by J. L. Berg
“Just about right, I’d say.” Unable to stand a second longer without her taste, I bent down to kiss her, savoring the warmth and tenderness.
“Just a few more of those left as a single man,” she joked.
“Are they different as a married man?” I shot back, opening the door for her.
“Guess we’ll have to find out.” She leaned forward again, brushing her lips against mine. “Tomorrow,” she added with a smile.
“Tease.”
She bent forward, putting one foot in the car before freezing. Her head popped back up, looking at me in surprise. “Oh my gosh!” she shouted, fully tumbling into the car.
I laughed, following close behind but with a bit more grace, and I found her in the loving arms of her mother.
“I didn’t think you’d be here until tonight,” Lailah cried.
Molly smoothed back the light blonde strands of hair around her face. “We managed to catch an earlier flight,” she said. “Marcus has already checked in at the hotel.”
“This is amazing. Now, you can spend the rest of the day with us!”
“Actually, I’m going to have to bow out,” I said as we all settled into our seats.
Lailah’s eyes met mine, as she placed the large bouquet of flowers in her lap. “What do you mean? You’re not working this afternoon, are you?”
“No,” I answered. “Surprisingly, Roman did manage to make it in on time today, like promised, but I do have a few last-minute errands I need to make.”
Her gaze narrowed. “And you can’t do those last-minute errands with me?”
“Nope.” I smiled.
“Hmm,” was all she said.
Laughing, I leaned forward to place my hand on her knee. “You really hate surprises, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She pouted.
It was cute but didn’t sway my decision for a second.
“Sorry, not changing my mind.”
“Jerk.”
“Do you see how she treats me, Molly?” I joked.
The limo pulled up to a random curb about five blocks away from my destination. Lailah suspiciously looked around, trying to guess where I was headed. Molly just shook her head and grinned.
“Stop trying to figure it out,” I whispered before leaning forward to steal one last kiss for the road.
Her lips lingered against mine for a brief moment before I pushed the door open and stepped out.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
She blew me a kiss, and I shut the door. The car pulled away from the curb, and I stepped onto the sidewalk.
“I love you!” Lailah’s voice rang through the city noise.
I turned to see her smiling face, full of life and exuberance, hanging out the moonroof of the limo. She waved her flowers back and forth like a flag.
I cupped my hands over my mouth, and amid the sea of people walking past, I shouted back, “I love you, too!”
“See? You’re not the only one who can be surprising!” she yelled before the limo rounded the corner and disappeared.
I chuckled under my breath and shook my head.
No, definitely not. Lailah always managed to keep me on my toes, and there wasn’t anyone else I’d rather be with.
With my secret errands done, I returned to our apartment with just enough time to shower and get ready for the rehearsal dinner that Molly and Marcus were hosting in our honor.
We’d decided to forgo the traditional rehearsal the day before the wedding, agreeing that our simple service wouldn’t really need to be practiced. Plus, I wanted the first time I saw her walking down that church aisle to be real.
The apartment was quiet as I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. Lailah had packed an overnight bag and booked a hotel room where her parents and Grace were staying. Grace, baby Zander, and her husband, Brian, had arrived not too long ago, and I’d already received a text from Lailah, saying that Grace had commandeered her for the rest of the afternoon to do her makeup and hair for the evening.
A small smile played across my lips as I walked into the closet to gather my clothes for the evening.
We were getting married tomorrow.
It was still hard to imagine, yet the hours couldn’t tick away fast enough. I’d been waiting for this day for what seemed like an eternity. There was a time when I’d believed it was an impossibility, something I could only envision in my dreams.
But now, it was nearly here, and I couldn’t wait to place that ring on her left hand and make her mine.
I tossed on a pair of slacks and a light-gray shirt before adding a purple tie and dark gray vest for my bride. She loved seeing me in a vest. I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, ran my hands through my damp hair, and grabbed a pair of shoes.
I was ready to go in under twenty minutes.
I still had a bit of time before our reservation, but I decided to head out anyway, just in case traffic got tricky or anyone decided to arrive early.
My instincts were right on target as I found myself stuck in a cab twenty minutes later and only six blocks from our apartment. My foot began to nervously tap as I looked at my watch. Finally, I leaned forward and handed the driver a couple of twenties.
“I’ll just walk. Thanks.”
A brisk fifteen-minute walk later, I made it to the restaurant with the ability to still feel most of my toes, and I headed inside for warmth. I soon found my mother sitting in a cozy chair by the bar with a glass of dark red merlot in her hand.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted.
She rose to her feet to hug me.
“First one here?” I asked, briefly looking around, as I took the seat next to her.
“I believe so. Your brother said he would meet me here for a drink, but I haven’t seen him yet.”
I kept my comments regarding Roman to myself, and instead, I tried to change the subject. “Did you check in to your hotel all right?”
She nodded and took a quick sip of wine before answering, “Yes, it’s quite lovely. Returning to the city does sometimes make me miss our place here, but I do love the quiet of the country.”
