After repeated attempts to get me to the strip club, we end up at Wild’s at our usual table.
“Trying to get me drunk?” I ask, as Jack sets down three pitchers of beer and Maverick follows with a dozen shots.
“A little truth serum,” Leo states, resting both elbows on the table.
“I already told you guys everything.” Or everything I’m going to tell them.
“What I don’t understand is why she would ask you instead of me?” Ash asks, sounding genuinely miffed.
Laughing, I grab one of the shots and toss it back.
“I think it’s dope,” Maverick says. “I can see you two together.”
“Sure, Jade’s great,” Jack says. “But you don’t need to marry her. Date, talk, hook up, whatever. Marriage is forever, or at least the paperwork is.”
“How’s this going to work when you two part ways?” Tyler asks. “Piper and Scarlett are tight with Jade. You’re my teammate. It’s a tangled web.”
“I appreciate the concern, but it’s misguided. I’m helping her out, that’s all.”
The guys stare at me in disbelief.
I don’t owe them an explanation, but I give them one anyway. “I understand her and the situation. I’ve been where she is. When I was playing in the minor league, I worked two side jobs to keep myself afloat, all while busting my ass to get the call up. Times were tough, and like Jade, I didn’t have family that could help me out if things went sideways.”
Silence falls over the table.
“Fuck, man. I’m sorry,” Leo says.
“I understand her, and it feels good to help someone now that everything is solid in my life.” I finally feel like I’m getting some acceptance and understanding out of them.
A grin takes over Ash’s face. “Okay, but what about sex?”
“Oh yeah. How’s that gonna work? Are you going to consummate the marriage or work out some other system?” Mav’s eyes light up. “Or do you put a sock on the front door when you bring a chick back?”
In truth, I hadn’t thought about sex, or the possible lack thereof, with this arrangement. So I say, “It’s just one year.”
The next day, I get up early, go for a run, and then decide to rip out the vanity in the upstairs guest bathroom. I already took out the huge jet-tub that was taking up a huge section of the room. It’s a big space but the setup is awkward and all the finishings are seriously dated.
I carry everything out to the construction dumpster in the driveway. The neighborhood is quiet. I stare over at Leo and Scarlett’s house, but can’t detect any movement. The girls are probably already at the resort.
Back inside, I glance at the time and then curse under my breath. Showing up late today would be very bad.
After a shower, I pack and hit the road. The wedding is at a resort about twenty minutes away on the lake. As I drive up, there’s a big wooden sign with the word WEDDING and an arrow pointing off to the right.
I park my car and watch as two women carry floral arrangements into the barn, where we’re holding the ceremony and reception. The nerves finally hit. I’m getting married today. Never really thought it’d happen for me. And even as unconventional as this situation is, it’s not all unease I feel as I step out of my car.
The guys are waiting for me in the dressing room, which is really just a suite in the resort. Leo and Tyler are standing up with me today, but Jack and Ash are here too.
“The man of the day,” Ash says, and claps me on the shoulder.
Someone pops champagne, and while I get dressed in the tux Jade sent over, it’s all smiles and laughs. They may not completely understand my reasons for going through with this, but they’re here and that means more than they know.
Thirty minutes before the ceremony is supposed to start, a blonde with a headset comes by to tell us it’s time to head down to the barn.
For the first time since I volunteered for this, I have a moment of indecision. A million what-ifs race through my mind. What if we’re both miserable? What if it impacts my career somehow? What if, what if, what if.
The guys file out of the room. Leo is the last one, and he holds the door open for me. “Ready?”
When I hesitate, his expression almost seems relieved that I may not go through with this.
“Do you know where the girls are? I want to talk to Jade before we head down.”
“Fifth floor, suite at the end of the hall, but you can’t see her before the wedding. It’s bad luck.”
Laughing quietly, I push past him. “I’ll see you down there.”
I take the stairs up two floors, and as soon as I step into the hallway, I can hear them. I knock twice, but no one answers. I lift my hand to knock again, and I start to say, “Hello?” but the word gets caught in my throat as the door opens and I spot Jade.
Her profile is to me. Red hair hangs in curls over her shoulder and a white veil, kind of like the one she had on at the bachelorette party, sits on the crown of her head. Her mom is teary-eyed as Piper zips up the back of the white dress.
Jade turns at my voice, and it’s like a punch to the gut. Simple diamond stud earrings catch the light. Her gaze drops to take me in and a slow smile spreads across her face.
Scarlett gasps and steps in front of me, blocking Jade from view and shutting the door on me.
“You can’t see her in the dress. It’s bad luck,” she screeches.
“I just need a minute with Jade,” I say through the door.
A second later, it opens again, and my soon-to-be wife appears.
“Hi. Is everything okay?” She looks past me, then steps out into the hall. The shoes she’s wearing put her almost at eye level and her red mouth is close and tempting. “I sent over the signed prenup this morning.”
“Yeah. I got it. Everything is good.”
“Oh.” She glances over her shoulder at her mom and friends, then lowers her voice. “Then, why are you here? You’re dooming this marriage.”
I get an eye roll out of her that breaks loose the knot in my stomach.
Sliding my hand into my pants pocket, I wrap my fingers around the velvet box and pull it out.
“What is this?” she asks, when I hold it out to her.
“I heard, I mean, I read that it’s tradition for the groom to get the bride a gift on their wedding day.”
She stares at me wide-eyed. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
Hesitantly, she opens the box and then squeaks her surprise. “Oh my god, Declan. Is this real?”
“I hope so.” I chuckle as she stares at the diamond necklace.
“Is it a rental?”
I can’t decide if she’s kidding or not. “No.”
“You bought this for me?”
“Umm… yes.”
“Declan, it’s stunning, but I can’t accept this. You’ve already done so much.”
“I want you to have it. Do you like it?”
Her eyes widen. “Are you kidding? I love it. It’s the nicest gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Help me put it on?” She lifts it from the box, unclasps the hook, and drapes it around her slender neck.
I close the distance between us and clasp the necklace in place. She rests a hand over the diamonds and steps back.
“No kissing until after the vows,” her mom yells from the other side of the door.
“I better get back in there.”
“Yeah.” I put my hands back in my pockets.
She grabs the doorknob and pauses before going inside. “Last chance to back out of this.”
It’s a final out. Maybe one I should take.
But instead, I say, “You look beautiful. I’ll see you down there.”
