Seduction - Chapter 19 #2
It was the first thing he’d said tonight that sounded sincere. “Why?”
He blinked and didn’t answer.
“Why do you hate weddings, Matt?”
He shrugged, playing with the condensation on his glass.
I got it. Weddings kind of sucked when you were single.
He was the last of our single friends. But that didn’t mean he had to lash out at all of us.
I’d been planning to tell him not to bring Tanner tonight.
But I was pretty sure if he didn’t bring Tanner this might be the version of Matt that showed up at Rob’s wedding.
And no one wanted that. I’d keep that tidbit of information to myself.
Even though I hated secrets. A secret for one week wasn’t so bad though.
“I’m here you know,” I said. “If you ever want to talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
It kind of seemed like there was…
“I gotta get out of here,” he said. He downed the rest of his glass and slammed it on the table. “Later, Penny.”
“Matt.” I grabbed his hand before he could walk out.
He looked down at my hand and then back up to my face. His pupils were dilated. And I was worried it wasn’t just alcohol in his system. I didn’t care that he was being a jerk. I just needed to make sure he was okay.
“You shouldn’t spend the night alone. Come back to our place.”
For just a second his eyes fell to my lips.
I knew he was drunk. I knew he wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. But I immediately let go of his hand. I wasn’t inviting Matt into my bed. I was offering him one of the guest rooms.
“I got him,” Mason said and put his arm around his little brother’s shoulders. “He can crash at our place tonight. Right, Bee?”
Bee nodded. Even though Matt had just been incredibly rude to her. But that’s what family did.
“I need another drink,” Matt said.
“No, you most definitely do not,” Mason said. “Sorry, guys, we’re going to cut out early. We’ll see you later…”
“Wait!” Rob yelled. “One second.” He cursed under his breath and stared back at the bar. “If you can just wait another minute…”
“This is ridiculous,” Daphne said. “Just ask them.”
“But…”
“I’ve been so stressed out about this all week.
Enough is enough.” She turned toward us.
“I’m so sorry, guys. Justin told us that everyone is asking people to be in their bridal parties in elaborate ways these days.
Like prom-posals and baby gender reveals.
But we don’t need barmaids to dance and fireworks to go off and for everyone in the bar to get a round on us.
You guys are our best friends. And I’m so sorry it’s such late notice, because everything is last minute with this wedding.
But we’d be incredibly honored if you’d be in our bridal party.
I’m sorry we didn’t just ask you right away like normal people. ”
Rob laughed. “Eh. Who wants to be normal anyway? Besides, that was actually right on time. Great job, babe.”
Music started blaring and all the barmaids stopped what they were doing. They climbed up on top of the bar and started doing some kind of dance where they swung each other around a lot. I wasn’t sure how they didn’t fall off.
I nudged James’ side. “They asked.”
He smiled down at me. “All of us.”
“Wait, what about Brendan?” I yelled over the music blaring.
Rob put his arm around me. “Daphne wanted to ask her friends Kristen and Alina too. So I needed a fourth. What, you thought I was replacing one of my best friends or something?”
“Yes, actually,” I said with a laugh.
“Never, Penny. I couldn’t get married without all of you by my side.” He kissed the top of my head. “Another round on me!” he screamed to the whole bar.
“Huzzah!” Matt yelled.
“Nope, we’re going home,” Mason said.
“But…”
“It’s going to be a rough week,” Mason said under his breath. He gave Rob a hug before guiding Matt out of the restaurant.
“We’re going to be bridesmaids!” Bee squealed and hugged me. “I called it.”
“You did not. You were just as worried as I was.”
“Nah. O ye of little faith, Penny.”
I laughed as she gave Daphne a hug too.
“I’m actually really curious about those fireworks now,” James said. “Are those still happening? And if so…is it safer for us to get out of the bar before they go off?”
“Shit,” Rob said. “I saved the best for last! Follow me!” He ran out of the bar.
All of us followed him out into the chilly fall air. But it felt more summery tonight. Because fireworks were going off in the distance in Central Park.
“Those are really for this?” James asked. “That’s definitely elaborate.”
“They’re for you actually,” Rob said. He dropped to his knee. “Be my best man, big bro?”
James laughed. “I already have my speech planned. My little brother’s getting married!” he yelled to some people watching us on the sidewalk.
I laughed. It was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever seen in my life. Everyone around us definitely would have thought James and Rob were engaged if James hadn’t clarified that his little brother was getting married. Or maybe now they just thought it was gay incest…
“Men,” Daphne said. “I swear I wanted to tell you guys right away, but Rob swore me to secrecy and I’m bad at keeping secrets. So then I didn’t want to hang out with you guys until we got to tell you because it was making me all nervous and I’m already nervous because of the wedding.”
“I’m just glad you don’t hate me,” I said.
“Hate you? Penny, I’ve never met anyone more welcoming in my life. You already feel like the sister I never had.
I started blinking away tears.
“Don’t cry…”
“It’s my hormones, I swear. But Daphne, you feel like the sister I never had too.”
She gave me a big hug. “Thank you. For all your help. And for making me feel like I’m already part of the family.”
I was sobbing now. Because I was so happy. And relieved. Not just for myself. But for all my friends. This wedding was going to be freaking spectacular.