Seduction - Chapter 19
Saturday
“Interesting choice,” I said to Mason as I sat down next to him in the crowded pub.
“Me?” He laughed. “Rob chose the place.”
Honestly that made a lot more sense. It wasn’t Rob’s favorite restaurant with the busty waitresses, but the barmaids definitely screamed Rob.
So did the fact that he’d chosen a pub. With high top tables that were super uncomfortable to sit at.
My feet dangled off the edge of my stool. “But he chose last week.”
“Yeah, he called us and asked us to switch with him,” Bee said. She looked over at one of the barmaids. “Figures.”
I laughed. “When Rob called you guys to switch, did he mention anything else at all?”
Mason took a sip of his beer. “And by anything else at all do you mean…”
“Yes, I mean did he ask you to be a groomsman?” James and I hadn’t heard from Rob or Daphne since we’d dropped off their surprise dinner. And I couldn’t help it…it was seriously bugging me.
James laughed as he slid into the seat next to mine. He handed me my glass of water. “You gotta let it go,” he said.
“It’s fine if Daphne doesn’t ask Bee and me. I completely understand. But you and Mason? Rob said he was going to have three groomsmen. It’s crazy if you guys aren’t included.”
“Maybe it’s some guys from work,” Bee offered.
Mason just shrugged.
There was no way Rob had found a best friend at Hunter Tech. He’d only been working there a couple of months and he’d known these guys his whole life. “It seriously doesn’t bother you?” I asked him.
“Rob’s like a little brother to me,” Mason said. “And like my actual little brother…I may have tormented him a bit when we were both kids. Maybe he’s still holding a grudge from that time I tossed him in the trashcan and closed the lid.”
I laughed. “But that was forever ago.”
“Hey.” He smiled down at me. “It wasn’t that long ago. You act like James and I are ancient.”
“I do not.”
“You kind of do,” James said.
“Well, in my defense, when I was in…” my voice trailed off as I quickly did the math in my head. “When I was in middle school you guys were graduating from high school.”
“Cradle robbers,” Bee coughed into her hand.
I reached across Mason to high-five her.
“I think that says a lot more about the two of you than it does about me and James.”
“Oh really?”
“Yup. Two words – daddy issues.”
Bee slapped his arm and he laughed.
I rolled my eyes and turned toward my husband. “I do not have daddy issues.”
“Your dad is great, but I don’t want you thinking about him while we’re in bed. As kinky as it sounds, I don’t love the idea of you calling me daddy. Well…at least until you pop out my daughter. Maybe I’ll get used to it then.”
I smiled at him.
“Or maybe it’s a sugar daddy thing,” Mason said.
“Do not make me throw this in your face,” Bee said and lifted her glass in the air, tilting it dangerously close to Mason’s suit.
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Sorry we’re late,” Rob said. He pulled out a stool for Daphne and then plopped down beside her. “What did we miss?”
“We were just talking about how all our girls are into sugar daddies,” Mason said.
I smiled to myself. Mostly because it seemed like Mason was trying to push Rob’s buttons. Because maybe, just maybe, he cared more about being a groomsman than he wanted to admit.
“Maybe your girls,” Rob said and gave him a hard stare.
I cleared my throat. “So…this was your choice?” I asked. “Are you going to do another proposal tonight?”
He laughed. “No. That would be weird and unexpected. Right?”
At first I thought it was a rhetorical question, but based on the way he was staring at me, he definitely wanted an answer.
“Um…yeah,” I said. “It would be weird.”
“Good.”
I just stared at him. “Good?”
“Yup, good.”
Daphne was looking around the restaurant instead of at any of us.
I wondered if she was still upset about the rat comment. If I could just explain myself…
“Where’s Matt?” Rob asked.
“I don’t know,” Mason said and pulled out his phone. “I haven’t heard from him at all today. Actually, I haven’t heard from him in a few days.”
Me either. I hadn’t heard from him since I caught him setting up a sex altar in my house. And honestly I was a little relieved that I didn’t have to face him right now. Because I was still a little mortified about that.
Rob sighed. “He’s probably with that annoying guy.”
Mason just shook his head.
“What was his weird friend’s name again? I can’t quite remember,” Rob said, although I was 100% sure he knew it.
“Tanner,” I offered.
“Ah yes. What kind of name is that, anyway?”
“A pretty normal one.”
“Psh.”
“Speaking of Tanner,” I said. “Have you guys ever met Nigel?”
Rob shook his head. “Who’s Nigel?”
“His houseboy.”
“Isn’t that like a sex slave?” Mason asked.
I laughed, even though it looked like Mason was being serious. “No. It’s like a servant. He was this cute little man in a butler’s outfit.”
