9. Heather
HEATHER
“ D id he say he loves me?” One of the dancers standing there smiles .
“Yeah, he did.”
“Then why the hell did he leave?” I whisper, annoyance and confusion spiking.
She shrugs an elegant shoulder. “Men, honey. Nobody can understand them. My own husband is a jealous bastard but he loves that I do this job. Thinks it’s sexy. But then he gets all mad when goes look at me.” She smirks. “They don’t make a damn bit of sense. But you either live with it or you don’t.”
Then she saunters out, her glittery costume swaying with every step. I shake my head. “I think I might need a drink.”
The bartender eyes me nervously. “You’re not gonna tear the place up too.”
“Nope,” I huff. I’m just gonna try to figure out what the hell just happened.
One of the bridesmaids slips in beside me and we both wave down the bartender who deposits our order and then goes to the other end of the bar to wait on more customers.
“This place is busy.”
She nods her head. “Yeah.”
I turn to her and ask, “did you hear any of what happened?”
She grins. “Yep!”
“What do you think Jude meant?”
“When he said he loves you? I think he meant he loves you.”
“But he can’t. He left me alone after we….” I flush and look down.
She laughs. “After you did the deed, huh?” Her eyes turn speculative. “It sounds like he thinks he hurt you physically.” This time she flushes. “I mean…ummm. Was he rough?”
I shake my head. “No. It was so beautiful that I broke down and cried and he carried me into the bedroom and I fell asleep in his arms. It was wonderful.”
“Oh,” she groans. “You cried? Did you tell him why?”
I shake my head. “I was smiling and happy.” But then I stop and think.
“Did he see that?”
“Shit! No! I was looking down and wrapped up with my head on my arms. I just thought…I mean it was so good how could he not know.”
She chuckles. “He’s a guy. Sometimes they don’t get our emotions, honey. You have to make it plain.”
I jump to my feet. “You’re right. I’m an idiot.”
She drops her head to her hand and takes a sip of her white wine. “Naw. You’re a woman in love. It makes idiots out of all of us. Go get your man.”
I nod my head but stop and reach out to grab her hand. “What’s your name?”
“Sissy. Sissy Bartholomew.”
I smile at her. “Well, Sissy. I hope that my brother finds a girl like you one of these days.”
Her smile slips and she sighs. “I hope that he doesn’t. I’m no good for guys.”
I want to stay and ask her what she’s talking about but there’s a guy sitting in jail that needs to know that I love him. He didn’t hurt me physically. He hurt me leaving me and he better never do it again.
But I also need to find out what’s going on with Chris. He needs me too.
So I call a driver since my car was totaled in the flood. I found that out tonight as well when I asked the officers if it had been found yet.
He shows up and I ask to go to the jail.
At the front desk, I make arrangements for bail but ask that they don’t release either man yet. I need to make sure they’ll settle down first. The sympathetic officer leads me down to where Chris is. He stands up, staggering to the bars. “Well, well. Hello, sis. Here to bail me out.”
I glare at him and cross my arms. “Maybe. Depends on if you can behave yourself.”
He huffs at me and sits back on the bed in the cell. “I’m not the one that broke the bro code. He’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”
“Well, you better get over it cause I need you to help me.”
He cocks his head. “How?”
“I intend to marry that bastard and you’re gonna get him to the altar.”
He rears back, stunned. “The hell I am! That bastard shouldn’t have touched you. He deserved to get his clock cleaned.”
“That bastard is your best friend and the man that I’ve been in love with my whole life. He said he loved me too. And I’m gonna make sure that he gets exactly what’s coming to him.” When my brother briefly lights up, I huff out, “a lifetime with a woman who loves him desperately.”
Chris’s face falls. “Are you sure? I mean, I know Jude is a good guy but marriage doesn’t seem in the cards for us.”
I sigh and move closer. “I’m sorry Jess left you at the altar and you’re hurt.” I stop and then grumble. “Alright, I’m not sorry she left you. You know how I feel about Jess. I don’t think she’s right for you.”
“I don’t think Jude is right for you,” he huffs out angrily.
“But you don’t get to make that decision for me. I do. Jess made your decision not me. This is between Jude and I. No input from you and if you touch him again, I’ll sneak in and throw away all your fancy legos and turn up the heat on your wine cooler.”
“Savage,” he snaps. “Fine. I’ll stay out of it but that doesn’t mean I want to help it along.”
“Too bad. You owe me. Since I lost that job thanks to your little detour.”
“Shit! I couldn’t just buy you a new car?”
I shake my head, grinning. “Nope! This is what I want.”
“Fine. I’ll help you. Just tell me what you want.”
“Good. This is what I want you to do.”
He nods his head and when I’m done talking he sighs. “Are you sure about this?”
“So sure. I love him, Chris,” I say softly.
“Fine. I’ll bag your guy but you take care of the rest of that stuff. I’ve already done it once this week. After this, I’m never going to another wedding again.”
We’ll see about that. I have a feeling my brother’s gonna find his true love sooner than he thinks.
But for right now, I’ve got a wedding to plan. And a groom to bag.