Chapter 4 – James
JAMES
“So, did you find out you have a long-lost sister?” Beau asks. “Or did some great-aunt show die and leave you a haunted mansion?”
Ignoring him, I focus on the cards in my hand, a nine and a jack off-suit. Promising, but I like to play conservatively early in the night. Later, when the others are drunker, is the time to take risks.
We’re all seated around a poker table on our building’s third floor. Dozens of empty velvet-covered tables stand around us, sitting ready for the next tournament Ryan hosts. The bar is fully stocked, and Beau texts servers in his restaurant downstairs if anyone gets hungry.
“Can’t be a long-lost relative,” Luke says. “James is worth so much money, they would have come out of the woodworks a long time ago to try and get some Sequel cash. No, the big secret has to be a business thing. Maybe Sequel is getting into AI or robots or something.”
“It has to be personal,” Nate points out. “Otherwise, why would there be a honeymoon involved?”
I narrow my eyes at them. I won’t dignify their theories with an answer.
Ever since Ryan announced to my friends that I had talked to Victor about a “honeymoon and an heir,” they’ve been hounding me to figure out exactly what he meant.
Our biweekly poker nights have turned into insane interrogations, and every one of their guesses has been more outlandish than the last. Beau even started talking about aliens last week, proving that they’ve officially lost the plot.
“I still think he seduced a married woman,” Luke says. “Her husband found out on their honeymoon.”
“So how does the heir play in?” Beau asks.
“Can I please just tell them, James?” Ryan groans from across the poker table. “We’ve only played four hands all night, they’ve been so busy coming up with bullshit theories.”
He has a point. I’ve already signed the paperwork, and the wedding is scheduled for late next week.
I was planning to wait till the end of the night to tell the guys, so I wouldn't have to spend the entire night fielding their invasive questions. Since they won’t give up the subject, I might as well tell them now.
“Fine.” I sigh. “Sequel is about to enter a partnership with Pages for an app that lets you access movies, TV shows, and books, all on the same device. Sequel will also get the rights to produce their most popular books as movies.”
“Cool!” Luke claps me on the shoulder. “Congrats, man. That’s huge.”
Ryan clears his throat. “That’s not all.”
I narrow my eyes at him. There’s no need to rush me—I’m about to tell them everything. Ryan has been impatiently prodding me to share the news ever since he found out months ago. For a poker pro, he’s shit at keeping his hand close to the vest.
“There’s a personal element, too.” I gaze around the table at my friends’ curious faces. “The CEO of Pages wants a husband for his daughter, and an heir within a year.”
“So he picked…you,” Beau finishes, making it sound more like a question than a confirmation. I nod.
“Even though you’re not all that friendly, or open, or romantic,” Luke says. “No offense.”
I shrug. I’m not offended—what he said was accurate. “I don’t think Victor cares what I’m like as long as I give him the grandson he wants.”
“Nice guy,” Beau snorts. “Really looking after his daughter.”
“She wants it, too, though?” Nate asks.
I nod. “Yes.”
“You met her in real life and everything?” Beau asks.
“Yes. She’s friends with your sister, Luke. Her paintings are displayed at the Copper Cup.”
Luke shakes his head. “Damn. That just makes it stranger, somehow.”
“Well, congratulations,” Nate says, raising his glass of whiskey to me.
Everyone stares at him. “Really? Congratulations?” Ryan says, gaping.
Nate shrugs. “I think that’s what you’re supposed to say when your friend gets engaged.”
“You’re right,” Luke says. “We should have started with congratulations.”
“If this is what you want, I’m happy for you,” Beau says.
“Seriously?” Ryan sputters. “Getting married, fine, whatever. Nobody else thinks it’s messed up that James is contractually required to have a kid like now?”
“I mean, it’s weird,” Beau admits. “But it’s not like the kid is gonna show up tomorrow. Those things take a good nine months to cook.”
“What a charming description of the miracle of life,” Nate deadpans.
Beau laughs. “I’m just calling it like it is. James is basically speedrunning a billionaire legacy. Wait, what if he has twins?”
“Double speedrun!” Luke grins. “He’ll totally get them matching thoroughbred ponies. I can’t wait for you to get all the kiddie celebrities to come to their birthday parties.”
“Admit it, Ryan, you’d kill to be at a party with Ms. Rachel and Peppa Pig,” Beau says, poking him.
“Peppa Pig is a cartoon,” he scoffs. “Call me when James books the Sesame Street Muppets.”
There’s a strange warmth in my chest, hearing the guys joke around about my imaginary offspring. There aren’t a lot of people whose opinions I give a shit about, and these four men make up the majority of the list. Having their support makes the marriage feel real for the first time.
