2. Ronan
ronan
. . .
I’ve always been up for a laugh. And living the life I lead, embarrassment was left behind somewhere around the late two thousands. Life in the spotlight can go one of two ways, forever hiding and wanting your privacy, or embracing the attention and not giving too many fucks about it.
There is a mixture of that between my bandmates in Velvet Echo and I’m somewhere in between.
I don’t go out of my way to embarrass myself. Living as normal a life as I can while I’m in a fishbowl is a fine balance. And I love a good joke as much as the next guy.
Hence why I’m standing at my brother’s wedding, in a wedding dress and veil, waiting to shock the shit out of him.
My suit is hanging up in the corner so I can change quick for my best man duties. This stunt is to loosen Brandon up.
My brother is shitting himself somewhere in one of the rooms in this vast house.
It belongs to his boss, who, despite being a billionaire, is a down-to-earth guy.
Brandon’s wedding followed a whirlwind romance.
I’ve only met his bride-to-be once. More my fault than theirs, given I’m always mixed up with something to do with the band.
She seems nice enough. I’m not the one marrying her. As long as Brandon loves her, that is all that matters.
I drag up the front of the dress again to stop it slipping down my ribcage. I don’t have boobs to fill out the chest part. Normally, I’m not shy about showing off my chest. There is something obscene about my nipples poking out of the top of a dress.
The guys are all laughing about how I look, and my grin is wide as Terry says he thinks I look hot. We need to get set up for Brandon before he walks in here and finds us, which involves me hiding in a closet. Movement at the door has my heart thundering. Shit, are we about to blow this?
Only it’s not my brother in the doorway. It’s a fucking vision in red. Red all over. From her dress, shoes, and lips and right up to her hair. It’s not auburn or reddish blonde, it’s pure fire engine red.
Fuck me, she’s gorgeous.
The others notice my focus has gone off them and all turn to look.
“Cora,” Diego says in surprise.
How does he know her? I’m gonna need an introduction. She’s staring at me with that star-struck look in her eyes. Not that I blame her. It’s not about being big-headed. I’m famous. Men and women of all ages stare at me the same way. I’m used to it.
“What are you doing in here?” Diego asks her.
“Looking for the bathroom.”
“It’s two doors down.”
“You’re lucky I don’t have my camera,” she says, eyeing us all.
“No cameras.”
Jesus . He even made me jump. I forgot Stefan, my bodyguard, was standing watch in the corner. It’s like he morphed out of the wall.
Cora looks over at him, nonplussed by his sudden appearance and size. I’m a tall guy, but Stefan towers over me and he has arms like tree trunks. He gets his clothes custom made, for sure.
“Relax Paul Bunyan,” she tells him, making my grin grow even wider. “I said he was lucky.”
“You need to step out of the room.”
Diego knows her. She’s a guest here. Not a stalker. She doesn’t appear to pose any imminent threat.
“I never stepped into it,” she answers him, her head tilting up to look Stefan in the face.
That sass is doing all kinds of good things for me. Her gaze comes back to me, and she peruses the length of me, up and down, as if seeing a guy in a wedding dress is an everyday occurrence. Then she meets my eyes. And winks. Fuck me, that was sexy as hell.
“Try not to outshine the bride,” she says with a cryptic, somewhat forced smile .
Before anyone can say anything else, she walks away. It takes a lot to stop from following her. I’ve never seen a woman handle Stefan like that before. Even he looks perplexed.
“Who was that?” I ask my cousin.
Diego turns around. “Emma’s sister. Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?” I ask, all innocence.
Diego knows I’m not a player. The only person who plays up to his rock god persona in Velvet Echo is Christopher, our lead singer, who I am currently involved in a three-weeklong spat with. Taking this long weekend away from the band for Brandon’s wedding came at the right time.
Pretty sure Christopher and I were about to hit nuclear level. But that is a story for another day.
“Fuck!” Diego scrambles back into the room. “He’s coming. Get in the closet.”
Okay, the red-headed vision is forgotten. For now. As I’m hurrying to hide, I trip on the long skirt and nearly go ass over elbow into a side table.
Stefan catches my arm and sets me right. “Lift the skirt.”
“Why does it sound like this is something you’re used to?” I ask him.
“You’re not the only person I babysit.”
“Babysit? Dude, that’s offensive.”
“Move.”
