by B. L. Mooney
“Are you kidding?” Drew laughed. “He wants to devour you every time he looks at you.”
I smiled. “I’m probably too busy attacking him to notice. I can’t keep my hands off him.”
All three of them smiled.
Rachael got up and forced her way into the chair with me. “That’s because my big sister is finally in love!” She hugged me. “It’s so wonderful.”
I sighed with defeat and let her fawn all over me. “He’s just really good in bed.”
Terri sat forward. “How good?”
I smiled. “Explosive. I’m not sure it could get better.”
“Has he taken charge yet?” Drew didn’t normally ask personal questions, but they all seemed to be ganging up on me.
“He’s in charge every time we have sex.”
She sat back and shook her head. “He hasn’t done it yet. When it happens, let us know. We’ll come over for the details.”
“I’m not sure what you mean. He takes charge already. I don’t think I’d want him to be more than he is already.”
The three of them looked at each other again before looking at me and saying together. “Yes, you will.”
I was preoccupied thinking about the incident at Deb’s. I hoped my father found a couple guys to watch over her. I was almost certain there would be volunteers when they heard it was a bachelorette party for the surveillance. I closed my eyes and tipped the rest of my beer back.
“I can’t believe this time next week, I’ll be married.” Dennis waved for another round of drinks. “I can’t believe I got her to agree.”
“I can’t, either.” Carl liked to fuck with Dennis, but it almost backfired a couple times. They still aren’t the best of friends, but they’re trying.
“You’re an asshole.”
“Never said I wasn’t.”
Dennis started to get a little loud. “I mean, you’re engaged to my beautiful sister and you still act as if you want Drew.”
“No, let’s get that clear now. I can’t believe Drew chose someone like you, but I don’t want Drew. I love Rachael.”
Dennis scoffed. “You gave her an engagement ring made out of paperclips. I think you wanted her to say no.”
“It was a romantic gesture. I’m sure that isn’t something you’re familiar with. She has a real ring now.”
“I can be fucking romantic.” Dennis looked at me. “How about you? What did you do to sweep my sister off her feet?”
“I’m not sure she’s swept yet.”
“Of course she is.” Carl had to put his two cents in. “We could barely say two words to her, but you come in and she’s completely changed.”
“For once, I agree with the asshole. My sister’s a changed woman. She smiles now. I don’t know I’ve ever seen her smile just for the sake of smiling.”
“You all are making her sound like a monster.”
“She isn’t a monster, but she can be a bitch.” Mark apparently had an opinion, as well.
“What the fuck is she supposed to be? Maybe no one gave her a chance before to be herself.” I stood and took my wallet out. “You all can go fuck yourselves.” I threw a couple bills on the table and walked out.
Dennis caught up to me. “Hey, come back. We didn’t mean anything by it, but you know it’s true. She has changed since she started dating you. I just don’t know what you’ve done to get her that way.”
“That’s simple. I’ve loved her.”
I went to see my parents after the fiasco of a bachelor party. I wanted to know what my dad had found out about the incident at Drew’s. I didn’t expect him to tell me anything, but it made me feel as if I were doing something rather than sitting at home.
I walked in and plopped on the sofa, still disgusted by what the guys were saying about Deb. It was true she had a tendency to be a bitch, but they knew what she had been through. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t cut her a little slack.
“Something on your mind, son?”
I looked at my father and shook my head. “I know you won’t tell me anything, but have you found anything out?”
“Not yet.” He sat forward and put his elbows on his knees. “How invested are you in this relationship?”
“I’m invested as much as she’ll let me be.”
“What are your plans with her?”
“I’m just taking it one day at a time. What’s with all the questions?”
“Detective McCoy is trying to make a name for himself and he’s using Deb’s case to do it. He isn’t good enough to get promoted and thinks this will help him. It won’t.” My father sat back in the chair. “In fact, he’s being watched because of it.”
“What are you saying?”
“The harder I press on this, the harder he’s going to press back. He’s being very careful in what he’s doing because he knows they’re looking at him for something. I’m afraid I may push him into a corner and he’ll come out swinging if I continue. Are you prepared for that?”
“Do you think she deserves to be in prison?”
“No, but the court system isn’t flawless.”
“I want her free of this.”
“You keep saying that, but why?”
I looked at my father. “Because I love her and she won’t allow herself to love me back until she’s certain she has a future.”
“Have you told her?”
“That I love her?” I shook my head. “I’m afraid of scaring her off. She hasn’t felt loved.”
“Then maybe you should show her. Let me worry about this.”
I pulled up to my place and shook my head. Dennis, Carl, and Mark were all waiting for me outside. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before getting out of the car.
Dennis walked up first. “Hey, we’re sorry about what we said. Deb’s my sister and I love her, but she’s a little hard to get to know sometimes. You have to know where we were coming from.”
“I do know, but you of all people should’ve defended her. She’s had a rough time.”