“Yeah, that’s a sex slave.”
“No. He wasn’t. More like an assistant I think.”
“I knew it,” Rob said. “That explains everything. Well…some things. Not all of it. Tanner’s gay.”
I laughed. “No. Definitely not. Almost every time I see him at events he’s with at least one woman. Sometimes two.”
“For show,” Rob said. “He’s overcompensating.”
“Don’t be jealous just because he’s better at picking up women than you are,” Mason said.
Yup, Mason was definitely a little bitter about this groomsmen thing.
Rob put his arm around Daphne’s shoulders. “I have the most beautiful woman in every room,” he said. Daphne smiled up at him.
“Speaking of Tanner,” I said. “On a scale of one to ten, how upset would you be if Matt invited him as his plus one to your wedding?”
“Ten is the most upset?”
I nodded.
“A seventeen then. But I don’t have to worry about that. Because Matt would never do that to me. We’re best friends.”
I bit the inside of my lip. Did he really not realize that by me asking I was confirming that it was in fact happening? “What if Matt needs a wingman at your wedding though?”
Rob laughed. “That’s my job.”
“But you’ll be the groom.”
“I can multitask.”
Okay then. I really needed to talk to Matt.
Or…not. Because I was still uncomfortable about the sex altar thing.
Fuck my life. My stomach churned. And for the first time in months it wasn’t from morning sickness.
I hadn’t thrown up in a couple days and I was hoping it was gone for good this time.
But I really hated secrets. I didn’t want Matt to accidentally ruin Rob’s wedding.
“Maybe we can set Tanner up with Justin,” Rob said.
Everyone at our table just laughed.
“Rob, Tanner definitely isn’t gay,” James said. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you.”
“I’m not jealous of Tanner or his butler boy.”
“That sentence sounded jealous.”
“Forget about Tanner. Who I don’t care about at all. I’m just pissed because I’m getting married in one week and my best friend isn’t here.”
It was weird that Matt wasn’t here. He wasn’t usually late for our weekly hangouts. But he’d been off last week after the proposal. He’d almost gone home early instead of celebrating with us. Then he’d skipped out on the food tasting. And now he was a no-show. What was going on with him?
But my train of thought came to a stop as Matt walked up to our table. And walked may have been a little generous. It was more of a stumble. He was clearly drunk out of his mind.
“Hey,” he said and collapsed into a seat. “What did I miss?”
“Where have you been?” Rob asked.
“I was right over there.” He pointed to the bar.
Had he actually been sitting over there the whole time? All alone? Getting completely shitfaced instead of hanging out with us?
Rob pushed some breadsticks in front of him. “Well, sober up, buddy. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
That was the second weird thing he’d said. The first was about a second proposal. What was he up to?
Rob rolled up his sleeve to check his watch.
Yup. The watch was back. Which meant he was definitely up to something again.
He cleared his throat. “Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. Brendan’s coming up for the wedding. I asked him to be a groomsman.”
We all just stared at him.
“Brendan?” I asked. “The guy who lived in James’ old apartment building on campus?”
“Good, you do remember. Yeah, he’s one of my best friends. We got super close when I lived on campus. Figured he had to be one of my groomsmen. And I’m so glad he said yes.”
I’m sorry, what? “You asked Brendan? Brendan whose last name I don’t even know to be one of your three groomsmen?”
“Yeah, he’s a great guy.”
What the actual fuck was wrong with him! That meant that either James, Mason, or Matt was out of the wedding party. Or maybe all three of them. I wasn’t even one of them and it felt like a slap in my face.
“Penny, didn’t you make out with Brendan once or twice?” Matt asked as he took a huge sip of beer.
Thanks, drunk Matt. I really appreciate you bringing that up.
James lowered his eyebrows as he glared at Matt.
James excused himself from the table to go get another round of drinks. Mason went with him to help. And Rob and Daphne wandered off to discuss something in the corner of the bar.
“Are you okay?” Bee asked Matt.
“Oh, I’m great,” Matt said.
Bee reached out and grabbed his hand. “Really? Because you’re not acting great.”
“I’m fucking fantastic. You know, you don’t have to pretend to care about me just because you’re screwing my brother.”
Bee removed her hand. “We’re engaged,” she said.
“Like that means anything.”
Bee shook her head. “I’m going to go get you some water.” She excused herself from the table.
Matt and I just sat there in silence for a moment.
Something was definitely bothering him. But I was a little scared to ask since he’d just bitten Bee’s head off.
“Did you have fun in that room the other night?” he finally asked, breaking the silence. “Not as innocent as you look, huh?”
I could feel my face turning red. “You’re in a destructive mood today.”
“Yeah.” He looked down at his half empty glass. “I hate weddings.”