I haven’t thought much about cakes or flowers or venues, since Victor’s people are taking care of all that. There’s only one thing I know for sure that I want—my friends at my side.
“I hope this means you’ll be my groomsmen,” I say in a low voice.
Beau looks genuinely touched as he claps me on the shoulder. “It would be an honor.”
“Of course,” Luke says.
Nate crosses his arms. “I was supposed to ask everyone first. I’ll do it, even though you’re stealing my glory.”
I glance across the table. “And, uh—Ryan, I hoped you’d be my best man.”
His eyes widen with surprise. “Me?”
It’s the reaction I expected. Ryan and I weren’t always the closest in the group, since my reserved temperament is almost the exact opposite of his playful, boisterous personality.
He happened to find out about the contract by chance, and I wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep it a secret.
Instead, he completely respected my privacy and acted as the silent support I needed.
“You,” I say, nodding.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
His dark eyes shine with emotion. “Dude.”
I smile. “Yeah.”
Beau shakes his head. “Well, that was the most emotional conversation I’ve ever heard that was also less than ten syllables.”
“So, is there a date we should save?” Luke asks.
“Next Saturday.”
Ryan chokes on his whiskey. “Whoa, that’s stupid fast. What’s the rush?”
“With a one-year timeline, efficiency matters.”
“We’ll clear our schedules,” Nate says, giving Ryan a pointed look.
“How about a celebratory dinner the Thursday before?” Beau suggests. “It can be a rehearsal dinner if you want, or just a chance for us to meet your new wife.”
I nod. “I’d like that.”
“Should I be planning a bachelor party?” Ryan adds. “Because I will charter a flight to Vegas unless you expressly order me not to.”
“Save it for Nate’s wedding. I have too much work.” I’m glad to have the excuse, since I’m sure Ryan’s idea of a great bachelor party doesn’t overlap much with mine. With all respect to DJs, nightclubs, whiskey shots, and high stakes poker games, they’re not on my to-do list for the next month.
“Why are we just assuming Ryan gets to be best man for Nate, too?” Beau says.
“Yeah, there should be a rotating system or something.” Luke nods. “That way we all get to do it.”
“I haven’t made any decisions yet,” Nate interjects. “Everyone’s still in the running.”
“I’m fully focused on my current job, supporting James,” Ryan says, leaning back in his chair. “If Nate happens to like what he sees and decides to recruit me after, that’s his prerogative.”
Despite their sniping, I’m grateful to have the guys at my side for this.
The only thing that sours it is knowing that Maura will be alone.
Victor mentioned that Maura didn’t have anyone to stand up with her at the wedding.
I wonder if that’s Victor’s influence—if he chased away her friends the same way he did her job opportunities.
I don’t like the thought of my fiancée standing alone while I have a row of friends at my side.
An idea occurs to me—a way to kill two birds with one stone. If Maura and I really were a love match, she would know my friends’ girlfriends, wouldn’t she? It would be good for optics.
“It might be good for Maura to meet Pippa and Cat,” I say, my eyes moving between Nate and Ryan. “Could you ask them?”
Nate nods. “Of course. I’m sure Cat would say yes.”
“Pippa, too,” Ryan adds. “I guess they might as well add another girlfriend to their club. If we’re not careful, though, they’re gonna start outnumbering us.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Beau declares. “I solemnly swear not to add another girlfriend to the mix.”
Luke snorts. “Same here. I’ve got enough to do at the distillery, thanks.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I’m surprised to find myself part of a new group chat with Cat and Pippa.
Cat
When can we meet your fiancée??
Pippa
Tell her to come over now, we’re making brownies and watching Vampire Diaries.
Cat
Or invite her to Wine Wednesday!
Pippa
That’s probably better, since the cat just tracked brownie batter on the counter. We want to make a good first impression.
I glance up at Ryan and Nate. “Cat and Pippa already know?”
“Pippa’s known since Valentine’s Day,” Ryan admits. “I just texted her to let her know she can tell Cat, too. Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not.” I mean it. It’s not like he revealed the contract to a random stranger. Pippa is Ryan’s partner—his true other half. It makes sense that he’d trust her with this.
I doubt Maura and I will ever have that kind of relationship. We’re not made for each other, and we won’t be in love with each other. It just happens that the things we want out of life line up with the other’s.
In two weeks, she’ll be my wife—and in a year, I’ll be a father.
I can’t even picture it. I don’t have enough information about Maura—who she is, how she acts, what she wants. She’s still a mystery, one I’ll have the rest of my life to solve.