Chapter 10
GARRETT
The question I’ve asked myself for the last thirty minutes is, can I escape to my hotel room with no one noticing? The happy couple is…happy. The usual people are drunk. And a few not-so-usual people. Someone should really take Mrs. Weppler home, or at least help her off the table.
But why go sit in a hotel room wallowing in pity and loneliness?
I could do that any time. Have done that.
I love my job, but right now, if I took my future and stretched it out so I could see from one end to the other, it would be filled with nothing else.
I had the BC: Before Christy. And now the AC: After Christy.
Maybe I shouldn’t have had that last beer.
The wall thrums with the music as people cheer along with a party song that requires participation.
As everyone goes lower and higher, I try to feel less pathetic.
Leaning against the wall by myself seems less pathetic than sitting at a table by myself.
One invites conversation. The other does not. Or so I thought.
Is it too late to run outside or escape to the restroom? Memories of that particular stall have me wishing I’d gone back to the hotel when I had the chance.
Isaac leans against the wall beside me. “Don’t do it, man.”
“Do what?” I gulp the rest of my beer. I don’t particularly want it, but it gives me something to do with my hands.
He shrugs. “Run away. I think wedding etiquette requires you to talk to the groom.”
“Did you get that from Zye?”
Isaac downs his beer, takes my empty bottle from me, and throws them both in the recycling bin a few feet away. The crowd shouts again. And again. Isaac grins at me.
“We’re brothers now!” His entire face lights up, erasing the usual worry lines in his forehead. Is that happiness? Or the alcohol? “I’ve never had a brother before.”
He giggles. I’ve never heard Isaac giggle. But why shouldn’t he be happy? He has a wife who loves him. A child on the way. His whole life is ahead of him.
“Me either. Just sisters. But I’m happy to call you my brother, Isaac.”
“We’re brothers.” He giggles some more and leans his head back against the wall, watching me with a goofy smile. A thought or something hits him because he stands and then wobbles a little. I reach out to steady him. He grabs my arm, nodding his head. “And brothers share things.”
I laugh. “Things?”
“Yeah. Why are you by yourself? You could be spending time with Christy.”
“What? Why would I— Aidyn and I—” I force myself to stop talking.
“Hey, it’s cool. I know what it’s like to have a crush on someone.” His eyes widen. “Oh my God. I need to stop drinking. And talking.”
I knew about Isaac’s crush on me. He and Jane were freshmen in high school, and I’d already graduated. He hadn’t hidden it well.
But that isn’t what’s caught my attention.
“I don’t have a crush on Aidyn Christy.”
He holds his hands up. “Got it. Not a crush.” His words and movements are exaggerated by alcohol. “You’ve been in love with the guy for like ever.”
“What? No— Keep your voice down.”
“Oh, sorry,” he says in a loud whisper and puts his finger in front of his lips. “Shh. It’s a secret.”
“No…” Is that worse? Or having him think it’s not a secret?
The song ends and the music stops. The quiet rings through the building. The microphone squawks, and the DJ—one of Zye’s friends—taps on it. “Excuse me. If anyone has any requests, let me know.”
Isaac’s eyes shine with excitement. “You should—”
I put my hand over his mouth before he can whisper the words. It’s not easy to drag him outside, but I somehow manage it.
The night air clings to me, but it’s better than Isaac trying to be quiet and announcing my secrets to the entire town.
“I appreciate your help. I do. But nothing is happening between Christy and me.”
Isaac scrunches his face and slaps my chest. “Duh. Christy is straight.”
Part of me wants to tell Isaac he’s wrong. Tell the town they’re wrong. Oh God. Does everyone in town think I have a crush on Aidyn? I can’t think about that right now.
“But, dude, he’s still your friend.” He pokes my chest with his finger.
“Don’t deny it. I saw the two of you earlier.
And that’s not as good as him being in love with you because…
you know…sex.” He whispers the last word, even though we’re the only ones out here, and giggles like a teenager.
Although I’ve never heard Isaac giggle, even as a teen. He laughs so hard he almost falls down.
I grab his arms. “Steady now.”
I shake my head, but I can’t help grinning.
How could anyone not smile at a drunk and giggling Isaac?
The man is usually so serious. Nerdy—he has an autographed picture of Leonard Nimoy on his wall—but focused on the future.
On getting everything right. The man deserves to let loose now and then.
He’ll probably be twice as serious once his son is born.
“I’m steading—standing.” He waves his hand. “Whatever. Want to know a secret? But don’t tell Jane.”
Do I? Not really. If he remembers any of this tomorrow, he’ll be too embarrassed to ever talk to me again. But hopefully he won’t remember any of it. “No secrets tonight, Isaac. Tell me tomorrow.”
“I’ll chicken out tomorrow.”
I laugh. “Then you definitely shouldn’t tell me.”
“I’m…” He leans in closer, and I can smell rum on his breath. No wonder he’s drunk. “I’m going to be a father.”
A laugh bursts out of me. If you didn’t know, one look at the bride would tell you. “Bud, that’s not a secret.”
“I know. I’m going to have a son. A son.” He waves his hands in a what-now gesture.
“That’s not a secret either.” I should stop him before he says something he’ll regret. But this is more fun than wallowing in misery over Aidyn.
