“Jesus, dude. Shouldn’t you lock this shit up? Keeping your door propped open is liable to get your celebrity ass kidnapped.” Carter laughs as he plops down an oversized cooler on the opposite side of the room.
“Well, typically people don’t bust into random rooms unless they know who is taking residence in them, idiot.” I can’t help wonder what in the fuck he has in that cooler. We are supposed to go to get our suits for the weekend, pick up Hannah’s wedding gift, and chill until the ladies are ready for us after the OB appointment. “What the hell is in that?”
“Oh you know Momma T, she sent over enough for each one of us to have a little.”
“A little what? Seven course meal?” I ask attempting to lift the lid only to be shooed away. That douche just shooed me.
“Leave it. I was instructed by Han and Momma T that we are NOT to open the cooler until it’s time.”
“I take it Brie made it via UBER just fine?” I ask as I pocket my iPhone. “She never,” I stop talking just as my phone vibrates.
“Texted you? Yeah that’s because she was verbally abusing me from the bathroom door. She kept asking if she could jerk my gherk,” Carter laughs loudly at his humor until I nail him in the arm with a closed fist.
“Not so funny now, huh?” I laugh and check my phone only to see it wasn’t her.
BRYAN: set up two phone interviews for this afternoon. Are you up to it?
ME: Nope, I’m busy. You do it. Mid-grade concussion, nothing broken. Accident caused by Warne’s failed attempt to know how to fucking race.
BRYAN: Got it.
ME: Yep. Oh and I’ll plan to race St. Louis; tell the fucktard he best be ready.
“Why so glum, chum?” Carter asks as we round his truck.
“Just over it man, I think it’s just about time I go into managing the team and start enjoying life again. Fuckin concussions and pissed off staff… let alone the damn evaluations. I’m just about over it.” I respond staring out the windshield.
“Uh, can you just walk? You‘re already midway through the season.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want. I have three contract riders on my team, I don’t need to race. I have all the funding set up, sponsors in contract, a training course back home and land on the west coast.” I shrug and run a hand through my hair. “I need a haircut.” I throw out as we pull into the Formal Wearhouse.
“All right, we will go after this.” Carter nods following me into the storefront. “Then we can pick up Hannah’s present.”
“Is she having the gender ultrasound today?” I ask.
“Nope, she wants it to be a surprise. But, I’m going to peek so I can have the nursery ready when she comes home.” I can’t help but grin when I see the smile stretched across Carter’s face as he talks about their little one. Dude’s going to be a great dad and I am going to be the coolest cousin ever. I can see it now, batting cages, dirt bikes, fishing, and filling him up with tons of sugar just to ship him back home. See that’s the joy with your family and best friends having kids, you don’t have to keep them or drain your life savings unless you want to. It’s like a temporary child rental.
My cell vibrates for the fourth time since we have been in the store – all messages from Brie. I guess I should have looked at it sooner, but I assumed she was with Hannah, all is fair and well.
Ellie: Hospitals make me queasy
Ellie: Did we schedule my injection for next Tuesday?
Ellie: By we, I mean you, LOL.
Ellie: All done here, heard the heartbeat :) seen the bean. I need a drink
Me: We just finished at Formal Wearhouse, going to the barber, then the gift, last to the hotel. Meet me there or be square.
Ellie: Corny much?
Me: Did you smile? Thought so! :P
I finish texting back and forth with Brie just as we pull into Stripe’s Barber Shop. Hell, I haven’t been here since I was in high school. “C, can he still see well enough to cut hair?” I ask, honestly concerned that the eighty year old man can actually see.
“Well, my mop is good. So, unless he lost his vision in the last two days, I’d say you are safe.”
“I’ll just have him use the clippers.” I decide.
Haircut, Hannah’s gift picked up, and we are off to the hotel. My head protests the nonstop noise, but I know it’s only going to get worse once we join the ladies for the afternoon and evening. After a little rough handling at the suit shop, I talked Carter into telling me what’s in that giant cooler. It’s full of samples for us to try for the wedding, well he and Hannah, but obviously, I’m trying it too. Don’t bring food to my place and expect me to just fucking watch you eat it.
