Chapter 22
Vienna
Is That a Magician?
I come out of the bathroom, tears already streaming down my face. “It’s negative.”
His jaw grows tight. “Seriously?”
I nod, darting my eyes to another place in the room other than his face and the anger resting there. “Yes.”
“What the fuck, Vienna?” He picks up the picture frame on our dresser and slams it to the ground. “Are you fucking lying to me?”
Fury races through me. “Why on earth would I lie about something like that?” I toss the pregnancy test at his feet. “Look for yourself.”
He picks up the stick, furrowing his brow. “I don’t know what the fuck this means.”
“One line is negative, two means positive. How many lines do you see?”
He glances at it again and then tosses it to the side. “Take another one.”
“I’ve already taken five. They’ve all said the same thing.”
“This is bullshit,” he says, pacing the room while pushing a hand through his blond hair, the same hair that his father and sister have—the blond that all of the Cassidy family has.
“Maybe it’s time we see some doctors, Cole,” I suggest cautiously. “We’ve been trying for almost two years now and…”
“Fuck that. There’s nothing wrong with me. It sounds like you’re the problem.”
“You don’t know that…”
“Yes, I do!” His voice carries through the room as he gets inches from my face.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he grates out, “Think about how this looks. We’ve been married for so long and still no children.
I have an image to uphold, Vienna. My job and the connections I make rely on it.
” When his eyes meet mine again, he looks at me with disgust. “Figure it out, or I’m going to. ”
All I see is his back as he leaves our room, slamming the door behind him. As soon as I’m alone again, I crumble to the floor, holding my knees to my chest.
All I’ve ever wanted is children, to raise them to know love like I never did.
But I don’t know if that will happen now. And without a husband who is willing to approach this intentionally, I don’t know if it ever will.
***
“You booked a magician for my bachelorette party?” Laney is frozen in place, watching our entertainment for the evening setting up his props in Dilynne’s living room.
“Well, you said no strippers, so I figured this was the next best thing.”
“How did you even arrive at that conclusion?”
Dilynne plants her hands on her hips, smacking her gum.
“I had a customer come into the shop a few weeks ago, this little old man who wanted a tune-up on his car.” She peers over at me, eyes widening.
“It was a 1979 Camaro z28. I’ve never seen one in person, and when I did, I nearly came when I touched it. ”
“Yeah, that means nothing to me,” I reply.
Elodie scrunches up her nose. “And that was an unnecessary detail to share with us.”
Dilynne shakes her head. “I need better friends.”
“Please get to the point,” Laney says, directing Dilynne back to her story.
“Anyway, he wanted the car in tip-top shape because he and his wife were going on a date to see a magic show in Charlotte. How adorable is that?”
“Okay, that’s actually kind of sweet,” I say as I lift my glass of champagne to my lips.
“Exactly, and since my best friend is acting like a prude of a bride, I figured we should see what all of the hype about magic shows is, so I got the information from the little old man and here we are.” She fans her hands over to the guy dressed in a black tux and top hat.
“I am not a prude for not wanting to see some man get naked when my fiancé fulfills every fantasy I have,” Laney counters.
“Plus, I let you order that monstrosity of a cake.” When she points to the corner, the four of us look in that direction.
“Dilynne likes to order novelty cakes for bachelor and bachelorette parties. For Elliot’s, she put his and his would-be bride’s face on the testicles of a penis. ”
“You didn’t let me do anything. You and I both know that you weren’t going to do a damn thing about the cake that I ordered. Honestly, I think I went a little tame with this one.”
The rectangular-shaped cake was decorated to look like a postcard, but Fletcher’s face is on the penis-shaped stamp in the corner.
In the middle is a picture of Laney and Fletcher as kids, but when you lift that picture up, there’s an image of Fletcher’s calendar photo underneath.
Laney appreciated that more than anyone.
“I get it, but there are plenty of single women here who would have appreciated a stripper and a penis-shaped cake,” Dilynne fires back. “I exercised so much control by honoring your requests that I should get some credit for that. But sometimes you need to think about other people too, Laney.”
Laney gasps, but there’s a smile on her lips. “I can’t believe you just said that to me!”
“Honey, if I can’t be honest with you, then who can?”
Elodie and I laugh, watching their exchange as a bunch of the other girls murmur in conversation while sitting in chairs around the room.
Dilynne really did plan the perfect party for Laney.
Her entire house is decorated in shades of gold and rose pink—Laney’s wedding colors—and there are tables full of food, but most importantly, towers of onion rings on tables around the room.
Endless bottles of champagne are chilling on ice, and there are cardboard cutouts hiding under sheets in the corner, which I can only assume are for a game later.
Normally a social situation like this would make me feel uneasy, but these girls are quickly becoming a source of comfort in my new life, yet another aspect I want to fight for.
“Fine. Then tell me why the cutouts are back,” Laney says to Dilynne, planting her hands on her hips now.
“You’ll find out later along with everyone else.”
Laney drops her hands, reaches for her glass of champagne, and drains it. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Dilynne bops her on the nose. “Right back at you, future Mrs. Laney Adams.”
Laney sighs wistfully. “God, I can’t wait to marry that man.”
