Chapter 32
Thursday
Matt
“What are you guys whispering about?” I asked as I stared at Rob and Brooklyn.
“Nothing important, man,” Rob said. “Ugh, speaking of nothing important.” He glared at Tanner getting up from the couch and joining us.
“Thank you for doing all this,” Brooklyn said to Tanner. “These decorations are amazing.”
Tanner smiled. “I’m glad you like them. Nigel really wanted live turkeys, and I’m usually an animal guy, but not when we’re eating turkey for dinner.”
Brooklyn laughed.
“The decorations are like mediocre at best,” Rob said. “If you had let me throw your rehearsal dinner they would have been epic.”
Brooklyn shook her head. “I don’t think I like your idea of epic, Rob. But this is perfect, Tanner.”
Rob’s eyebrows lowered. “Perfect and Tanner don’t really belong in the same sentence.”
I sighed. “I know you have manners, Rob. Maybe try and use them?”
“I reserve my right to use manners for people who aren’t liars.”
I cleared my throat and hit him with a hard stare.
Rob just shrugged. “Fine. I will say…this is better than what we used to have to do as kids. My parents always made us go to the Pruitts’ place on Thanksgiving. It was horrible.”
“Was Richard not hospitable toward you?” Tanner asked.
“I mean…he was.”
“Oh.” Tanner tapped his index finger on his lips. “Was it perhaps possible that you were just a bad dinner guest? And increasingly rude to the host?”
Rob lowered his eyebrows again. “I’m a great guest. The best guest.”
“Then maybe be kind to the host, Rob,” Brooklyn said. “Like…really kind. Like don’t do anything weird to his home.”
Rob laughed. “You’re hilarious, Sanders.” He threw his arm around her shoulders and then whispered something in her ear again. “Actually, we’re going to go circulate because someone can’t be trusted alone right now,” he said and pulled Brooklyn away from me.
What the hell was he doing? And who was he saying couldn’t be trusted? Tanner?
Tanner shook his head. “Boys will be boys.”
“He’s older than you,” I said.
Tanner laughed. “He certainly doesn’t act like it.”
“Fair.”
I watched Rob and Brooklyn making the rounds, saying hi to everyone. It was like Rob was trying to commandeer my role here.
Penny walked over to us. “Hey, Tanner. Your home is amazing. I didn’t think apartments in New York City could even be this big.”
Tanner smiled. “Thank you. And this isn’t even the main living area.”
What was he talking about? I was pretty sure we were standing in his living room.
“I’m definitely going to need a tour after dinner,” Penny said.
Tanner suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. Probably because he didn’t like people poking around just as much as Nigel didn’t. Something about snoopers getting burned. I really needed to ask him about that. But I wasn’t sure Penny noticed his apprehension. She just smiled and turned to me.
“I got you something,” she said. “It’s just this small thing. Don’t worry, we got you a real wedding present too.” She handed me a velvet box.
“Are you proposing to me right now?” I asked with a smile.
She laughed. “Just open it, Matt.”
I flipped open the lid. There was a set of plain silver cufflinks. “Thanks,” I said. I looked back down at her.
“For James’ wedding present to me, he got a tattoo of the date he met me.”
“I remember,” I said.
“And I was just thinking about that a lot over the last few weeks, with your wedding coming up and everything. And you’re one of my best friends, Matt. You always made me feel so welcome here in New York. Even though you were struggling.” She started blinking fast, holding back tears. “I feel so awful about how much pain you were in and you faced it all alone. I wish you had let me in sooner, but I understand why you didn’t. I just…I want you to know how much I appreciate you. How much I love you. Like a brother,” she quickly added with an awkward laugh. “I know it”s something old, new, borrowed, and blue for the bride. But I figured it was okay for you to have something new with a memory of old. And I just thought that you should have these. To remember.”
To remember what exactly?How much she loved me like a brother? I already knew that. And how was it new and old? I smiled at her. I didn’t really understand the gift. But unlike Rob, I did have manners. “Well, thank you so much,” I said. “These are great.” I snapped the lid closed.
