Chapter 1 #3
“The tux. That’s it. I’m just wondering if you’ve handled that.
Kate asked me if all of the groomsmen had taken care of business, so you get a call from me at this time of day asking if you’ve done just that.
I spoke to Kellen already, and he promises he’s going to get to the store today or tomorrow. ”
Even as I say that, I suspect the reality will be sometime later this week after I slyly insert the tux into a text conversation I’ll start in a few days. I love my brother, but he’s predictable in his forgetfulness.
Marius hums as all of that runs through my mind and then answers, “Maybe I’ll just buy one. I’ve got at least two more weddings coming soon that I’ll probably have to wear one to, so why not?”
It’s like I don’t know the people in my family at all anymore.
“Buy one? Just for Matthias and Ava’s wedding?” I ask, wondering if the second one he means is his own official ceremony coming up.
“Well, yeah,” he says, quickly adding, “You don’t think Kellen will be doing the formal thing?”
This time it’s my turn to laugh. “Kellen? You mean the brother in between the two of us? That Kellen? I don’t even know if he’s asked Salem to marry him. What makes you think he’s going to be getting married anytime soon?”
Marius stays silent for a few seconds before I can practically hear his shrug through the phone. “I don’t know. I just assumed once you and Matthias get married that he would.”
I can’t imagine why he ever thought that. Kellen and Salem have never seemed like the marrying types to me. If anything, they’re the perpetually single types.
“Well, regardless of that ever happening, I need to be able to tell Kate you’ve got this tux situation handled. Can I tell her that, or will you force me to lie to my future bride just one month before we get married?”
Unlike Kellen, this brother has shown himself to be susceptible to this kind of emotional manipulation, so of course, I use it.
Whatever it takes to get him to have the damn tux by my wedding day is fine with me.
Not that I think he’ll show up in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, but the last thing I need that day is some drama because the damn tux store is closed when he realizes he forgot to handle his shit.
“I got this, baby brother. I promise you I won’t let you down,” Marius says in an uncharacteristically somber tone.
“Thanks.”
“Can we talk about something fun now?” he asks, back to his usual happy self.
I know what he wants to discuss. My interview with that woman from New York Magazine. I knew he’d have something to say about it since it’s due out today. He probably read it online already.
“Like what?” I say in the best innocent voice I can muster.
“Um, like that kickass interview, dude! You killed it! I have to ask. Was she flirting with you as much as it seems in the write-up? I wasn’t even there, and I swear the whole article sounds like she was coming onto you.”
Damn. I had hoped the interviewer, a very nice woman named Lisa Bradley who had to be at least forty, would have made the article sound much less playful than it was in reality.
Not that either one of us did anything untoward.
I thought she conducted herself professionally, if not a little more informally than I’ve gotten used to since I started the Hope Forward Foundation, but I had thought she’d tighten up our discussion. Clearly, she hadn’t.
“It wasn’t like that,” I answer, already tired of talking about this latest public relations effort.
I accept I’m the face of the foundation. I just don’t care much for it to be about my face. I’d rather conversations be about my hand, to be honest.
“You should see the comments under the article, Ronan. Holy fuck! Not only are they talking about how you look in the picture that accompanies it, but people definitely picked up on the vibe that woman was putting down. Let me guess. You didn’t even realize she was hitting on you, right?”
The way Marius says that—like I’m either too stupid or too na?ve to understand when someone likes me—rubs me the wrong way, and I snap, “Maybe I just don’t need anyone but Kate to think I’m something fucking special. Ever think of that?”
He doesn’t speak for a long moment before quietly saying, “Hey, I wasn’t busting your balls or saying you wanted her or anything. Whatever gets people to give to the foundation works for me, and I know you feel the same.”
That defuses my sudden anger, and I quickly return to feeling good again. “Yeah. You’re right. Hey, I need to get going. Are you coming into the city today, or is it a Lily day?”
In the background, my niece makes a cooing sound.
Marius replies to her with baby talk I still can’t believe comes from that mouth I’ve heard say some of the dirtiest shit when we were younger and then says, “No, I’ll be there.
Maybe I’ll bring her and she can charm anyone who wasn’t completely seduced by that interview. Sound good?”
I roll my eyes and struggle to not tell him to fuck himself. He is talking about a baby, so I should refrain.
“Tell Eden I said hi. She’s meeting with Kate and the other bridesmaids tonight, so remember that, funny guy.”
Marius laughs and ends the call. Or maybe Lily did. Who knows with the two of them anymore.