21. Michael
The groomsmen are all gathered and waiting for my brother to come out in his tux.
When he finally does, he does a theatric cat walk with one hand in his pocket.
His bros all pump him full of compliments. And when we turns to me, arms holding open the lapels and waiting for my reaction, I tell him, “You look like an idiot, white’s not your color.”
He drops his excited look. “I didn’t pick it, bro. It was Lillian’s idea. White for being made new.”
I nearly gag. Of course, Lillian would want to make a spectacle of my brother’s rebirth at their own wedding. The woman is a poster child for purity rings everywhere.
“That doesn’t mean you have to agree to it.”
“Yeah, well once you find the one you want to settle down with for the rest of your life. You’ll know exactly what it means to compromise.”
He says that like I wouldn’t have any idea what compromise is. If he only knew my day to day is a living breathing example of compromise. The woman I want for the rest of my life won’t settle down. Therefore, I compromised.
I’m not too proud of accepting the title of fuck buddy. But this is Libby O’Connor we’re talking about. I’ll take the scraps from her table if she’ll give them to me.
And lately, she’s been giving me more than scraps. She gives me a feast.
I love feeling her writhing beneath me, begging me to take her. And she loves that I dominate her the way no one else can.
We have a symbiotic relationship. It works, for now.
The guys are taking turns getting their measurements when my brother drops into the empty seat next to me.
“So… any word from Cassidy Jones?” He asks.
“Did Lillian send you to spy on her behalf?”
He shakes his head, “Nope. It was mom.”
I swipe a hand over my face.
“Well, you can tell both of them that I don’t need help finding a girlfriend.”
“Because you already did?” He asks lowering his voice to a whisper. “Let me guess, she’s a fiery little red head that you can’t be seen in public with?”
I look over at him. “What are you talking about?”
“I read some of the articles that came out. About that charity date. Those pictures looked like a little more than just a pity date though. Tell me… have you seen the butterfly yet?”
Red hot rage curls into the pit of my stomach at the mention of that birthmark.
But I do my best to tame it. Especially since it’s my turn to get my suit fitted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I get up from the chair and try to swallow down the bile rising into my throat.
Jonah looks at his three groomsmen. “Y’all are done. Go ahead and save us a table for lunch, will ya?”
They all agree. His little posse of yes man.
He turns his attention back to me once they’ve walked out.
“Michael,” he says holding his forehead like he has a headache. “Before things get any further. You need to know something.”
I’m still fighting the bile so I don’t say anything, but I watch him in the mirror. His gaze meets mine.
“Libby… is dangerous. She’s not to be trusted. Look what happened to her uncle. He was a criminal, Michael. A known criminal. A murderer. And I can’t say much but I need you to know this. That apple, definitely hasn’t fallen far from the tree.”
“And I’m just supposed to take your word for it. Is that right?” I grit out.
“Consider it a warning from a brother that loves you,” he slaps me on the back. “Anyways, I know you’re not fucking. You would know about the butterfly if you were.”
He shrugs and walks to the exit. “See you at lunch.”
With him gone, I can finally breathe, but my hands are shaking when I reach for my phone and dial her number.