Once I step into the lobby, I see another massive cooler and look to Carter for an explanation to which he gives none. Dick. “Mr. Fields, you had this delivered just a moment ago as well as four messages, and this,” the day clerk announces.
“Thank you, Chamberlain. Could you tell me, are the ladies back?” I ask while reading the message receipts.
“Yes, they are in the hotel spa. It’s on one of those.” I cut him off holding up the message informing me that they are in the spa and should be up to the room within the hour. Although it was written over half an hour ago, so they already should be there – or close to it.
“Carter, you got the cooler, or have you been too pussified and need help?”
“Fuck off,” he laughs as he hefts up the monstrosity filled with food. Hell that smells amazing.
March 9
Hannah’s OB appointment. Check.
Marlee’s Bakery. Check.
Deep tissue body massage. Check.
Full manicure. Check.
Haircut. Check.
Understand all these emotions.
“Ah, this is the life,” Hannah jokes as she wanders through the main living space of the hotel suite in the plush white robe we each received after our massages. “I’m totes for serious taking this home with me,” she laughs again as she sits down in the oversized chair.
“I don’t care if you keep it, thief.” I jest back and tuck my notebook journal into the desk drawer beside me. The door’s key entry mechanism makes a double beep and click sound followed by Carter and Jase barreling through. Carter is carrying a similar cooler to the one already in our room. What the hell? “What’s going on?”
“You didn’t tell her yet?” Carter tsks Hannah after he lowers the cooler to the ground.
“Nope,” she smiles at me.
“Well, I guess it’s time…” Carter eggs on. “Babe, did you bring up the bag?”
“Yes, it’s beside the door,” Hannah points toward the door and Jase stoops down to grab it.
“Let’s do this!” he shouts next to Carter before emptying the bag filled full of plates, napkins, and silverware.
“We’re having a picnic in the hotel room?” I question quietly causing Hannah to laugh.
“No B, we are doing the reception tasting in the hotel room.” She begins to explain that they left this task off the list to be sure I could help her. Apparently, a pregnant woman’s taste buds aren’t quite honest… or trustworthy.
“No way! Eeeeep!” I squeal, standing from the desk and making my way toward the table where the food is being placed. It’s still hot, as in steam rising from the containers as they are opened and holy mouthwatering orgasm I think we may meet again.
“I haven’t seen you this excited in a while,” Jase whispers into my ear while wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. “I love the hair too.”
“You noticed,” I smile up at him to see his eyes and smile beaming back like a reflection.
“Always have, forever will.” He responds with a squeeze before letting me go to appease the two year olds coughing and clearing their throat. I swear Hannah and Carter could be going at it like wild orangutans and not flinch, but they just have to make a shit deal out of us.
Double standards.
We all sit silently tasting each di
sh in its entirety; then it hits me, there is no way that they didn’t pick the menu, and the wedding is in five days. Everyone would have responded with their dish choices in order to cater to the two hundred attendees. The only thing is I didn’t even get my invitation yet, so I don’t know what was sent out.
“Banana, didn’t your guests have to pre-request their dinner choices? I mean the wedding is in five days, I would never in a million years let that decision be made the day of.”
“Um well, kind of. Everyone has decided but us four. This is the run through, but, it’s also a way for you to help me decide what tastes better and for you to decide what you want to eat Saturday.”
“What if your tastes change before the wedding, say you just get queasy at the thought of bacon wrapped grilled shrimp?” I ask while popping another one in my mouth. Ermagherd it’s so freaking juicy and the seasoning is spot on with the touch of cracked pepper.
“Well then…” she pauses before looking at all of us and blinking quickly. “I don’t know,” she sniffs.
“Oh fuck, I made you cry.” I chuckle. “Why don’t you just have the chef make two extra of each dish? Okay?” Please let the suggestions hide the fact that her crying at the drop of a hat goes unnoticed. Can I just say that’s reason number 2,048 not to get knocked up – you become a breathing emotional hazard.
“Don’t laugh at me bitch, you’re supposed to be my person and help me.”
Laughing louder, I dodge the punch meant to assault my left arm. “I love you and I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing at the emotional instability that has clearly passed from unexplainable sadness to irrational anger.”
