by Rayman Black
“Very,” she agreed. “Especially when I see how happy you are, too.”
I still smiled, but my laughter faded. Was I happy? “What do you mean” I asked curiously, but I thought maybe I already knew.
“With Chris,” she said. “You look good together, and for what it’s worth, I think the world of him. He’s close with Kevin, so I know him more than some of the other guys from the station. You can’t find a better guy anywhere.” She laughed again, turning toward Kevin. “Except maybe my husband.”
She twined her arms around him, and I thought about her words. She wasn’t wrong, I realized with surprise. I was happy. There was something about Chris that had me forgetting about my stupid feud with my friends. Talking to him, touching him, had distracted me from my empty loneliness, and I forgot I was supposed to be pretending. I wasn’t sure when I had felt like this before. Maybe never.
“Come with me,” his voice whispered from behind me. I jumped, surprised, and he laughed softly. I felt his hand on my elbow, tugging me away. “Just over here. I want to show you something.” He pulled me over to a vending machine that dispensed wedding favors instead of snacks. He fed it some coins and punched some numbers. Something small and silver dropped from a row and he reached in the bottom to fish it out. He dropped to one knee in front of me, holding his prize cupped in one hand and cradling my hand with his other.
“I know this is crazy,” he said, smiling impishly. “But I’m crazy about you. I may not know everything about you now, but I can’t imagine anything better than getting to know you more every day for forever. Will you marry me? Here, now, with our friends with us?” He opened his hand and showed me a small toy ring.
I grinned and cupped his face in my hands. “It was pretty good sex, wasn’t it?” I asked.
He laughed and took my hand, sliding the ring onto my third finger. “Yes, it absolutely was,” he agreed. “And I would like to have a lot more of it. Say yes, Katie. We’re going to be good together, I know it.”
I looked down at him, his eyes amused but still with an iron core that said he wasn’t totally joking. Could I do it? I wondered, watching him. Could I marry Chris? Now? I thought maybe I could. If ever there was a guy you could trust, it was Chris. I really wanted to trust.
“Okay,” I said, closing my hand and looking at my new ring. “Let’s get married.”
He whooped, jumping to his feet and lifting me into his arms. He swung me around until I screamed with laughter.
“We’re getting married, too!” he cried as our friends turned to see what the hell was wrong with us. I couldn’t say anything at all. I was too busy laughing.
Now I felt nausea roiling inside me, threatening to boil up my throat. What in the name of all that was holy was I thinking? Get married in a fucking Las Vegas chapel, to a man I only met yesterday? I could clearly see I was insane, and I briefly wondered why my friends hadn’t had me locked up years before.
My friends! What the fuck had they been doing last night, letting me get drunk married in the first place? I could understand being swept away in the romance of the actual, legitimate wedding that happened last night, too, but wasn’t there a limit to how far they would let romantic sensibility take them?
Asks the woman who married a stranger because she felt an emotional connection when they were shitfaced together? I thought tartly. You’re in no position to judge anyone. Oh, God. I have to get out of here.
The need to leave dawned sudden and fierce, provoking an almost panicked feeling. I didn’t know what would happen if Chris woke up and found me here, but now it was for an entirely different set of reasons. I needed to not be here when he woke up. I needed to figure out what the fuck I was going to do. I needed Lori.
I flipped the bathroom light off before I opened the door and slipped out. Forget finding my underwear. Chris could keep them, if they were anywhere around. I opened the door to the hallway as quietly as I could, pausing every few seconds to make sure I hadn’t been heard, that he hadn’t woken up. It was like being sixteen all over again and sneaking out of my parents’ house. I winced every time the door creaked, but finally I was in the hall, padding quickly down the hallway. I glanced at the room numbers as I passed and figured out I was two floors above my own room. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long for an elevator. I sent Lori a text as I waited for the doors to open again.
Wake up please! I need you right now. See you in five.
I hoped she had stayed in her own room last night.
6
Kevin
Click.