He scrunches his face, one hand on his head as he thinks. “It’s not?” Then his face clears, and he holds up a finger. “His name is…Simon.” His smile widens and happiness pours off him. He’s going to make a great dad.
But the baby’s name was a secret.
“I don’t think Jane—”
He grabs my arms. “Don’t tell her I told you. Okay?”
“I won’t.”
“She just gets these ideas, and there’s nothing you can do but go along. You know?”
“I do.” She was like that growing up.
“But it’s like I was telling you—like with Christy.”
“Christy?” I’m not following. But I’m not sure he knows or remembers what he was talking about.
“Dude. I thought we were brothers. Brothers listen to each other.”
“I’m trying, but I’ve had a bit to drink, so tell me again, okay?”
He grins and shrugs. “When you love someone, none of that matters. You love them even if they want to watch rom-coms instead of Star Trek. You’ll do anything just to spend time with them.”
I stare at the building like I can somehow see Aidyn through the brick walls. Is he inside being miserable? While I’m outside being miserable? God, I’m an idiot. I pull Isaac into a hug. Just a quick one. “Thanks, man.”
“That’s what brothers are for.” His grin falters for a second. “You do get it, right? Even if Aidyn wants to talk and bake stuff instead of sucking your—”
I slap my hand over his mouth. “I get it. But no more talking about it, okay?” He nods, and I remove my hand. “Although I do have one question.” This is probably a mistake. “How did you know? I mean, about me liking Christy?”
He smiles. “Jane told me.”
My heart tries to jump out of my chest. There’s no way Jane noticed. I love my sister, but she’s a little self-focused. So I ask the next question. “Who told Jane?”
He shrugs as if it’s nothing. “Emily.”
By the time I convince Isaac to go back inside and perhaps find his bride, the table Chisty was at is empty.
What did I expect? That he’d be sitting there, staring into his drink and thinking about me?
I wallow for another second or two and then shake out my hands.
My focus was on finding Aidyn and accepting whatever time we had together. And that hasn’t changed.
The room thins out as people leave. A slow song plays, and couples are dancing. I check the dancefloor. Not likely. Maybe he’s getting a drink. But when I turn, I get an armful of Lanie.
“Bye, Uncle Garrett. I’m sad I won’t get to have breakfast with you.”
“You won’t?” My stomach drops. Is Aidyn that upset? Wait… “Are you and your dad leaving?”
She laughs and playfully smacks my arm. “No, silly. I’m staying the night with Zoey.”
“Oh. Right. Have fun.”
“I told Da it was okay if you wanted to sleep in my room.”
“Wait, what—?”
“Don’t harass the man, Lanie.” As Aidyn comes up behind her, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and shrugs, a crooked smile on his mouth. “I canceled your hotel room, Garrett. It’s ridiculous for you to stay in a hotel when you could stay with family.”
“I…agree.”
“Oh, I think Zoey’s getting ready to leave. Bye, Uncle Garrett. Night, Da.” She hugs us both and runs off.
“I probably should have asked you first.”
I laugh. “You probably should have.” Emotion thickens my words. “It’s sweet.”
He scowls. “It’s practical.”
“Uh-huh.” I want to pull him into my arms. Kiss the blush on his cheeks.
“You can’t back out now,” he says in his usual gruff voice. “Lanie will hate me. But if you want to sleep in her room, that’s an option.” His guard is down. Exposing the vulnerability in his eyes. And the hope.
“Is there another option? Just so I can make an informed decision.”
He glances around, but no one is paying attention to us. He inches closer until we’re side by side. “I have another room. The bed is comfortable, but you’ll have to share it with a grumpy Irishman.”
“Hm. Any perks to this room?”
“Besides the grumpy Irishman?”
I laugh, keeping my eyes on the dancefloor and not Aidyn. “Yes, although it’s been a few hours and I kind of miss his…grumpiness.”
“I’m sorry, Garrett. For before—”
“Stop.” I finally look at him. He’s beautiful like the cliffs of his homeland. Sharp. Jagged. Breathtaking. “Tell me more about these perks.”
“There’s this one giant…perk. It comes fully loaded. It’s not a standard feature. It’s unique to this room.”
“I see. And is it…thick?”
He clears his throat. “It is now.”
A laugh escapes me. God. I glance away for a second. “What does this perk do?”
Several people walk by, nodding hello. A few stop to shake our hands. My smile is tacked on as I wait for them to go on their way.
When it’s clear, Aidyn turns and whispers.
“Whatever you want. You can pet it. Taste it.” He pauses, and I breathlessly wait for what he’s going to say next.
I’m already aroused more than I should be at my sister’s wedding.
“But I was thinking,” he says, his voice in my ear and his breath teasing my skin, “since this is a special occasion and all, maybe I could fuck that tight ass of yours.”
Fuuuck. I swallow hard and nod. “Let’s go.”
“We have to say goodbye, Garrett. At least to the bride and groom.”
“They won’t care— Hell, Isaac is drunk off his ass. And you’ve made it so me talking to anyone right now is impossible. Live with your consequences.”
“Any time, darlin’.” He moves around me, brushing his hand over my erection. “Oh, sorry,” he says with a grin. “My mistake.”
I bite back a moan. When he does it again, I grab his hand and drag him out of the building.