“You’ve seen shit.” Carter says barely opening his mouth. Yes, because we didn’t know who could have said that…? Men.
“So, I say you go with both appetizers – Smoked Gouda Stuffed Mushrooms and the Bacon Wrapped Grilled Shrimp. Also change the salad dressing suggestion to a Raspberry Vinaigrette.”
“Done and done,” Hannah nods then sinks her teeth into a juicy slice of Filet Mignon, practically moaning in delight.
“Well, I’d say you should keep the beef and either a Rosemary Chicken or the Blackened Ahi Tuna.”
“That tuna hits the fucking spot,” Jase chimes in after licking his plate clean. No, he literally just licked his plate clean. “Banana, you gotta keep those garlic mashers.”
“Garlic potatoes and seasonal steamed veggies, not all that fancy shit with the drizzles.” Carter agrees. Hannah moans again with another bite.
“Dude, your future wife is about to drizzle in the hotel chair without assistance of anything except that steak in her mouth. Looks like competition.” I taunt Carter as we all stare at Hannah who is seemingly unaware of our presence as she finishes off her filet.
“Moving on,” Hannah snaps back into the conversation. “You all need a life and that was like crack, I want more. No I neeeeeeed more,” she laughs and heads over to the other cooler popping up the lid. All I can see are a multitude of mini containers. “Now we have to sample the dessert. Mom and her assistant not named Hannah, made all these for us.”
“Holy fuck, there’s more.” I whine.
“There’s s’more dessert, but if you aren’t hung–”
“Shut the fuck up, I’ll flip a trick for s’mores.” I say cutting Hannah and her taunting pregnant ass off.
“Yep, that’s what I thought.” Hannah’s snicker is a little too suspicious for me not to peek. Making my way to her, I peer into the cooler to find a whole fucking section of s’more desserts. There’s cheesecake, some fluffy concoction, and holy fuck me now – actual s’more kits. I think I’ve died and this is heaven. “Who’s drizzling now, bitch?”
“Dessert time!” I shout pulling the cooler toward the couches in the living space. Once everyone is joined around, I lay out fresh silverware and start passing out the individual servings. Once everyone has one of each, I close the lid and take my seat between Hannah and Jase, bouncing like a toddler.
She’s gorgeous. Her long layered hair that had once touched her ass is now resting on her shoulders. She seemed shocked that I noticed. How could I not? I notice everything about her, when she’s overthinking, her eyes focus in the distance. When she’s nervous, she chews on her lower lip but only the right corner, and when she’s truly happy, she beams from the inside out – bright eyes, dimpled smile.
She seems bothered, although temporarily distracted by the food sampling, she’s been quiet. Overthinking quiet. The real question is, will she tell me why? I’ve gotten her to open up, but not all the way. It seems as if she’s afraid I’m going to leave again. I’m not… not even if she begs me to. Stepping out of the shower, I quickly towel off and make my way into the bedroom of our suite. Brie still hasn’t returned from her run a little over an hour ago, and it’s beginning to take all my willpower not to call or text her.
“Holy fuck,” Brielle pants as she rushes through the door. “I’m s–so out of shape. I mean, fuck.”
“How far did you go?” I ask looking her up and down. My brain short-circuits as soon as my eyes land on her heaving chest; her tits tightly nestled in the bright pink sports bra.
“Only like three miles,” she shrugs and heads to the bathroom, turning on the shower. “I’m drenched in sweat. You know Hannah always says ‘I don’t sweat, I glisten’, well I got news for her… she isn’t working hard enough if her underboobs aren’t soaked and her pits still smell like coconuts.”
Huh? Hannah’s pits smell like coconuts? “What are you going on about?” I ask, standing in the doorway between the bathroom and bedroom.
“Hannah,” Brie responds stepping into the shower, her back facing me. “She wears some tropical scented deodorant and therefore her pits literally smell like a coconut vacation.”
“On that note, I am going to get some work done. Oh, and you have to get your shot tomorrow, Dr. Richardson’s office called to confirm this afternoon.”
