"Of course I want to be with you. I just wanted you to fight for me." A tear ran down his cheek as he wiped the many that had rolled down my face. "And now you have. That's all I ever wanted."
Unable to contain my happiness and excitement, I wrapped my hands around his neck and hurtled myself into his arms.
"Just promise me something, Daphne."
"Anything, I promise." I sighed into his neck.
"Please don't ever sing again. That was really rough." Laughter consumed me as Tanner pulled me in for a tight hug.
"But the prop was good, right? You've got to give me props for my prop," I said, giggling. "That boombox is ancient." I pulled back and gave him a playful grin.
"You know, Daph, I always thought I was the dork in this relationship. But, I'm starting to think otherwise," he teased, before yanking me off the floor and carrying me towards his bedroom.
"Oh my god," I screeched as my head dangled next to his knees.
"We have some making up to do." His voice turned raspy and I knew the time for jokes had passed. I'd told him how I felt. Now it was time to show him.
Later, as we lay tangled in Tanner's bed, he stroked my hair gingerly.
"I can't believe you did that, Daph. I can't believe you did the John Cusack thing."
"You love that scene. It's your favorite," I said matter-of-factly.
"I know, I just....I can't believe you did that for me. And when my neighbors gathered around you, you didn't shy away, you actually started to sing."
"Anything for you.
"You amaze me, you know that?" he said, stroking my back. Quickly, I glanced at the clock. Sitting up, I placed my hand gently on Tanner's cheek.
"Are you ready for Part Two of my plan to win you back?"
"There's more? You've already won me back, sweetheart."
"I know, but I'm not finished yet. You kind of interrupted me with the sex."
"Oh," he said, grinning. "So sorry."
"Get dressed and meet me in your backyard in ten minutes," Swiftly, I jumped out of bed and pulled my clothes back on. Giving him a chaste peck on the lips, I ran out of the room, closing his door behind me.
When Tanner emerged through his sliding glass door, his mouth was agape. Spread out on the grass was a large checkered blanket. Sitting atop the blanket was a picnic basket, citronella candles, and a bottle of Moscato di Asti. Chunks of cheese, grapes and crusty French bread sat on plates awaiting the two of us.
"Wow," he exclaimed, still a bit in shock. "I don't know what to say."
"Well, I do," I said, taking his hands in mine and leading him to the blanket. "Have a seat so I can tell you." Tanner sat on the blanket, still looking stunned.
"Do you remember our first date?"
"Of course."
"Well, I do too. You went so out of your way to make that night special with my favorite wine and the candles to keep the bugs away. It was perfect...you---you were perfect. But we were interrupted that night, in a way that we've been interrupted for months."
"Yes, we were." He said, raising his eyebrows and tilting his head to the side.
"No cell phones. No baggage, or ghosts, or mirages. I want us to have that night again. But this time there will be no interruptions. None."
"Just you and me?" he asked, pushing my bangs from my face.
"Just you and me."
#
Chapter 37
Bachelorette
Morgan and Matt's wedding was only a few weeks away. Tonight was her much anticipated bachelorette party. Morgan had always wanted to visit a strip club, yet had never gone. Tonight that was about to change. Her other bridesmaids and I had her blindfolded, sitting in the car as we drove to Lake Geneva. She was a little tipsy after our delicious meal at a local restaurant on the lake. After several margaritas and one Long Island Iced Tea, Morgan was feeling no pain and would not stop laughing.
"Can I please take this thing off?" she asked, laughing as she pulled on the fabric of the blindfold. I swatted her hand away.
"Nope," answered her friend Susannah, our designated driver. "We'll be there in a few minutes. Relax and enjoy your buzz!"
The girls laughed and chatted in the SUV as we approached our destination. Slowly, we guided Morgan out of the passenger seat and positioned her so that she was facing the sign of our destination. When we took her blindfold off, she burst out in laughter.
"The Sugar Shack?" she yelled, jumping up and down. "Daphne, you knew I wanted to come here! You're so awesome!"