“You’re right. She’s going through some things and I should’ve been her brother and stepped up. I’ll do better.”
I looked over at Carl and Mark and looked back to Dennis. “Look, I’m tired. If you came to apologize—”
“Well, that’s part of it. We want to crash the bachelorette party.”
I shook my head. “And you couldn’t show up without me.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I really did want to apologize about the comments made about Deb. I’m still trying to understand what her issue was growing up, but I do know it affected her enough to get caught up with Craig. That alone should tell me how troubled she was.”
I looked at the guys again and back to Dennis. “Fine, but if we get in trouble for this, it’s all on you three.”
I got in the backseat with Dennis while Mark drove. Carl said he felt cramped in the backseat with no legroom and took the front seat. I didn’t really care as long as I got to see Deb before the night was over.
I sniffed the air and scrunched up my face. “What the fuck is that smell?” I leaned over and sniffed Dennis. “Is that coming from you?”
“Fuck you. It’s Carl’s fault. He caused a waitress to dump her tray of drinks on me.” He looked at me. “I could’ve fucking killed him.”
Mark looked at us in the rearview mirror and turned to Carl. “If that stench doesn’t come out of my car, you’re paying to get it detailed.”
Carl shrugged.
I got out of the car as soon as it stopped and took deep breaths. “You could’ve killed my nose with that!”
“Calm the fuck down. It isn’t that bad.”
The three of us looked at each other and then looked at Dennis. We spoke in unison. “Yes, it is.”
He flipped us off and headed for the door. Carl shook his head and headed after him. “Let me use the code. Don’t buzz them.”
I looked at Carl and narrowed my eyes as he punched a code and opened the door. “Why do you know her c
ode?”
He looked at the keypad and back to me. “It’s Rachael’s apartment. Deb took over after Rachael moved in with me.” He got frustrated with my continued scowl. “For Christ’s sake, I don’t have a key anymore. I gave that to Deb when she moved in.”
I nodded my understanding but still didn’t like it. I’d talk to Deb about changing the code. I walked up ahead of them. I wasn’t sure how Deb was going to react, but I was sure she would answer the door since it was her apartment. I wanted to be the one she opened the door to.
Before we even got to the door, we heard laughter from down the hall. It made me smile. I was happy to hear Deb having a great time. She was nervous about spending that much time with the girls. It wasn’t something she’d done until recently.
I cleared my throat and knocked on the door. I could hear Deb’s laughter getting closer. She was trying to quiet it down, but the giggling was cute. She opened the door and stopped laughing.
“Hey, what are you guys doing here?”
We were pushed aside as the other guys filed in and went after their girls. There was a lot of arguing from the girls how we shouldn’t be there, but it didn’t take long for it to stop. I stepped in and looked at everyone coupled up and kissing.
Deb pulled me in further to shut the door. She wrapped her arms around my waist. “Hey.”
I turned to her and put my arms around her. “Hey.” I kissed her. “Sounds like a good time in here.”
“It was. I was a little freaked when we were out, thinking people were watching us, but in here was a lot of fun. How about you?”
“It was okay.” I looked at the guys as the three of them sat with their girls. I looked back to Deb. “Carl and Dennis really hate each other. I don’t understand why Carl was there.”
“He was there for the same reason you were. You’re both dating his sisters.”
“Hey!” Dennis yelled over to us. “What are you whispering about over there?”
“Just how much you stink.”
Drew smiled. “You really do, babe. What happened to you?”
He looked at Carl and pointed. “He was hitting on a waitress and she dumped the tray on him, but got me instead.”
Rachael’s head turned to Carl. “What?”
Mark spoke up. He was the only level head between us all. “Not cool, Dennis. He wasn’t hitting on a waitress. He just didn’t see her coming when he stood up. She couldn’t get out of the way in time and she dumped it on Dennis.”
Drew stood up. “Maybe we should get going. You really do stink.”
Dennis grabbed her and pulled her down to his lap. “But it’s your bachelorette party. You should stay all night.”
She spoke low when she responded, but we all heard her. “But our shower is at home and you’re really dirty. I think you need help . . . scrubbing.”
He stood up with her still in his arms. “Let’s go.”
Mark stood and laughed. “All right, I’ll take you guys home. Come on, Terri. The kids don’t have to be picked up until tomorrow. Let’s take advantage of the empty house.” He turned to Rachael and Carl. “You guys coming?”
Rachael shook her head. “I’d like to stay a little while.”
Carl squeezed her to him. “We’ll call a cab.”
Drew hugged Deb and whispered something. Deb nodded and hugged her tighter. I hoped they were growing closer. Deb needed friends she could count on. I turned to sit in the chair and caught Rachael looking at me. I narrowed my eyes but looked away. I felt I was about to be scolded.
Deb walked by to sit in the other chair and I grabbed her hand and tugged, hoping she would sit with me. She smiled and took the hint, sitting on my lap.
Rachael sat up when the sounds of the four who left couldn’t be heard anymore. “I want to know what’s going on.”