I sat straight up, instantly awake and heart pounding. Who was there? What happened? I listened to the silence pounding in my ears and waited, but nothing else stirred. What had woken me? Whatever it was, it was gone now. Or maybe I had imagined it.
I leaned over and flipped on the light, surveying the room critically. It was clear I was pretty trashed when I got in last night. Clothes were strewn from the door to the bed. Towels lay in a heap on the floor by the bathroom door. Bits of paper and pocket debris were spread across the top of the dresser. It wasn’t terrible, but considering I was a bit of a nut about putting things back where they belonged, it was an accurate indication of my drunken mental state last night.
It was clear I wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon, despite the early hour, so I got out of bed and stretched my arms overhead. Might as well get moving. There was a coffee pot in the room, thank the Lord and all his angels. In moments, the fragrant scent of fresh coffee filled the room.
I poured a cup and sat on one of the richly upholstered chairs, gazing out the window. The sky outside showed the first signs of pale streaks. I sipped my coffee, watching the day grow gradually brighter. My mind was a quiet and peaceful blank. The day brightened and the caffeine did its thing in my bloodstream. I noticed an odd satiated feeling inside me. I smiled foolishly at nothing, not sure why I felt so satisfied but not really caring much, either.
Then I saw a flash of black silk peeking out from under the bed, and I couldn’t believe I had forgotten even for a second. Katie Halls. I remembered the feel of her hair in my hands, the glide of her skin under my fingers. How could I forget her pleasured cries as I drove her to orgasm against a goddamn door in a casino bathroom? I remembered bringing her back here, too, even if those memories were hazier. Something had happened last night, before we made it back here, because somehow we had kept drinking after the tequila. And hadn’t we seen everyone else, too? But she had been here with me after whatever it was. I could almost see her.
She laughed and pushed me down on the bed. “You just lay there and watch,” she said. Slowly, an inch at a time, she pushed the straps of her dress off her shoulders and down her arms, keeping me in her gaze. The light material sank gracefully to the floor, looking so exactly how I had imagined it at the bar that I nearly groaned. I needed my hands on her. She stepped from the puddle of fabric and stood before me, glorious in black silk and heels.
“Do you want me to take them off?” she asked, her hands skimming up and down her sides. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “Or do you want to do it yourself?”
I sat up and reached for her, pulling her down to the bed with me. “Keep the heels,” I said, capturing her mouth. “I’ll handle the rest.”
And I had, trailing my mouth in the wake of the silk brushing against her skin. I looked around the room. Where did she go? Hell, when did she go? I was pretty drunk last night, I admitted to myself, and I knew there were important things I was forgetting, but if I remembered her being here, wouldn’t I remember if she had left? Other than her apparently forgotten underwear, there was no sign she was ever here.
I leaned down and tugged the silk out. I remembered taking these panties off her long, smooth legs and felt all the blood drain from my head in a rush. It was needed elsewhere. I had to find her. Wherever she was, I wanted to see her again, and not just because her cries of pleasure rang in my head, though I wouldn’t mind another chance to make her so
und like that if I could get it. There was a connection with her, one I couldn’t shake. It sounded crazy, but I felt a kind of calm with her that I didn’t experience with anyone else. I felt a stillness inside last night, a lightening of the burdens I carried while I was with her. It was extraordinary, unforgettable. Was it the woman, the alcohol, or the heady combination of the two? My bet was on the woman. I had to find her and discover if I was right.
Restless now, I set the coffee cup on the dresser. It was too early to try to track her down, especially considering I didn’t even know what hotel she was staying in. But I could at least clean up the room a bit. Maybe that would settle my nerves. I scooped up a pile of stuff from the dresser, tossing my wallet and keys on top of my duffel bag. My eyes fell on Joshua’s bag, and for the first time I wondered where he had spent the night. This was supposed to be his room, too, but he clearly hadn’t come back to it last night. He wouldn’t, with Katie here. Jesus, how much had I had last night? First I forgot Katie, and now Joshua, too? With one deep gulp I drained my coffee. Maybe the caffeine would reconnect my circuits. I picked up my phone and sent Joshua a text.
