Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
DEIDRE
T hanks to my mild form of insomnia, we’re actually going to be on time for once.
I’m not usually late. Mandy’s the one who slows things down a bit.
Already dressed in lacey bras and panties, Mandy and I have loose, low-cut t-shirts, jean shorts, and flip flops to be comfortable until we need to change.
Mandy and I will be getting pedicures and manicures with the girls, along with our hair and makeup.
“Hey, Dei,” Claire greets nervously as our spa treatments wrap up.
“Mike talk to you?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she sighs. “I’m really sorry. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It’s a sensitive subject, as you can tell. I’m sorry to ruin the dinner.”
“You didn’t.” She swats at the air. “I’m here for you. I know how…unpleasant she can be.”
A small snicker escapes me.
Claire winces. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Don’t apologize.” I place my hand on her arm. “I appreciate that you’re trying to be nice. That’s why I love you.”
“I love you, too."
Several of the other bridesmaids move to the next phase.
“We’ll be right there, ladies,” Claire announces as they leave the room. Once we’re the only ones left, Claire gives me a funny look. “Did…did you say something to Mike about the…you know.”
“Sex?” I ask with a giggle.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t want to know anything other than if something better has happened,” I say.
She bites her lip and tries to hide her growing smile. “I?—”
“Don’t,” I interrupt. “He’s still my brother. I don’t want to hear the details.”
Her arms wrap around me. “Thanks, Dei.”
I tap her back. “You’re welcome.”
Once we’re dressed and ready for things to begin, Claire sends me to the men’s side with something for Mike. Before my gaze finds anyone in particular, several whistles are heard.
“Dang, Dei,” Mike says.
“Told you I’m a lady,” I tease as I do a slow twirl. “Well…when I want to be.”
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
I feel all eyes are still on me.
“Yeah,” I reply, clearing my throat. “Claire wanted me to give you something.”
He takes the wrapped item and pockets it. “Cool.”
Luke cautiously approaches. “How’s Tyson today?”
“In the corner for now unless provoked.”
“Good.”
My eyes trail the length of him. “You clean up pretty good.”
Luke steps closer. “You look amazing.”
“Stop hitting on me,” I whisper.
“I’m not.” Luke chuckles nervously. “You’ll know when I am.”
I don’t comment and move to leave the room, still feeling a little uncomfortable and exposed, and I’m not talking about the dress I have on.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Dad says, opening the door for me.
“Dad, stop,” I beg. “I’m not the one getting married.”
“You might as well be.”
“Please,” I beg.
“Sorry, honey. You just look so beautiful.”
“I should get back. You know…make sure Claire doesn’t try to run from us last minute.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Mike declares confidently.
Once I return to the bridal room, I bounce in and out of the suite, needing some alone time on occasion to get myself ready for when I see my mother again.
When we wait for the precession to start, Luke whispers things in my ear, reminding me of some of the funny shit he and Mike used to do that I was either involved with or witnessed.
He’s a perfect gentleman as we walk toward my brother at the altar.
Luke even stares at me the majority of the time while the priest is speaking—some of them include funny faces.
I appreciate his antics. They’re keeping me from looking to my right, where my mother is sitting in the crowd.
Mandy and Vix hang out with us while pictures are taken before the reception.
Thankfully, she and the rest of the bridesmaids are a good enough distraction to keep me away from thinking too much about my mother.
There are a number of serious photos taken, but it’s nice to see that Claire and Mike are willing to do a few goofy ones as well.
After introductions at the reception, Mike and Claire take their seat at the main table that’s just for them while the rest of us take those reserved for the bridal party.
I’m overjoyed at the fact that Mandy, Dad, and Irene are at my table while my mother is on the opposite side of the dance floor.
Luke, Will, and Claire’s grandparents are with us at the table as well, which makes me wonder if Mike and Claire did some last-minute rearranging of seats.
The other tables of the bridal party and close family don’t quite add up.
I’m grateful either way, relieved that I’m far enough away from my mother.
Before dinner is served, Mike and Claire have their first dance, which is funny and choreographed. Once it kicks back into a slow song where they dancing sweetly together, a tap is felt on my shoulder.
“Let’s go,” Luke states.
“What?”
“We’re supposed to join them,” he reminds.
“Uh…no.”
“Uh…yeah.” He points to the dance floor where the entire wedding party is now located.
I reluctantly agree, and before I’m all the way standing, Luke takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor just beyond where our table resides.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he hums lowly in my ear.
“Knock it off, Busta Rhymes .”
Luke’s chuckle rumbles against my chest. “So, you do remember.”
“How can I not? It was easy when Mike mimicked some of the dance moves with Claire.”
Luke’s laugh gets louder.
“I wasn’t sure if I should be proud of him or worried for her.”
“Claire has her own level of weird that fits Mike.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “That’s why he fell in love with her and why she’s cool to have as a sister.”
“So, do you remember all of the dance moves?”
