minutes to one.” Jim sits on my chair, back in the front and leans over the edge.
“Nervous?” he asks.
“No. Anxious, maybe. I’m excited, you know to be married to her. It’s just hard to see the whole picture. Dad said it would be that way, at first. Too good to be true, you kno
w?”
He nods.
“She didn’t have it easy, I don’t even know the whole story yet. I’m the only person in this world she trusts, besides herself. I don’t want to mess that up.” I wring at my fingers like it will finish the anxiety out of me.
“You won’t. You’re as stand up as it gets, honest. The guys back on the team, they wished they could be you because the coaches told them they should, and they wanted to. Husband material doesn’t even begin to cover you.” He laughs and it makes me laugh too.
“Thanks—you sure you don’t want to marry me too?”
“If you were a woman.”
“Phoebe is single.” I joke, he laughs and continues distracting me.
Soon I stop picking at my hands and shaking my knee. My breath comes easier, I hadn’t realized the anxiety ate at my lungs, stealing my breath like it’s the end of the third quarter. I suppose it kind of is, the wedding is the fourth. Our honeymoon is set for Savannah, Georgia— Melinda doesn’t like to fly, and we wanted somewhere simple for just a few days, before I leave for training and she goes to Austin with Jim for med school. I stop my stomach from sinking at the thought of being away from her, she is always just a short drive away, and it will only be until my season is over, I doubt we’re Super Bowl contenders to last until February.
My sisters stop in, interrupting our relaxed time. Phoebe is bright and bubbly in an orange sun dress, her hair all done up and makeup over the top—but she always looks that way. She’s the first to almost mess up my suit with makeup when she hugs me. Next is Price, who traded her jeans and tee shirt for a nice purple dress that matches the others’ in style, all short and frilly. Penny is in a salmon colored dress, and she hangs on longer than needed. Pepper is in sky blue, matching the current clear weather, and goes in for the cheek kiss despite her red lip stick.
“Thanks.” I smile at them. They pile on around my room; Phoebe on the bed, Penny and Price on the couch, and Pepper on the futon by my nightstand.
“Are you excited? She’s almost here!” Phoebe shrieks.
I smirk at her, “Yeah, I am.” Jim laughs at me, he’s witnessed a lot of my dealing with my sisters, all the while laughing.
“The cake is bigger than the dining table it’s sitting on, chocolate, your favorite flavor. No pun intended.” Pepper snorts.
I grin, I do like cake.
My sisters all continue to hound me, most of it is alright though. They mean well, happy for their kid brother. It’s pretty much the same as my first date sophomore year of high school, just on drugs and tulle and wedding cake.
“She should be here by now, huh?” Price interrupts the laughter.
I glance at the clock, twenty after one. The ceremony is at two, Daniel should have called when he got here with her. I check my phone and don’t find anything. There is no traffic between my house and the house back on campus, so I’m not sure what’s going on. I don’t panic though, there isn’t much room for that.
“Yeah.” Jim says. “I’ll call Daniel.” He stands and goes to my closet to make the call, when my sisters start chatting again. They drown me out, something about Pepper’s husband being too horny for her to handle after coming back from his tour, Price and her husband arguing over his long hours, and Penny’s kids throwing her back out. Phoebe’s life in simple—go where her agent tells her to.
“Nothing, he isn’t answering.” Jim comes back out.
“You know he’s never on time.” I shrug. Jim tightens his brow but doesn’t say anything and nods instead.
It never occurred to me, though, that this day would circle around like this. Momma comes in, her tan, flowing dress cloaking her as she smiles wide, asking where Melinda is. I tell her Daniel was supposed to pick her up, as she already knew. And that he isn’t answering his phone. At the same time, everyone in the room gets the same idea. When dad walks in, all essential personnel know we’re behind schedule.
“Honey tell Carly we’re behind schedule. Bring out some of the food for the guests.” Momma tells Dad, he nods and leaves.
Soon enough, I start to sweat out my suit.
She should be here by now.
“Sweetie, I’m going to go down to tell the guests.” Momma leans down, I smile up at her from my bed.
“Okay, Momma. Thanks.”
She smiles, tries to leave quickly before I notice she used her sad smile, her ‘something might be wrong but just ignore it’ smile.
Just ignore it.
I rub my palms over my pants, smiling at my sisters all staring at me. I feel like a show case. They run conversation again, silenced at the same time by the slam of the front door downstairs. The house is too big to hear a door slam this far away from it, but I do. Along with it, thudding footsteps the past four years have told me is Daniel.