When my father had died over a year ago, my mother had made the painful decision to sell their city home. It had been years since they lived there, but it’d held special memories, having been the primary residence where Roman and I had been raised. Now that we were grown though and it was just her, she hadn’t really seen the value in keeping it. Now, when she visited, she’d either stay in a hotel or with Lailah and me in our apartment. Since we were leaving for our honeymoon the morning after the wedding, Mom had chosen to stay in a hotel near the reception location, like most of the other guests who were from out of town.
“I love the country home,” I replied, remembering the many adventures Roman and I had journeyed through as young boys in that great big house over the years.
“It looks marvelous this time of year,” she remarked, smirking.
“I know, I know. We’ll be back in three weeks, Mom.”
She shook her head in mocked disdain, obviously trying to cover the small smile spreading across her face. “Your first Christmas as husband and wife, and you won’t even be here.”
“It’s called a honeymoon. I believe yours lasted a month.”
She grinned. “Five weeks actually, and it was divine. You know I’m just goading you. We’ll be here to celebrate the holidays when you return. Enjoy every minute, sweetheart.”
“We will.”
A flash of red caught my eye, and I turned just in time to see Lailah walking through the entrance with her parents a few steps behind. I watched her shrug off her thick red coat and scarf, and what lay hidden underneath was simply magnificent. She was a vision, covered in crimson and lace. The dress she wore hugged her waist before flaring into a flirty skirt down to her knees. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her eyes glimmered with excitement.
So beautiful.
I was up on my feet, moving toward her, before my brain
even registered the fact. She was a force that drew me in, and I never wanted to be anywhere else but surrounded by her dazzling light.
“You’re here!” Lailah exclaimed.
I reached her side and took her hand. “You look stunning,” I said, leaning forward to brush a lingering kiss against her lips.
The corner of her mouth curved as she stepped back. “Just wait until tomorrow.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.”
She glanced around, seeing my mother as she rose from her spot at the bar. They waved to one another, and then Lailah tried to spot the other few remaining members of our dinner party.
“Has Roman arrived yet?” she asked.
“No,” I answered bluntly.
“There’s still time,” she soothed, stroking the sleeves of my shirt in a comforting manner.
“I know. But would it really kill him to care about someone else for once?”
Her fingers found mine, curling and locking us together. “He did, remember? That’s why we’re here tonight. Because Roman cared about you enough to fly all the way across the country to tell me what an amazing man I’d managed to let slip through my fingers. If it wasn’t for him, none of this would be happening right now, Jude.”
I sighed in frustration—mostly because I knew she was right and partially because I couldn’t figure Roman out.
Why would a man do something so selfless yet manage to pull a complete one-eighty and return to being a full-time asshole the second he returned back home?
What was I missing?
The hostess took us back to our private table that had been reserved for this special evening, and I gave her instructions to send any late stragglers straight back.
Of course, the only late straggler was my brother, but I was trying to be polite.
Sitting next to Lailah among our family and friends, everything suddenly started to become very real, and the tardiness of my brother was soon forgotten.
My hand fell to her knee under the table and squeezed. She turned to me as everyone was busy chitchatting. As our eyes locked, I knew she felt it, too—that amazing feeling that anything was possible because we’d found each other.
Moisture pooled at the corners of her eyes, and as I raised my thumb to brush it away, she mouthed the words, I love you.
Just as I began to repeat them back to her, I was promptly interrupted.
“So sorry we’re late!”
I turned to see Roman walking toward the table with a buxom brunette dressed in a napkin that she was trying to pass off as a dress. Every head turned as the two passed by, and as they drew closer, I couldn’t decide if the attention was due to the napkin-sized dress or the smell of alcohol that seemed to be seeping out of their pores.
I rose quickly from my chair as Roman tried to head toward the single empty seat just to the left of Lailah.
“I wasn’t aware you were bringing a date, brother.”
His darkening eyes met mine, and his mouth curled up into a menacing smile. “Wasn’t aware I had to tell you, brother,” he replied.
“Well, it is common courtesy so that we know how many place settings to have the restaurant prepare for. As you can see, we are a seat short,” I said, gesturing to the empty chair.
“I guess Ginger will just have to sit on my lap then. Huh, sugar?”
Ginger—if that was her real name—just smiled and nodded, the silicone in her boobs bouncing up and down with enthusiasm.
Just fucking great.
I sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of my nose, as I glanced around at our family members nervously looking about.
“No need for that, Roman. I’ll go ask the hostess to set an extra seat for your . . . friend.”
“Thank you,” he remarked as his hands slid around Ginger’s waist.
I didn’t bother waiting to see where else they might venture to. Instead, I went in search of the hostess.
The anger inside of me was about to boil over, but I knew I had to keep it at a simmer. Tonight was not about Roman. It was about Lailah. All I wanted was to make sure she was happy, and I would not let some random hook-up of my brother’s detour that goal.