“You’ll have to be more specific.” I looked at Deb for a clue as to what Rachael was talking about, but she didn’t give one.
“You had people following us tonight.”
Carl looked at me and sat forward. “Following them for what?”
“My father just wanted to make sure they were protected.”
Carl stood. “From what, exactly?”
“Someone is trying to make a point and until we figure out what the point is, we can’t figure out who it is.”
“What are they doing? I’ve heard about the hate mail and the fire, but that was a while ago. What happened to prompt protection?”
“A rock was thrown through the window.”
“A rock? A kid could’ve done that.”
“It wasn’t a child.”
Deb looked at me. “What do you know?” She got off my lap and looked at me. “Don’t hide things from me, Mick. What do you know?”
“The older woman was across the street again today. She’s blocked by a van in the video, but we think she’s the one who threw the rock.”
Rachael wasn’t happy to hear about the older woman. She looked at Deb. “You’ve known about this? Is she the same woman who started the fire?”
I answered for Deb. “I believe so. She hasn’t come around as often since my father got involved. They have been stepping up patrols around the area, so that may be why, but I still don’t like this woman.”
“I think we should’ve been told the danger the girls were in before we let them out of our sight. I’m not happy we were kept out of this, Mick.”
“How much fun would Drew have had if she had to listen to you and Dennis bicker and fight all night?” I shook my head. “Family get-togethers have to be a real trip with the two of you butting heads.”
He looked at Rachael. “Dennis is the one who’s insecure. I love Rachael and I will marry her one day.” He pulled her up to him and wrapped his arms around her. “She just has to set a date first.”
Rachael put her arms around Carl. “Let’s go home.” She looked at me. “Don’t keep us out of the loop on what you and your father are doing.”
I nodded.
It was the day before Drew’s wedding and I had closed the shop to get the flowers ready. I also had to try on the dress again since they had to adjust it for my chest. It fit perfectly. I couldn’t believe the wedding was the next day. After everything we’ve all been through, it would be nice to have a celebration of life and love, and I couldn’t have been happier to celebrate Drew and Dennis.
Mick used his key in the back door to come in. “What’s going on? Why are you closed?”
I looked up with flowers in my hands. “I’m working.”
“Oh. I thought something was wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to get these things finished and couldn’t risk business getting in the way.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not right now, but I could use help transporting them and setting up later. I’m trying to leave as little as possible to be done tomorrow. I don’t want to be hot and sweaty for the wedding.”
He put his arms around my waist. “Of course, I’ll help.” He looked over to the cooler case and saw Drew’s larger pieces. “Those are beautiful.”
“Thank you. I did those first since they’re the most important. I think her bouquet came out really wonderfully.”
“It did.” He squeezed me.
I turned in his arms and looked at him. “What’s on your mind?”
“There’s been a lot of wedding talk lately and I have a feeling Rachael’s is coming up soon. Is that something you think you’ll do again?”
I turned back to the flowers. “I’m not sure. I’ve been married. If you’re in love the way Drew and Rachael are, I’m sure marriage with their guys would be a lot different than my experience.”
“Do you want that experience?”
I stepped out of his arms and walked over to the other side of the table to begin on those arrangements. “What’s with all the questions?”
He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Weddings get me thinking about things.”
“Obviously getting married, but also things like kids. You’ve never really said how many kids you want.”
“Maybe because I don’t want them.”
“You don’t want to have children some day?”
“I’ve never really thought I’d want children and I’m glad I haven’t. Can you imagine what their friends would say when they found out I killed Craig?” I shook my head. “Growing up is hard enough. Why would I willingly bring someone into this world knowing what their future would be like?”
“They would say you were a hero for saving people.”
I scoffed. “Not everyone thinks I’m a hero.”
“What do you think?” He came up to me when I didn’t answer him. “We’re going to attend the wedding of the year for your family. Do you think that would’ve been possible if you hadn’t done what you did?”
“The different scenarios have played out in my head a million times.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. “Can we please talk about this when I’m not busy? I have to get these completed and I want them to look their best. That isn’t going to happen if I’m upset about an asshole who isn’t even here anymore.”
“But he is here!” He motioned between us. “He’s right here standing in our way every fucking day.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as he stormed out. The slam of the door made me jump. I looked at the centerpieces in front of me. Mick was right about one thing. There either wouldn’t have been a wedding or there would’ve been a different florist. We all wouldn’t have survived that day.
Carl hired some guys to help transport the flowers to the church and the reception hall. I only had to do the finishing touches on the centerpieces and was able to head over to the church to help Drew earlier than I planned, had it only been Mick and me. Carl had his good moments. I only hoped Dennis finally came around to see it. I wanted to make the flowers for Rachael’s wedding next.
Drew bumped me with her shoulder. “What’s that smile for?”
“I’m happy for you and Rachael. I can’t wait to get started on her wedding.”
“Why do you think she’s dragging her feet on a date?”