Shaking my head, I flop onto the bed then grab my laptop from the side table to set up my week. I have three interviews – two over the phone and one via webcam. Confirming the contracts for Lucas, Gary, and Shann are signed and in my lawyers’ possession, I begin drafting an announcement press release for Angela to review before publication next Saturday. Perhaps I should warn Brie that her BFF Kelly is going to be around a lot more… nah. My cell dings from across the room, just as Brie walks out of the shower, her hair wrapped in a towel and her body covered by one of my practice jerseys.
“B, will you grab my cell from the couch?”
“Here ya go,” she smiles handing it to me, but I can see the exhaustion has crept in.
“Thanks,” I check the text message from Lucas informing me that he’s arrived and quickly message back before flipping the ringer to silent and clearing off the bed. “Let’s get some rest, I have a busy week, and I’m sure you will wear yourself thin the closer we get to Saturday.”
“Are we early?” I ask Brielle after she swallows down her pain medication. “Because if we are, you can rest a little more.” I know she hates this part of the disease, the putting on the fake face, moving just as swiftly as she would with no pain, me telling her what she already knows. That one she hates more. Looking in the rearview mirror, I see two vehicles pulling, in neither of which I know. “Well someone’s here now.” Brie’s head shifts slightly and I hear the faintest sigh.
“Nope, we are on time. That’s Braydon, Chase, and Alison next to us,” rolling her eyes she finally looks at me again and offers a pathetic smile. “Yay,” she deadpans, “let’s get this over with.”
“I can tell Carter that I wasn’t feeling well and you needed to take care of me.” A chuckle erupts that I was suppressing as she steps out of the rental car.
“You are adorable; just remember what we talked about, Rocky.” Before I can respond, she shuts the door with more gusto than is needed and turns to Braydon as I exit the car. All I see is her spinning and a subtle laugh; I love her abili
ty to capture the moments even though she has to push back the pain to do it. Once she is stable on the ground, Braydon nods, and waves to me over the car.
“Long time no see,” he laughs.
“I still say we rematch.”
“Aww Brie, your guy still butt hurt that I kicked all their asses last night?”
“I heard about that fucking video game all freaking night. Don’t be surprised if Hannah kicks your ass today; I’m sure Carter bitched about you taking out each team like a fucking sniper too.” My Ellie’s eyes light up as she looks to me then back at Braydon. “Bunch of flipping children. Speaking of, where is Isaac?” Brie asks Chase.
“There,” he offers back quickly and points to Alison who is carrying ‘lil man. Opening the door to the church for all of us, Braydon, Brie, and I continue our conversation as Chase and Alison bring up the rear.
I remember this church; the bench to the left against the wall is where Hannah, Brie, Carter, and I sat many Sundays waiting for our parents to be dismissed from church. We typically sat there for twenty minutes before the congregation was let out because we were “disruptive and ill-mannered,” as Miss Daniels would so often say. We really weren’t, we were just best friends that would rather talk and tease each other over learning. We were under the age of ten… that’s normal.
“J, come sit with me. When Hannah and Carter get here, we’ll see if they notice.” Brie’s eyes are alight with self-entertainment, clearly reminiscing as I just was. Laughing, I take a seat next to her and she rests her head on my shoulder. “I really hope I can get through this tonight,” she whispers so quietly only I can hear. Pulling her close, I kiss the top of her head just as the door opens and Carter’s cousins, Max and Derek, file in mid-conversation.
They were part of last night’s bachelor party too. We celebrated – beer, pizza, appetizers for days, and video games. I think I threw together a kickass night, a night fitting all Hannah’s stipulations – no strip clubs, no strippers, no being arrested. Apparently what Hannah couldn’t do, neither could Carter, except we drank. That factoid is under lock and key, we took my tour bus, Bryan filled it to my specifications with food and alcohol, Lucas even tagged along. Brielle, Hannah, and two of their friends from the college softball league, Amber and Madi, had a pre-wedding bachelorette party. Brie told me last night they indulged on pretty much everything they could get their grubby little hands on, did a wedding hair and makeup run through, and got mani/pedis.
Finding Brielle (a Forever & Always novel) Page 10