She laughed and grabbed the box from my hands. “You didn’t even look at them.” She opened the lid back up, pulled one of the cufflinks out, and turned it over to show me the inscription. It was dated from Black Friday 16 years ago.
“The day your life stopped.” Penny dropped the cufflink in my hand and then pulled out the other. “And the day your life started again. When Brooklyn came back to you.” She dropped the second cufflink in my hand.
I stared at the second inscription. The date of the homecoming football game. I swallowed hard.
“I just thought that you fell in love with Brooklyn as a teenager. And you re-fell in love with her now. And it was important to have that be a part of you tomorrow. That you’re okay with both halves of your story. That you’re at peace with the past. Because you love every side of her. You always have and always will.”
“Thank you.” My throat suddenly felt all clogged up. I leaned down and hugged her. “These are perfect.” Penny had always been good at giving gifts. Even the silly tea kettle she gave me when I was single was great. Because Brooklyn loved tea. We used it almost every day now.
“I’m just so happy that you’re so happy, Matt.” She hugged me tight.
Tanner sniffed.
I pulled back and looked over at him.
He cleared his throat. “That’s a really nice gift, Penny.”
She smiled and then shook her head. “I didn’t mean to make everyone emotional. I just wanted you to have those for tomorrow. Everyone smile.”
I laughed and so did Tanner. But I pulled Penny into another hug. “Thank you, Penny. For always being there. And this gift really does mean the world to me. I don’t know what I would have done without you these past few years.”
“Stop, you’re going to make me cry.”
The flash of a camera made me turn my head.
Kennedy had snapped a picture of Penny and I hugging, both practically in tears.
Penny laughed and released me from her embrace. “Wait, Kennedy, can we have another where we’re smiling?”
“Of course,” Kennedy said. “Say cheese.”
Penny pulled Tanner into the frame, but he dodged out of it just as Kennedy snapped another photo.
Kennedy lowered her camera. “Tanner, I somehow missed you. Squeeze back in.”
“No, I’m good,” Tanner said and took a sip of his drink.
He was so weird about pictures.
Kennedy shrugged. “Matt, I’ve been trying to get one of you and Brooklyn together, but Rob keeps making me take pictures with him in them. Do you think maybe you could grab Brooklyn and pose in front of the tree?”
Seriously, what was Rob’s deal right now? “Yeah, I’ll go get her…” but my sentence was cut off when Nigel ran into the room.
“It’s time, it’s time!” Nigel declared. He lifted up an old-fashioned horn that looked like it was made from an actual animal horn. He blew it and the sound echoed around the room. Two waiters carried a huge platter overflowing with a strange variety of foods out of the kitchen. Followed by two more waiters with another huge platter. Followed by another set of waiters. They started placing the platters between the cornucopias and white pumpkins on the dining room table.
This was way too much food. And way too much seafood for Thanksgiving. But I was definitely curious about Nigel’s world famous biscuits.
Nigel hooked his arm through Kennedy’s and pulled her into the dining room with him. She started taking pictures of the tablescape.
I looked around for Brooklyn but she was already being escorted to the table by Rob. Seriously, what the hell, Rob? I started walking toward the dining room.
“Are you nervous for tomorrow?” my mom asked as she walked up beside me.
“Not even a little.”
She smiled and grabbed my arm to stop me from entering the dining room. “You’ve always known exactly what you wanted. And gone for it. Your father and I couldn’t be more proud of you, Matthew.” She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “And Brooklyn is absolutely glowing.”
She was definitely right about that. I watched as Rob pulled out Brooklyn’s chair for her and then sat down right next to her.
“Nana, Nana!” Jacob came running up to my mom.
I don’t think I’d ever seen my mom smile that big before. I hadn’t even realized she’d asked Jacob to call her that.
“Yes, my little prince?” she asked and crouched down in her expensive dress.
