best man
OTHELLO
The boys are fuming, but what they don’t know is that their night is going to look a lot different than they expected.
I was able to pull off a last-minute bachelor party with the help of Jerome.
Two strippers by the name of Cashmere and Roxie are waiting back at the Jungle House for the men to arrive.
It’s amazing how easily you can pull things off with just the flip of your wallet. Jerome had money and connections at his beck and call. The man could pick up a phone, make a few calls, and have almost anything arranged before you even had time to question it.
In less than an hour, we will be getting gyrated on while the women wine taste at Chateau Ha’ani. Marley is the only one I’ve let in on the plan. I can still hear her laughing when she asked if I had a death wish.
“Carina is going to kill you,” she’d told me when I’d let her in on the secret.
“Probably. But it’s already done. No turning back now.”
It was funny then, but I’m not gonna lie, I’m nervous as hell right now, worried about what Carina’s going to do or say. Hopefully, she won’t cause a scene and mess up the night.
It takes us less than an hour to get to Chateau Ha’ani. The vineyard sits nestled in the quieter hills of Upcountry Maui. The Jungle House is only 30 minutes away, which is exactly why I chose it.
We pull up to a three-story Mediterranean-style estate with cream stucco walls and a terracotta roof. The women are excited, cheering, and ready to get their drink on. They exit the bus first, all of them except Carina, dressed in the color of the week. Lavender.
Vernon and Todd have been mumbling shit under their breath the whole way here, and when they stand to exit the bus, I stand too, blocking their way to get off.
“Fellas, I have something different for us in mind tonight.”
Gavin’s eyes pop open. “Something like what?”
“Don’t worry about all that. You’ll find out when we get there. I turn back to the ladies, who are waiting for us to get off the bus. Carina looks confused, her hand on her hip.
“What are you doing? Come on!”
“Ladies, enjoy your wine and your gossip. We’ll see you later.” I give them a salute.
Marley tries to play it cool, crossing her arms in front of her and looking up at the moon and stars.
Vernon and Todd hug each other and dap each other up. “Oh shit!”
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about!”
“Please tell me you got some strippers,” Todd begs.
I answer with a laugh cause these boys are wild.
“Ass and titties in Maui!”
James looks amused and gives me a nod of approval.
“What?” Her tone is disgusted and clipped as she crosses her arms and stomps her foot. Full toddler style. “Gavin Wade. Let’s go. Now.”
Gavin looks like he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Gavin is coming with us, Carina. I owe him a bachelor party.”
“No, no! No. You can’t start playing Best Man after I’ve already made plans. There’s an itinerary. I paid for this wine tasting.”
“She’s right! And you guys can’t leave us here without a ride!” Camila hollers.
“I just texted Jerome to let him know you’re here. He has a driver on the way. They’ll wait outside until you ladies are done.”
“You can’t make plans over my plans,” Carina argues.
“I think he did, though,” Vernon says and falls into a laughing fit. The men are beside themselves. Each of the guys has already reclaimed their seats, ready for the real fun to begin. Until Carina cuts her eyes at Gavin. He bolts upright, practically launching himself out of his seat.
Carina looks like she’s on the verge of tears. Danielle, Lety, and Camila shift their weight from one foot to the other, ready for wine. They clearly don’t care what we do. Marley stares at me like she’s proud.
“Guys, hold on,” Gavin tells us and steps off the bus.
He approaches Carina, her eyes doing that thing they do when she wants her way.
He grips her waist, pulling her close, and whispers in her ear.
Marley beckons me with her finger, and I step from the bus as well, approaching her as Gavin works to calm Carina down.
“You know she’s going to make your life miserable for this, right?” she says under her breath.
“As if she doesn’t already.”
A laugh peels out of her.
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you did it.”
And then, to my surprise, Marley kisses me on the cheek.
“Damn, whatever I have to do to get kisses, I’m down for.”
She pushes me playfully. “Your aunt would be proud of you. You’re finally out here acting like a real Best Man.”
“I’m trying,” I tell her and pull her in close to me. Her approval means more than she knows, and I bite back a smile.
“Well, have fun,” she says shyly.
“Yo, O! Let’s go!” Vernon yells from the bus.
I kiss Marley, not wanting to leave her, but the hoots and hollers from the bus remind me I have a bachelor party to host.
When I climb back onto the bus, the guys erupt into another round of cheers and applause.
“Kudos to you for making this happen,” Todd says, reaching across the aisle to shake my hand.
I drop into the seat across from him as the bus pulls away from the resort and heads toward our destination.
“This trip was getting way too feminine,” says Vernon. “I hate to say it, bro. But why in the hell would you let Carina plan the entire week?”
“It’s her wedding," he answers matter-of-factly.
Vernon and Todd groan and shake their heads.
“It’s your wedding too!” the rest of us holler in unison. Gavin laughs uncomfortably.
“Come on, you guys know weddings are really for the women.”
“Wrong!” James snaps.
“It’s a union for the man and woman, G.”
“You have enough say-so as she does. It’s about you, too,” I tell him.
“Listen, arguing about flowers and who sits where is for the females. I just want to know when and where to show up so I can marry the woman I love.”
“I get it, but bruh, it’s your last night as a single man. After this, you’re getting the clank.” Todd knocks his wrist together, and Vernon huffs out a laugh.
“It’s your last night to have some ass shaking in your face and maybe even fuck something without getting in trouble.”
We all turn and look at Todd, giving him a mean side-eye, and what the hell is wrong with you? Todd shrugs.
“Shit. If it were my wedding, I’d do it.”
James turns to Gavin. “Bro, I do not recommend.”
“Trust me, I love Carina too much to do some dumb shit like that, but the ass shaking…” he rubs his hands together like Birdman. “I do believe I deserve a proper farewell to my singlehood.”
I laugh as the bus erupts, Vernon and Todd on their feet, pounding Gavin in the chest and giving him five. James shakes his head, clearly amused by this all.
“Took us damn near a week to get here, but this trip is starting to feel like a real bachelor’s trip.”
“Sorry, I took too long,” I tease.
“Better late than never,” Gavin says, his face splitting into a smile.