With the help of a very understanding restaurant manager, room was added to the table, squeezing in another chair, and Ginger was promptly ushered to her own seat.
Within minutes, the entire event seemed to breeze away into the past as conversations began, and excitement peaked. Grace and Lailah made game plans for the morning, deciding what time they should order room service and confirm appointments. Lailah’s mom conversed with mine about the weather differences this time of year on the opposite sides of the country. Roman continued to share his love with the two most important things in his life—liquor and hired entertainment.
Dinner orders were placed, and conversations fell into a quiet rhythm as drinks were sipped, and everyone settled in, waiting for food to arrive.
“Are you two packed and ready to leave tomorrow?” Lailah’s mother asked, holding a glass of chardonnay in one hand, while her fingers brushed the outer curve of Marcus’s thumb.
“I think so, but it would have been helpful if I’d known what to pack. Right now, I feel like I packed for six different trips because I had absolutely no idea what to bring, so I was forced to bring everything,” Lailah answered in a huff.
I couldn’t help the tiny smirk that spread across my face. “You seem awfully put-out for a girl who’s about to go on her romantic honeymoon,” I retorted.
“Oh, is that where I’m going? Because I’m not quite sure. We could be doing survival training, for all I know.”
“Now, there’s an idea.” I winked before leaning over to kiss her forehead. “I promise, no matter where we go or what we do, it will be magical. Want to know why?”
“Why?” she asked, her vividly bright blue eyes seeking mine.
“Because I’ll be with you.”
“I think I just threw up a little in my mouth,” Roman muttered.
I shot him a dirty look. Just in time, the waiters arrived with our dinner.
My asshole brother was once again forgotten as we settled into our amazing meal. Since moving to New York, I had made it my personal mission to make sure Lailah learned as much about the city as possible—from the food to the culture and right down to the grimy subway system. I’d known she didn’t want to live in a glass box anymore, and I didn’t ever want her to feel like I was putting her in one.
There were times when I still worried about her though. When on a crowded street with someone nearby coughing, I’d find myself pulling her away, wondering if she needed to wear a mask more often. She had them, but she loathed the idea of wearing those terrible blue plastic things in public. She would wear one when the situation called for it, but luckily, those had been few and far between.
Keeping her away from infection had so far been relatively easy. Combined with our vigilance, we’d also been lucky. She attended a university where colds, flus, and God-knows-what ran rampant. She’d caught a few minor things but so far, so good.
Her good health had allowed us to travel the city in abundance. We’d been tourists, learning everything there was to offer. Much of it, I’d already seen many times over, but some of it had been just as new to me as it was to her. She had been astonished to know I’d never taken a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. It just wasn’t something we’d done in my childhood. I’d seen Lady Liberty standing proud out in the distance more times than I could count, but I’d never actually taken the time to go out and touch her. It had been thrilling.
Of course, everything with Lailah always was.
She brought a whole new sense of adventure to life that I’d never expected.
That was how tonight at this restaurant had come about. I’d seen this place a dozen times on my way to work, but I’d never given much thought to it. One day, Lailah had dragged me in for lunch, and we’d discovered our place. It was quaint and cozy. The food was amazing—fresh and organic—and the chef alway
s managed to think outside the box. We had become regulars from that moment on.
“Hey,” Lailah said, looking at my plate of braised pork loin with marked interest.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, you can have half,” I answered, not bothering to wait for the question I’d known she was about to ask.
Her face lit up with glee as she began to cut her chicken in half before setting it on my plate. “Can I have—”
“Yes, you can have half of my risotto as well. But I get half of those potatoes!” I added.
We started our normal ritual of halving everything on our plates and shuffling it around. Lailah could never decide on just one dish, so she tended to always want what was on mine as well. Since realizing this, I’d been more than happy to share—as long as I got half of hers.
I was a big guy. I couldn’t survive on half a plate of food.
Looking up, I found Grace watching us with doe eyes. Her lips were puckered into a little pout.
“What?”
“That’s adorable—and kind of weird at the same time,” she said.
“Shut it.” I grinned before stuffing a large piece of potato in my mouth.
Everyone soon finished their plates, and dessert was about to be served. Lailah and I had preselected this course, wanting it to be special and knowing many might try to go without.
“Pudding?” Grace laughed as the waiters set the dishes in front of everyone. “We’re having chocolate pudding for dessert?”
Lailah dipped her finger into the dark chocolate creaminess and brought it to her lips. “Yep, we sure are.”
Everyone chuckled as spoons were lifted, and people began eating.
“Oh my heavens,” my mom said from across the table after taking her first bite. “This is divine.”
And it was. It wasn’t the store-bought brand the hospital cafeteria stocked that had once brought two lonely people together years ago. We still loved our Snack Packs, especially in bed, but for tonight, we wanted something special, and the chef had given us just that.
Taking my first bite, I glanced over just in time to see my brother spoon-feeding his escort. Her tongue slithered out like a snake, the tip seductively caressing the silky chocolate. My brother looked on with a lustful dark expression.