Morgan's laughter was contagious and we all did our best to keep calm as we entered the large white building out in the middle of nowhere.
"We're here for the male dancers," Morgan said, as we entered the building. The young woman behind the counter was friendly, but didn't seem amused by Morgan's excitement and laughter. I was sure she'd seen it all...bachelorettes, birthday girls, horny college girls with fake IDs. I gave her a meek smile and shrugged my shoulders as she checked each of our IDs and pointed us in the direction of the performance.
"This is so exciting! So, do they take it off? I mean, do they take it all off?" Morgan asked.
"You bet," said Julie, Morgan's old college roommate and the only one in our group who had already seen the show.
"Really?" I asked. A few of Morgan's friends gasped.
"Well, not the whole time, ladies. They come out on the stage in costumes. And then they take their time stripping down. Morgan, do you have your singles?"
"Yep!" Morgan said, holding up her wallet filled with dollar bills we placed in her hands as we walked through the door. We'd thought of everything. Morgan had plenty of money to give the dancers. She also had a "hottie whistle" to beckon them with, handcuffs in case they wished to restrain her during her inevitable lap dance, and a crown so that the dancers would know who the bride was in our group.
After climbing the set of stairs to the performance area, we quickly found our seats. There was a small, elevated square stage in the center of the room. Seating surrounded the stage and a bar sat off to the side. The walls were black, as were the tables, the chairs, the stage, everything. There were three other brides with their friends, as well as a few birthday girls. Our bartender quickly took our orders and before we knew it, the lights were flashing and an announcer in a black tuxedo took the stage.
"Ladies, welcome to the Sugar Shack! We have a fantastic show prepared for you tonight. Now, if you were planning on taking pictures tonight, listen up!" We each looked at each other, and I slowly placed my camera in my lap, feeling busted.
"Take as many pictures as you want! That's right, ladies, our guys aren't shy! This is a party and we want you to live it up!"
Everyone went wild, and the cameras started flashing like crazy. The announcer looked pleased.
"Yeah, that's more like it! Now, are we ready to get this party started?" Again, the ladies in the room went crazy, many jumping up and down, clapping and screaming, ready to see the first dancer.
"Please welcome our first performer to the stage. He's Latin, he's sexy, and he's waiting for you, ladies! It's Diego, our Latin Lover!" Everyone screamed as a beautiful man strolled onto the stage wearing a Zorro type costume with black faux leather pants, a cape, and a mask over his eyes.
"Holy crap!" Morgan yelled as she stared up at the stage. The music pounded and our Latin Lover made his way to our section of the stage. He slowly took off his shirt as he gestured for Morgan to approach him. She looked at me with a huge grin.
"What do I do?" she yelled over the thumping music. At this point, he was working on his belt and swaying his hips back and forth. The women across the room were out of their seats, screaming. Julie grabbed Morgan's wallet, took out a dollar, and handed it to her.
"Get over there, put this in your bra, and smile. That's it. He'll take care of the rest!" I slapped Morgan's ass, urging her to walk over to the sexy man who looked ready to peel off his chap-like pants.
Morgan hopped off her barstool and strolled in her sex
iest walk towards the stage. Diego smiled, nodding as Morgan approached the stage. She quickly placed the dollar bill in her bra so that one end was sticking out. She looked back at us so that we could see the proper placement of the money, then turned back towards Diego. In the blink of an eye, he dropped to his knees and moved seductively towards Morgan, grabbing the dollar bill with his teeth as he rubbed one hand down her back.
"Oh my God!" she yelled as she stroked his shoulders and abs. He turned away from her, still supporting himself on his knees, and placed her hands on his ass. Morgan giggled, but moved her hands playfully, even placing her fingers inside the back pockets of his pants. As she did, Diego pulled the pants apart with his fingers and Morgan jumped back to see the dancer wearing absolutely nothing but a g-string.
He smiled again at her, mouthing, "Thanks, baby" and walked to another area of the stage where another group of women were waiting in anticipation for the Latin lover to dance for them. More dollar bills were stuck into bras, and laughter and screaming filled the stage as Diego eventually stripped to nothing at all. He moved to each corner of the stage, swaying and thrusting for his adoring patrons. When the song ended, he quickly collected his money and exited the stage, blowing kisses to all of his new fans.