“Hey—” he shoves in the door, sweaty, suit disheveled, clutching paper in his hands.
“Oh, uh, hey sisters.”
“Hey,” they say in unison back to him.
He strides in slowly, I notice he is avoiding looking at me.
“Can we-uh, have the room? Guy talk.” Daniel clears his throat, uses his I’m uncomfortable smile.
“Sure—yeah,” my sister pile out, rubbing my hair like I’m a genie, on the way out.
As soon as the door shuts I stand and face Daniel.
“What is it? Where is she?” I get inches away from him. His blue eyes fleet with something—fear.
“I had to be sure, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to get here late, I just—” he huffs, swallowing hard.
I step back from him, Jim is on my corner.
“Sure of what?”
His exhale is moist with his breath, he stutters.
“Daniel, what?” Jim pries for me.
Daniel shakes his head, at me, his hand shaking with whatever is in it.
“Pete, I—” his hand outstretches, the item in it folded up four times.
A simple paper. Heavy meaning.
My thick hand trembles as I reach for it, his fingers grab mine to prolong the moment I take the paper. Unfolding it, I almost miss the item falling from it, as it drops into my palm, so does my heart.
Her ring.
I hold it in one hand, weighing a thousand pounds, as I focus my eyes on the paper in the other.
Focus.
Words.
I can’t read them. I can’t read them—
“Pete— Daniel grab him.” Jim is behind the flood in my ears.
The inability to hear is coming from the lack of oxygen in my brain but that doesn’t register. My ass hitting the bed does, Jim and Daniel taking heart and soul from my hands.
“What does it say?” I know I ask it, but I don’t hear myself speak.
“Pete—”
I can’t read it!
“Oh. Jim—” Daniel is crouched by me on the floor, Jim on the other side.
My vision blurs ahead, the blue carpet is colorless. Jim and Daniel faceless.
“Pete, hey.” Jim pats my knee, it’s numb for a while until I do feel it.
“Yeah… yeah.” I nod, back in present for the time being.
“Okay, uh—” Daniel fumbles the letter, I swallow hard.
“It just says ‘I’m so sorry I love you.” Daniel gravels.
“What?” I husk out, he shakes his head. “Happened?” I finish.
“Try to relax, man. You’re barely breathing.”
“Are you kidding?” I rasp. “The ring, she—are you kidding?” my voice raises.
Daniel holds my shoulder, somehow it calms me down. I work on my breathing, like the training coaches taught. It works, for a bit.
“Yeah. Um, I mean no. Listen.” Daniel rubs at his hair, he looks a mess—the explanation isn’t any better.
“I got to the house from the hotel, on time just like we said. I heard her in there, before I went to sleep around three. Then I woke up, around ten like we agreed. I still heard her in her room, I went to check on her, and we had oatmeal. She said sh
e needed something for her hair, so I went to buy it after I got dressed, figured there wouldn’t be much time. I got back around noon, plenty of time. But it was quiet. Real quiet. I went to check and I found the ring and the note on your desk. And—”
I inhale sharply, “And what?”
“All her—her stuff was gone.”
“Jesus…” I double over, running my hands over my face, through my hair.
This is—
I…
“Let me see it.” I take the note, the only thing I can recognize is her hand writing. Now that I know what it says I pretend I see the letters right. Sevens not Is or Ls, Cs not Os, everything messed up.
Everything messed up.
“I looked for her before I came here—bus station, airport, I called my guy at the police station for an APB but he can’t exactly enforce it on his own. I looked everywhere man.” Daniel breathes heavily.
It hurts him to tell me this. I hear it in his voice. Jim is there, on the sidelines. They hold a conversation I’m not privy to. Lost in my head— Melinda is gone.
My breath falls short, hard, heavy. Ice in my veins every time I take a breath. Constrained by my jacket, I rush it off, do the same with my tie tight around my neck. I take the ring from him and staring at it brings everything flooding over me—suffocating me.
I’m a vessel in her sea. In Melinda. Sinking without her waves to crash against me, hold me up.
Melinda is gone.
MELINDA
* * *
A slideshow of my past plays, fast and slow, painfully moderate when I land in Waco. From the touch down on the runway, through the gates and baggage claim. Though I only checked in the world’s tiniest duffel bag just so I wouldn’t have to carry anything. I think subconsciously, parts of me are still always ready to make a run for it.
“What cars do you have available?” I stop at the rental car station by baggage claim, incredibly tired from the flight even though it’s the middle of the day. The day has done a complete one-eighty from the way it started, back in New York with Perrie, now here in Waco.