He’s right. I lift the skirt and pull up the top again because my nipples are making another appearance. The assholes could have at least tried to get a dress that fit. How do women deal with this shit?
The door to my little hidey hole closes behind me, plunging me into darkness. Voices outside are more muffled than I thought they’d be, so I can’t hear what they’re saying.
The script is that Franny, the nickname I’ve given her, wants to see him before the wedding. She wants to do the bride reveal.
Brandon is so far gone for this chick, I was sure he’d agree. He’s not traditional when it comes to weddings. It’s getting stuffy, and my dress is slipping again. I tug on it, then brush the veil over my shoulder because it’s tickling my bare skin.
I bet Cora wouldn’t be getting as flustered if she was wearing this get up. That said, I wouldn’t mind her showing up in here to help me out of this one.
The door is tugged open and Colin, a friend of my brother’s, is staring at me like I’m mental. “I’ve been knocking,” he whispers.
“Sorry,” I sound anything but sorry. Forget the woman. I’m here for my bro.
He shakes his head and steps back. Diego is giving me a thumbs up while Brandon is facing away from me, his hands clasped. The others stand back, and one of them has his phone out to capture the moment.
Taking a leaf out of Cora’s book, I wink at the camera then move toward Brandon. When I get right up behind him, he takes a deep breath. This is going to be hilarious. I reach out a hand, tapping his shoulder .
Brandon turns around. And he stares. Opening out my arms, I grin and make a kissy face.
“Holy fuck.” He takes a step back, his mouth hanging open.
“Are you calling off the wedding?” I ask.
Brandon bursts out laughing so hard he bends over, clutching his stomach.
The rest of the guys fall about laughing.
Even Colin is struggling to hold the camera up.
It takes a lot to keep a straight face and even look affronted.
There are tears streaming down Brandon’s face as he tries to control his shit. We all get a little hysterical.
“You’re fucking nuts.” Brandon punches me in the arm. “Ugh, and that is gross.”
“I know, right?” I tug up my dress again. “My nipples have never given me the ick before.”
“You should wear it for the ceremony.” Diego smirks.
“Someone recently told me not to upstage the bride.”
My eyes go to the doorway. If she thought I hadn’t seen her standing there, she’s crazy. That red dress has been in my line of sight for a while. Damn, she has a gorgeous smile.
It’s my turn to wink. All she does is arch a brow, then turn away, giving me a look over her shoulder. If I didn’t have something more important to do right now…
“Get your ass out of that dress before Dad sees you,” Brandon tells me, wiping at his eyes. “I haven’t laughed that hard in ages. Did someone get a photo?”
“It’s all on video.”
Doing as I’m told, I grab my suit and start stripping off the dress .
“There is something obscene about this.” Colin is pulling a face, watching the dress fall to the floor.
“Avert your eyes, pervert.”
“Wait, is Francesca even coming to see me?”
“Keep up, Brandon.” Diego pats his shoulder.
“Okay, just checking.” He takes a big breath. His nerves returning.
Outside, Brandon mingles with the guests. Diego goes to his girlfriend, who is standing next to Cora. Not wanting to appear like a creeper, I avoid making eye contact and go do my best man duties.
Almost an hour late, we’re told by the planner it's go time.
Brandon is chanting under his breath as we get into position. Best to leave him at times like this. He’s psyching himself up. I just hope it’s because he’s nervous and excited, not wondering if he’s making a mistake.
I’ve never thought about getting married, I’ve never met the right woman. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t seek her out in the crowd.
Snap out of it. There are more important things to think about. Like handing over the…. Shit , I pat my pocket frantically. Oh, thank fuck, the rings are still there.
The ceremony goes off without a hitch and my grin is enormous when Brandon picks Franny up and twirls her before setting her down and punching the air. If he’s happy, I’m happy. That is all that matters.
Pictures are taken, food and drinks shared, and guests are mingling before the sit down meal. It’s amusing to watch guys trying to hit on Cora. It pleases me she isn’t entertaining any of them.
Which is the main reason I keep my distance. She’s sticking close to her sister. Diego is doing groomsman shit, but he checks in regularly with his girl.
My share of attention is non-stop. Most of these people are family, but the extended guest list is unpredictable. Put a celebrity in the mix and people can’t help themselves.
I won’t spend my brother’s wedding signing autographs and taking pictures. This is their day, not mine. To make things easier, I slip away unnoticed.