“Can I sit between you and my abuela?”
“Of course you can. Come with me.” She put her hand out.
Jacob grabbed it. My mom gave me one last smile and then led Jacob over to where Mrs. Alcaraz was already seated.
“It’s been 16 years since you showed up for Thanksgiving,” Mason said as he stepped up next to me. “This is one hell of a way to bring the tradition back.”
I smiled. “You know I’m fond of a grand gesture.”
Mason laughed and slapped my back. “Please tell me you’re not about to break out into song?”
“Definitely not.”
“Are you excited for mom and dad’s speech?”
“I didn’t realize they were giving one.” Mom had just given me a mini-speech already. Maybe she was testing out my reaction.
“Mhm,” Mason said. “So Brooklyn’s dad’s a no-show, huh? Maybe he’ll do that thing that James’ parents did at James and Penny’s rehearsal dinner. Just show up halfway very awkwardly.”
“Honestly, I hope he does. Brooklyn really wants him here.”
“Really?” Mason shrugged. “She has a bigger heart than the rest of us.”
I nodded. Mason had been with me the day I’d been told that Brooklyn had passed away. He’d seen how little her father had seemed to care. It was hard to shake off that memory. It was hard to move forward. I looked down at the velvet box in my hand. But we were moving forward. I put the box in my pocket. “I’ll be right back,” I said.
“What? Dinner is about to start…”
I hurried out of the room and went down the hall to what had been my bedroom while I was living here. I closed the door behind me. All my stuff was still here because Nigel refused to help me move out. I sat down on the edge of my bed, pulled out my phone, and hit Mr. Pruitt’s number.
I knew that Mr. Pruitt was out of cell phone reception or something. But if there was a small chance that he could get reception…I wanted him to hear from me too. The call went straight to voicemail.
I waited for the beep and took a deep breath. “Hi, Mr. Pruitt. It’s Matt. Brooklyn really wants you at the wedding tomorrow. It would mean the world to her.” I clenched my jaw. This was harder than I thought it would be. “And I really want you there.” I clenched my jaw again. “I know we’re not on the best terms. But I want to move forward. I know you were trying to protect Brooklyn 16 years ago. And even though I don’t agree with what you did, I do understand wanting to protect her. I…” my voice trailed off.
I took another deep breath. “I do believe that you love Brooklyn. But you’ve been doing it in all the wrong ways. If you show up tomorrow though? You’ll finally be doing something right. She wants you to walk her down the aisle. She wants her father there.”
This was not coming out right. I wasn’t trying to reprimand him. I was trying to convince him to show up for once in his fucking life. And if we were ever going to be a family, I knew what I needed to say. If Brooklyn was able to forgive her father, so could I. “I want to leave the past in the past. I want to move forward starting right now. So I just want you to know that I forgive you for the past 16 years, even though you put me through hell. I forgive you, Mr. Pruitt.”
There. It was done. I exhaled slowly. Actually, that felt damn good. “Please come to the wedding tomorrow. We want you there.” I tried to think of anything else I could say to him that would make him come. “Your daughter needs you.” I ended the call.
“Dinner is ready.”
I jumped. I hadn’t seen Nigel walk in.
“Unless you need a pre-dinner bath?”
“I’m good,” I said and stood up. “I’m excited about everything you prepared.”
Nigel smiled. “Make sure to try the whole spread of wildfowl. I know how much you like your meats.”
“Mhm.”
“Everyone is already seated,” he said as we made our way out into the hall. “But Robert didn’t read the place cards and it’s all awry. And the kids aren’t at the kids’ table. And you and I aren’t even sitting at the head of the table together now. Should I reprimand Robert?”
“That’s okay, Nigel,” I said. “I need to sit with Brooklyn.”
“Ah yes, of course. But there are no empty seats near Brooklyn either.”
What the hell?I walked into the dining room. It didn’t look like any couples were seated together. Nigel was right. This was absolute chaos.