The night continued in this manner. After Diego, we were graced by Tommy the Surfer, followed by Rick the Policeman. Finally, we met Dylan the Fireman (my personal favorite), who was tall and lean with short, jet black hair and rock hard abs. He was introduced and walked onto the stage with all of his heavy equipment in tow. He wasted no time at all stripping down to his skivvies. Drawn to this dancer, I decided to approach the stage, dollar bills poking out from each bra strap. He looked down at me and smiled. Wearing nothing but his g-string, he slid down onto his belly and retrieved the money with his teeth while placing my hands on his abs. Alcohol was coursing through my veins and I couldn't stop smiling at the adorable dancer. He turned me around and wrapped his arms around me as Morgan took our picture with my camera.
"You're a very sexy fireman," I yelled into his ear. "You're definitely my favorite!"
"Aw, thanks, darlin'." He smiled as he continued to shake his hips and sway next to me, stroking my hands up and down his back. He smelled of body spray and soap. "You know, I'm very good at lap dances."
"Oh really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the scantily clad man before me.
"They're my specialty. I highly recommend you get one."
"I'll have to think about that," I said, knowing full well I had no intention of receiving a lap dance. "Our bride will be getting one later. We'll have to see who she wants. Maybe it'll be you, Mr. Fireman," I flirted.
"I sure hope so," he said, and in an instant, he was on his feet, swaying towards another group of ladies who were waving money and dancing to the techno music blaring through the speakers.
"So, who's it going to be, Morgan?" I asked the now incredibly drunk bride to be, but she had no idea what I was talking about.
"What do you mean? Do I get to keep one?" she asked, cracking herself up.
"No, dork. Who's going to give you a lap dance? I'm fully prepared to pay your favorite dancer for a special show."
"Are you serious? I can't do that. Matt will flip out!"
"No, he won't. I already received his blessing."
"Seriously?" Her mouth dropped.
"Yep. He said no private lap dances, but if it's out in the open, he's totally fine with it. Come on, who's it going to be?"
"I--I have no idea!"
"Well, are you in the mood for a little Latin love? Or have you been a bad, bad girl and need to be punished by the law? Or is there a fire in your pants?"
Susannah, Julie, and the other bridesmaids were laughing hysterically as I did my best to entice Morgan with the performers.
"The fireman. Definitely!"
Secretly I was thrilled that she chose my favorite. I could live vicariously through the sexy dance she was about to receive. Dylan was standing near the stage chatting with another bride but smiled seductively and tilted his head back slightly to acknowledge my presence as I walked over to him.
"Well, hello there, Red," he said.
"Hello, Mr. Fireman. We need your help. It appears my friend Morgan has a fire in her pants. She's in need of some assistance."
"Oh, I think I can help. Lead me to her, please," he said, playing along.
Dylan followed me to our table, wearing nothing but a g-string, but holding his fake ax in his hand and wearing his protective headgear.
"Morgan?" Dylan asked after I led him to the exuberant bride-to-be. "I'm going to need you to take a seat over here, Miss. It's time we took care of that fire."
"Yes, sir," she said, looking sheepish yet terribly excited. She was blushing from ear to ear as she quickly took a seat in a chair. All of her friends and I gathered around. Dylan gave her one hell of a show as he slid up and down, bending over to show his backside, grinding on her lap and bouncing up and down. The rest of us couldn't tear our eyes away as we were enjoying the show almost as much as Morgan. She stared wide-eyed at the dancer, her eyes never leaving him as he danced, shaking and swiveling his hips on her body. When Dylan finished his dance, Morgan looked a bit like a deer in headlights. She thanked him for the performance, and I guided her towards the door as she giggled continuously.
"I can't thank you enough for tonight," Morgan said, sipping her strawberry martini. "Seriously, that was an absolute blast."
Everyone else had gone home, but Morgan had asked me to join her for one last cocktail at a martini bar near our neighborhood.