Where the fuck are you?
I had barely set it down again and turned my attention to the scattered clothes when it dinged an incoming message.
Good morning, sleeping beauty. Your princess wake you with a kiss? God knows you were getting a lot of them last night.
I felt heat rise inside me. So that part was memory, too, and not a dream like I half-imagined it was. Katie and I really hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other, regardless of who could see us. I imagined her mouth, moving under mine. God, I had to quit thinking about her.
Where did you stay last night? I wrote back. Last night’s a black hole in some places, but you’re not here and neither is Katie. When you coming back to the room? I have questions.
I managed to get half the clothes picked up and folded before his answer came in.
On the elevator dude.
A couple minutes later I heard the electronic whir as the locks disengaged and Joshua walked in. He wasn’t alone. The pretty brunette girl from last night was with him, holding his hand. I guessed that cleared up the mystery of Joshua’s accommodations last night. I raised my eyebrow and he grinned at me.
“This is Judith,” he said, pulling her forward slightly. She smiled sweetly, a slight blush staining her cheeks pink. Her blue eyes were bright. “She was kind enough to put me up last night.” They exchanged glances, and I tried to hide a smile. It seemed Katie and I weren’t the only ones who had found an unexpected hometown connection in the desert.
“It’s nice to finally meet you properly, Judith,” I said. I gestured to the chairs grouped conversationally by the window. “Come in and sit. Do you want any coffee?”
She glanced at Joshua again and sat next to the window. “No thanks. We were just thinking of going to find some breakfast.”
“Yeah, we can’t stay long,” Joshua agreed, sitting in the chair across from hers. “But we’ll catch up with you later. Where’s Katie?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I was hoping maybe you could help me find her. I remember some parts of last night, and I’m pretty sure I remember her being here at the end of it. But when I woke up, she was gone.”
Judith and Joshua looked at one another, but this time something about it made me uneasy. “How much of last night do you remember?” Joshua asked me.
“Most, I think,” I said, then shrugged. “How do you measure what you don’t know? I remember the bar,” Jesus, what an understatement. I would never forget it. “And I remember being here. What else happened?”
“Do you remember the chapel?” Judith asked. A tiny frown line appeared between her brows.
I stared at her blankly. “What chapel?”
Joshua closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hand. “No. Just no. It’s too early for this.” He pushed from his chair and crossed to the coffee pot. “I changed my mind. I think I’ll need to have a cup. Do you mind if we wait a few more minutes for our breakfast?” he asked Judith.
She shook her head. “We can’t just leave now,” she said. “It would be cruel not to tell him. Besides, I need to know about Katie. I may need to go find her.”
“Tell me what?” I asked, trepidation crawling its way up my back. “What’s wrong with Katie? Did something terrible happen last night?”
“No,” Judith said. “Not terrible. Weddings are never terrible, are they? Well, I mean I guess they could be, but usually not.”
“Wait, are you telling me Kevin and Sabrina got married last night? Holy shit, that’s great,” I exclaimed. It surprised me, of course, because weren’t they getting married in just a few months, anyway? But I couldn’t really blame them, either. I mean, why wait? Why not elope to Vegas instead?
Joshua closed his eyes and sounded like he was muttering a litany of curses under his breath. Judith looked like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to laugh or cry. The burst of surprised joy for my friends drained away like the plug was pulled and fear slicked my skin again.
“Okay, what am I missing?” I demanded. “Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me. I mean, how bad could it be?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Joshua said slowly. “I guess that depends on why Katie left this morning, and why you don’t know where she is right now. Do you remember anything about the chapel?”
I thought hard, straining my memory as much as I could. There was nothing there, just a soft gray fuzz of blank. “No,” I said finally. “I don’t remember the chapel at all. Except maybe a - blue loveseat?” I looked up at them, puzzled. “Is that a real memory?”