The house is something else. I mean, I’m not hurting for cash. I have a big beachfront house, three cars, and I own an apartment in Portland. This house is next level. We were given a ‘wing’ to get ready in while Franny and her bridesmaids got another.
Something about the place is off, though. It feels more like what it’s being used for today, a venue, not a home. I can’t help but peek in some rooms as I pass, even opening doors that are closed and off limits to the guests.
Then I come across a room with a pool table, foosball table, and old-style arcade games against one wall. Damn, I’ve died and gone to heaven. This is a total man cave in here. Or woman cave. I’m not sexist. Who can resist checking this out a little more thoroughly?
I slip inside and close the door over, then go to the arcade games, which include Galaga, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. It all brings me back to my childhood. Do I need a quarter to get the game started ?
Voices approaching outside startle me.
“I can’t believe she came.”
“You invited her.”
“I didn’t. Diego is Brandon’s cousin. I had no choice.”
“I thought you guys made up.”
“Well, I did it for Brandon. He wasn’t going to not invite his cousin’s girlfriend.”
Okay, that’s Franny, and I’m assuming one of her bridesmaids. They’re talking about Diego’s woman? Quietly, I creep closer to the door.
“Francesca, you were the one who should apologize for what happened.”
“She turned my hair purple.”
“Yeah, but…she did it for a reason.”
“Do you know how embarrassing that was? Mom wouldn’t even take me to the salon because she was angry about what happened.”
What the fuck are they talking about?
“Looking at her face is ruining my wedding.”
“You can’t kick them out.”
“Says who?”
She sounds like a petulant little bitch. This is a side to my brother’s new wife I haven’t seen or heard before. I’m not sure I like it .
“You’ll only make a scene.”
“Have you seen what she is wearing? That red dress, ugh.”
Now I’m confused. Aren’t they talking about Emma? Cora is the one wearing red. Oh…
“And the way she is flirting with everyone. She was a whore in high school, and she is a whore now.”
My blood boils hearing that. I’ve been watching Cora turn guys away all afternoon. And I don’t like that word. I head for the door, about to stop this bullshit until a new voice gives me pause.
“Why am I not surprised you lied to my sister about wanting her here?”
Franny and the other woman go quiet. I’d recognize that sassy tone anywhere.
“Nice ceremony, by the way. It’s a shame your ugly words don’t match the beauty out there.”
Franny is spluttering. My brother’s new wife doesn’t deserve to be spoken to like that on her wedding day, even if it sounds like these two have history.
Everyone is shocked when I step out of the room. Cora is standing a good ten feet away, leaning one shoulder against the wall, casual as fuck. Funny how it’s Franny’s face turning bright red.
“Ronan, could you get security? This guest was just leaving.”
Cora smirks. She looks at me, then back to my new sister-in-law. “Why would I want to leave now, we haven’t even got to the dancing yet.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, looking between the two women.
“Emma told me you guys had a talk and worked things out. It’s all water under the bridge and everyone is friends… again ,” she adds the last part as if it is the furthest thing from the truth.
“Francesca, let’s go back outside.” The bridesmaid tugs her arm. “Everyone will be looking for you.”
Franny looks even more annoyed and flustered, but she brushes it off and smiles. “You’re right. Both of you.” She gives Cora a smile that is anything but friendly. “So good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
The two women give Cora a wide berth as they pass her. Cora follows them with her eyes but never turns her head.
We’re left standing in the hallway facing one another.
“You want to tell me what’s going on between you and Franny?”
Her eyes widen, then she busts up laughing. I’ve no idea what to make of this woman. Her laughter slows, and she takes a couple of deep breaths.
“I dare you to call her Franny to her face.”
“What will I get if I do?”
Now she’s intrigued. “What do you want?”
Don’t tempt me. What I’m thinking would be wrong to ask for. “How about your number?”
“Oh, Mr. Rockstar, you can do so much better than that.”
I’m left watching her walk away. Again. Who the hell is this woman? And how bad would it be for me to take her side over Franny’s? Damn, I can’t do it. I can’t call her that when it’s obvious she won’t like it. Although no one has told me not to .
“Ronan?” Diego appears at the end of the hall. If he saw any of the women, he doesn’t let on. “It’s time for the dinner and speeches. Everyone’s looking for you.”
“My bad. I’m right behind you, bro.”