"You're so welcome. Do you think everyone had a good time?"
"Are you kidding me? They had a blast. It was the best bachelorette party ever. And you know I'm going to repay you someday." She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head towards me. I knew exactly what she was hinting at.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't get me wrong. Of course, I want to plan a future with Tanner, but I don't know if he's there just yet."
"I think he is."
"It's taken a lot of time for us to move past all the trouble I caused. And even though he says it's okay to still be friends with Cece, I worry that it'll bring us problems in the future."
"He's absolutely crazy about you. Anyone who spends any time with you two can see that."
"Thanks. I know he loves me, and I love him. We'll wait and see on the marriage stuff."
Morgan shrugged. "I see you together. I see it happening. That's all I'm saying. And from what I know about him, if he tells you that he's made peace with the idea of Cece, then it's the truth. He's really one of the most honest people I've ever met. Hold on to that one," she said, taking another sip of her drink, a silly grin spread across her tipsy face. She was so adorable.
"And how about you? Your big day is just a few weeks away. Are you getting nervous?" I asked, trying to move the attention of the evening back to where I felt it should be.
"Oh yeah. It's been a lot of work, almost like a second job. But I'm excited to be Mrs. Matthew Renbeck. I'm ready to settle down and be his wife."
"That's the way it should be. Matt's so in love with you. You have a very bright future ahead. I just know it."
"Thanks, Cuz. It'll feel weird when I have to move away from you. I've loved living so close to you."
"That will be strange, I know. But Matt's place is probably best. You don't even have room in your apartment for all of your shower gifts.
"You're right. Matt's condo is much bigger and there's a spare bedroom and a basement. But, it's not the same." She placed her head on my shoulder as I leaned my elbows on the bar.
"I know, Cuz. I'll miss you, too."
#
Chapter 38
Bride
Morgan looked positively stunning as the last buttons were fastened on her gorgeous lace wedding gown. She pressed the fabric down with her palms as my Aunt checked the bodice and skirt for any imperfections. It was almost time for the ceremony and Morga
n's anticipation showed in her slightly pink cheeks and serious expression.
The clock reminded us that it was time to head to the back of the church so that the bridesmaids could lead the way down the aisle. Morgan and I walked hand in hand and stood together as the organist began to play. The bridesmaids slowly took their turns walking down towards the nervous groom, who wiped his brow continuously with his handkerchief. Then it was my turn, and I squeezed Morgan's hand and whispered, "Knock 'em dead" before heading down the velvet carpet. Looking straight ahead, I received smiles from Matt, Evan, and another groomsman, my Tanner. I felt beautiful in my gorgeous plum cocktail-length dress as I strolled confidently down the aisle. Sneaking in one last glance at Tanner, he blew me a tiny kiss and I gave him a satisfied smile.
Hours later, Mr. and Mrs. Renbeck were swaying in one another's arms on the dance floor. Leaning against Tanner, I watched them in awe. Their happiness, their contentment was everywhere in this banquet hall. My aunt hadn't stopped crying exuberant tears since the ceremony where her daughter was pronounced Mrs. Matthew Renbeck. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were happily chatting along the sides of the dance floor. The bride gazed at her husband with such happiness, such admiration, it was downright contagious to anyone who caught a glimpse of her.
Tanner wrapped his strong arms around me and squeezed each of my shoulders. A gentle peck was placed atop my head and he breathed a large sigh into my loose updo. I felt his body straightening and I leaned back into him, so content in the moment. My cousin was now a happily married woman, and for the very first time, I was positively certain that I'd like to be next.
My heart beat rapidly in my chest when the DJ announced it was time for the bouquet toss. For the first time in my life, I felt like this tradition meant something to me, something real and true and wonderfully scary. So desperately I wanted this moment to be the very first in my future with Tanner Finley. So nervous, so anxious, I walked as calmly as possible out to the dance floor, positioning myself in the spot that had always been lucky for me, about eight feet behind the bride and just a couple of steps to her left. I wasn't taking any chances.
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