“Actually, Nigel,” I said. “Make everyone move.”
Nigel pulled his horn out of his back pocket and blew it. “Ladies and gentlemen, dinner shall not be served until you are in your proper seats. Please make your way to your place cards.” He blew his horn again.
And everyone actually got up and started moving around. The kids sat around the kids’ table, and all the couples started to sit down next to each other. But Rob leaned over the table, swapped his place card with someone else’s, and then sat back down next to Brooklyn.
I didn’t know what he was up to, but at least there was still an empty seat on the other side of Brooklyn.
“Thanks, Nigel,” I said.
Nigel nodded. “All in a day’s work.” He made his way over to the kids’ table and sat down.
Why was he sitting… Never mind. Whatever made him happy. I sat down in the empty seat next to Brooklyn. “Hey, baby.”
She smiled up at me, but it wasn’t one of her normal carefree smiles. She looked nervous. “Hey.” She pressed her lips together, like she was forcing herself not to say anything else.
“Is everything alright?”
“Everything is fine,” Rob said and leaned forward so I could see him. “Brooklyn and I are having a marvelous evening.”
“Why are you being so weird?” I asked.
“Why are you being so weird?” he said back.
“Everyone dig in!” Nigel yelled from the kids’ table.
Mason laughed. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” He started to serve himself and then everyone else followed suit.
Brooklyn didn’t put any food on her plate though.
“You were looking forward to turkey all day,” I said. “Is your stomach bothering you again?”
“Mhm,” Rob said and leaned forward. “She was just telling me that.”
“Do you want more ginger ale?” I asked, ignoring Rob.
She shook her head, her face growing more pale.
I was getting worried that she was going to throw up on her plate. But she’d barely eaten anything today. I wasn’t sure she had anything in her stomach to throw up.
“Do you think it’s time?” Rob asked.
“No,” Brooklyn hissed.
“Yeah…let’s wait a bit.”
“Time for what?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Rob said and winked at me.
Why was he winking at me? What the hell was going on? “Baby, you really need to eat something.” I served her some turkey and mashed potatoes. “Please. For me.”
She lifted up her fork and Rob slapped the utensil out of her hand.
“What the hell are you doing?” I said. “She needs to eat.”
“Psh. She doesn’t need that.”
I glared at him. “What the hell does that mean?” Was he calling Brooklyn fat or something? She was pregnant and she was hardly even showing yet. I was going to kill him.
“Sanders knows I think she’s hot. Cut it out, Matt.”
Ineeded to cut it out? I put my hand on Brooklyn’s thigh and leaned in so I could whisper in her ear. “Blink twice if you’re under duress.”
She finally laughed and looked up at me, the worry momentarily gone from her eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” I lowered my voice even more. “If Rob is bothering you…”
“He’s not. I just… I mean he just…” she shook her head. “I honestly don’t think anything could ruin this night, no matter how hard anyone tries.”
Rob really did seem to be trying.
“You know, this is a first for me,” Brooklyn said with a smile.
“Your first rehearsal dinner.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Hmm.” I was starting to like the idea of being her last everything. Because she definitely wasn’t going to be having another one of these.
“And I’m going to enjoy myself.” Brooklyn took a bite of mashed potatoes and audibly sighed around her spoon.
Fuck.Now all I could picture were her lips wrapped around my cock instead.
“God, I was so hungry.” She cut off a piece of turkey and put it in her mouth. She moaned around the meat.
She’d definitely be doing that around my cock later.
“I tried to warn you, Sanders,” Rob said. “But I am kind of curious about this eel.” He stabbed his fork into the slimy eel on one of the platters. But the fork didn’t penetrate it and the eel rolled off the side of the platter.
“Don’t make a mess, Rob,” I said.
He chuckled. “Oh, I would hardly classify this as a mess. Just wait for it.”
What the hell did he mean by that? But I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Rob loved to say that. Right before he did something stupid. I took a deep breath. I was going to kill him if he messed up this dinner.