Judith laughed. “Yeah, that was real. I hope we didn’t break it.”
Joshua grinned at her. “It seemed pretty solid still when we got off it, don’t worry.” He turned his attention back to me. “Yeah, you’re right, Kevin and Sabrina did get married. We all went with them, of course, and Lori and Thomas were their witnesses. But there was a second wedding, too, one that was a bigger surprise than the first.” His eyes remained level on mine. “Judith and I were the witnesses for yours.”
“Jesus Christ,” I breathed, sitting down suddenly on the edge of the bed. “Are you saying I married Katie last night? That she married me?” I asked, feeling oddly light-headed.
Joshua slapped me on the back. “Yeah, bro. That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
Judith cleared her throat softly. “I think I may have to take a raincheck on breakfast. If Katie isn’t here, that means she’s probably back in our room. We may have just missed her. I have to find her, make sure she’s okay. What if she doesn’t remember, either?”
Disappointment flickered over Joshua’s face, followed quickly by understanding. He smiled and reached over to link his fingers with hers. “Of course you’ve got to find her. Let me know when you do, okay? We want to know she’s okay, too.” He glanced at me worriedly. “It looks like I’m going to have my hands full here for awhile.”
I felt strangely detached from everything, even as I watched Joshua walk Judith to the door. Their soft voices were an indistinct murmur in the background of my racing thoughts. Where did Katie go? Is she okay? I wondered. Does she remember? Is she as freaked out as I am? The odd thing was, I wasn’t actually as freaked out as I thought maybe I should be. Mixed with the disbelief was a kind of warm glow, a layer of satisfied joy that bubbled like a geyser in my chest.
Katie Halls married me last night. That beautiful woman from the bar is my wife.
I went to the debris of paper on the dresser and found our marriage certificate. I held it in my hands and sat down again, smoothing the crumpled edges. Bits and pieces of memory were coming back now. I thought back to what I remembered most clearly, which was returning to the bar after our bathroom adventure. I remembered the tequila, and the anticipation of bringing her back here to continue what we started, and the keen disappointment of delayed gratification when our friends came up and circ
led us at the bar. There was happiness and surprise, too, when Kevin and Sabrina shared their plan to elope, here and now, while we were in Vegas.
The way to the chapel was still a blur, and I didn’t recall actually arriving there. My next clear memory was watching our friends join their lives together, my arms wrapped around Katie’s strong, slim body. She felt so fragile in my arms, even as I felt the smooth, tight band of muscle around her middle. A fierce need to protect her swept over me, to keep her safe from whatever would threaten her. There was tenderness, too, all mixed up with attraction and desire and a genuine fondness for this spitfire woman with the sad green eyes.
She wasn’t sad at all when she regarded me by the vending machine later. I got down on one knee, I remembered, relieved. Even as drunk as I was, if my fuzzy memory was to be believed, I still gave her a decent proposal along with the toy ring. Was she still wearing it? I wondered suddenly. Just what had she thought when she found it on her hand? Is that why she left without a word? A trickle of unease crept up my back. If Judith didn’t contact Joshua, I would call her myself. I needed to know Katie was okay.
Joshua closed the door, but didn’t resume his seat immediately. He poured the last of the coffee and handed it to me, then busied himself with brewing more. He didn’t speak and I was thankful for the silence. Memories were flooding in now, hazy and disjointed at times but still there. It was hard to keep up with all the images, to process all of it at once this way. I stared at the early morning through the window, trying to sort out how I felt.
Finally, Joshua sat down with his back to the window and regarded me curiously. “What’s the top thing in your mind?” he asked. “Right now, without thinking about your answer.”
“I need to find Katie,” I said immediately. “Followed closely by, what the fuck?”
Joshua laughed. “Yeah, man, I admit I had that same thought last night. Like, what the fuck are you doing? I tried to talk to you before, but you were adamant. Kept saying you’d found the one, even if you weren’t old enough. You thought that was pretty funny.”