Dilynne grabs Laney’s hand and squeezes it. “Your dream is finally coming true, Laney. And no one deserves it more than you and him. This is one wedding I’m actually excited for.” She directs her eyes over at me and Elodie. “And the next weddings I’ll be happy for will be yours.”
“Me?” I nearly drop my glass of champagne. “I don’t think…”
Laney reaches for my hand. “Does that mean your date didn’t go well? You gave me nothing when I texted you.”
Dilynne pokes my cheeks that I know are turning pink in a flash. “I think her flushed cheeks speak for themselves.”
“It was…” I think back to that night and how everything felt like it clicked into place for me, but I know Rhonan and I are very far away from getting our own happily ever after. “I mean, it was amazing, but it’s still so new, and…”
Dilynne snaps her fingers. “Now I’m bummed that I changed the game up.”
“What do you mean?” Elodie asks.
Dilynne points to the corner where the cardboard cutouts are standing. “Rhonan’s handcuffs would have been perfect for Vienna tonight. I bet she knows how well he can use them now.”
Laney wrinkles her nose. “Ew, that’s my brother you’re talking about.”
Dilynne shrugs. “Don’t act like you haven’t been invested in him getting with Vienna since we found out about the two of them.”
I can’t hide my smirk, even though I’m grateful for the change in topic. “You know, being handcuffed isn’t something that would have interested me before. But with Rhonan?” I fan my face. “I think I’d definitely be interested.”
“Gross!” Laney shouts.
I lean forward and drop my voice. “Sorry to tell you, Laney, but your brother is a dirty boy in bed, even without handcuffs.”
Dilynne slow-claps as Elodie and I laugh. “I knew Rhonan was a closet freak.”
Laney covers her ears. “You’re ruining my bachelorette party.”
Dilynne laughs. “Hey, you wanted him and Vienna to get together, and it’s happening.
Be grateful. They’re halfway on their way to wedded bliss.
” She lets out a frustrated groan. “My fuck buddy and I parted ways a few months ago, and I’ve been so busy working on the Porsche for Motorlux that I haven’t been dicked down in a long time.
I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what a good redwood tree might feel like between my legs. ”
Elodie spits out her champagne as she chokes. “Dear God, Dilynne! A redwood?”
“What?” She tosses her hands in the air. “Would you prefer magic wand?”
A throat clears behind us. When the four of us turn around, we find the magician standing there, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Uh, I’m ready when you are, ladies.”
Dilynne claps her hands together, completely unaffected by this man overhearing our conversation. “Perfect! Let’s get the show on the road! Ladies, gather ‘round and prepare to have your minds blown.”
Everyone refills their drinks and settles in for an adult-themed magic show.
Even though Dilynne wasn’t able to satisfy our eyes with a male stripper, the magician made sure to include plenty of dildos, whips, and chains in his performance to leave us all hot and bothered. And then, he finished his act with the ultimate trick—making his clothes disappear.
“Oh my God!” Laney shouts as the man stands there, sculpted muscle and tan skin, in nothing but a thong.
Dilynne hoots and hollers. “Fuck yeah! Best magic trick ever!”
The magician spins around and shakes his ass before smirking over his shoulder. “The maid of honor paid me extra for that trick, and money talks.”
Dilynne nearly falls out of her chair from laughter, while the rest of us cheer and give the man a standing ovation.
Once the entertainment has packed up and left, Dilynne brings out the cardboard cutouts of the guys, revealing the adjustment that she made to the original game.
“I can’t with this girl sometimes,” Laney says to me from my right. “She created this game when Elliot and Tori were getting married and had cutouts of objects for people to pin to their junk. Now, I guess we’re pinning different hairstyles on them?”
“You know, since you’re a hairstylist,” Dilynne explains like it makes perfect sense as she continues to set up the cutouts.
Laney turns to me and takes my hand in hers. “Are you having a good time?”
“I really am,” I say. “And I know you and I haven’t known each other for very long, so it really means a lot that you’ve included me in this special moment in your life, Laney.” I fight off the emotion clogging my throat.
She squeezes my hand. “Well, it means a lot to me that you’ve made my brother smile again, so let’s say that we’re even.”
We share a laugh, and then I glance across the room where Elodie is trying to help Dilynne set up the cardboard cutouts of the boys, but the one of Elliot keeps falling down.
“He would be a pain in my ass, even in cardboard form,” Dilynne mutters as she kicks Elliot sprawled across the floor. “Can’t keep it up. I bet that’s how it is in real life too.”
Laney shakes her head and turns back to me. “Anyway, in all seriousness, how are things going with you and my brother? And please, spare me any more details of your love life.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Honestly, things are going so well that I’m terrified.”
“Girl, I know that feeling.”
“He took me on a date and told me that he thinks I’m the person he was waiting for to show him that he could be happy again, Laney.” I take in a shaky breath. “I’m falling for him.”
Laney squeals. “You two belong together. I can feel it.”
“You think so?”
“I know my brother, and I knew it would take a special woman to pull him out of the storm he’s been living in.” She rubs my hand. “That’s you, Vienna.”
“I—I’m speechless.”
“Don’t be. Just keep being patient with him and don’t let anything stand in your way. Otherwise, you’ll live with regrets and that’s something no one can ever take back.”
Trust me, Laney. I know.