“If the song suddenly starts playing, I will leave you here on the dance floor,” I declare.
“Come on,” he whines.
“Mike can dance with you.”
Back in school, I think it was my freshman year in high school, there was a talent show. Mike, Luke, and a few of the other guys entered it, lip syncing and dancing to a Busta Rhymes song. It was hilarious, to say the least.
“It’ll be fun,” Luke coaxes.
“At least you’re a little bit better dancer now.”
“A little better?” he scoffs. “Well…I’ve had time to practice.”
I giggle at a thought. “Did you and Mike take classes together?”
Luke pulls me closer. “No…but you’re more fun to dance with.”
“What are you doing?” I ask nervously.
“Nothing.”
“Luke?” I whine.
“Easy, Tyson,” he soothes. “Just relax.”
I take a deep breath and let it out.
“So…” Luke begins, “I was wondering….”
“Uh, oh,” I huff when he doesn’t continue.
“Very funny. As I was saying…I was wondering what you meant last night.”
“About what?”
“About the kiss,” he states.
“What kiss?”
“You said that I was your first kiss, but I wasn’t your first kiss .”
I bite my tongue and look up at him. “Does it really matter?”
“No. Just curious about what you meant.”
When I was twelve, and decided to jump out of a tree to hurt myself enough to stop doing gymnastics, Luke and Mike were present.
I pretended that I could jump down from the higher branch since I’ve jumped down from the tree dozens of times.
Tired of Mom pushing, yelling, hitting, and making me think that I wasn’t good enough, even though my coach said that there was a very good chance I could make it to the Olympic tryouts, I took matters into my own hands.
I took control and purposefully jumped wrong, hoping I’d break something.
I didn’t feel anything snap or pop, but there was a burning, sharp pain in my leg.
Mike ran inside to find Mom and Dad while Luke stayed with me.
I tried so hard not to cry in front of him—that’s when he kissed me for the first time.
His lips landed on mine in a frantic state, which caught my attention enough to distract me from the sensation in my leg temporarily.
“Why?” I ask when the memory fades.
“Just curious.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not sure if I want to tell you.”
“Come on,” he begs.
“How about if you come down my way for work, I’ll show you around a little bit, and then maybe I’ll tell you.”
“It’s a date,” Luke confirms quickly.
“It’s not a date. Just two friends getting together.”
Luke doesn’t say anything further, beaming as if he’s won something.
For the rest of the night, I’m able to dance or chat with friends and family without my mother getting close to me. Luke hovers, which makes me think he’s standing guard just in case she has enough balls to try something.
Later in the evening, I take Vix outside to get some fresh air.
“How’s the old injury?” Luke asks from behind me.
“Good. Are you stalking me?”
“No,” he laughs. “Just making sure someone doesn’t bother you.”
“I can hold my own.”
“Oh, I know,” Luke says with a grin. “So, when are you heading back?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So soon?” he replies.
“Can you blame me?”
“No.” Luke moves closer and pets Vix as I hold her in my arms. “I’ll be down in two weeks.”
“Really?” I say, a little shocked.
“You didn’t think I was serious?”
“I wasn’t sure,” I admit.
“I travel down for work on occasion,” he reveals.
My head bobs. “I remember you saying. How often are you down there?”
“Enough,” he answers with a smile. “I’ve been finding some possible clients in the area.”
“What do you do?” I ask for the first time.
“Handle mergers and acquisitions.”
I study him for a moment.
“What?” he asks.
“You’re a bit young to be doing that well, aren’t you?” I tease.
“No.” Luke leans into my ear. “I’m just that good.”
“Cocky,” I goad.
“So I’ve been told,” he chuckles.
I snicker. “Laying it on pretty thick, aren’t you?”
Luke winks. “Been told that, too.”
“It’ll never happen.”
“What are you talking about?” he asks.
I wag my finger at him. “You know what."
“Do I?” he teases.
“You’re not going to get me to say it.”
Luke doesn’t comment as a light blush rises in his cheeks.
“You ready to go?” Mandy asks, coming from inside.
“Yeah,” I agree, feeling tired. “I check my phone and see that it’s two.”
“I already called…the driver,” Mandy comments.
“Awesome,” I reply as Tony pulls up to the valet area.
“See you soon, Tyson,” Luke bids as he helps me get into the vehicle.
“See you soon, Busta Rhymes,” I reply as he closes the door.
“What was that about?” Mandy asks with a devious look in her eye once the door is shut.
“Nothing. He’ll be down for work in a few weeks.”
“Cool,” Mandy replies. “Maybe you can finally get some action other than from your battery-operated boyfriend.”
“Ew,” I laugh. “Luke was like a brother to me.”
“He’s hot,” she says. “I know you’ve noticed.”
“We’ve got history.”
Mandy’s expression perks up.
“Not that kind of history.”
Wiggling her eyebrows, she says, “You’ve changed. He’s changed. I’m sure anything’s possible.”