Chapter 23 Face Yourself
“Would you prefer if I wear a white shirt or a black shirt?” Tyler asked, holding up both.
“Of course, the black shirt!” Nicki exclaimed. “It makes you look extra sexy and it’s so you,” she added.
“OK, and no tie, right?” he confirmed.
“No, I wouldn’t make you do that, honey. The fact that you wore one to meet my parents was sweet enough.”
“I’ll do anything to make you happy. I’ll wear a clown suit on our wedding day if you ask me too.”
“Haha! I got Boon one of those adorable white shirt dog collars with a black bowtie. He’s going to look so cute! But I still have to find my wedding dress.”
“Ha! Ring-bearer Boon.” Tyler caressed Nicki’s belly. “I’m so glad you want to do it in September. The faster I marry you the better for my blood pressure.”
The late August sun poured gold into Tyler’s living room. He wrapped his arms around Nicki from the back, and kissed her neck.
“I’m just happy that I still get to choose a dress that I want and will be able to fit into it! I don’t think I’m not even showing yet, look,” Nicki said, rolling up her shirt.
Tyler bent down and kissed her stomach.
“It’s been barely two months; they’ll make their presence known soon. Right boys?” he shouted at her belly.
Nicki giggled.
“Are you excited about your bachelor party?” Nicki teased.
Tyler shrugged. “Not excited about being away from you for three days.”
“Are you… going to any strip clubs?” Nicki asked with a sly smile.
“In backcountry Alaska? God, I hope not!” he said.
“That’s too bad. The girls and I are going to a strip club!”
“What?! That’s funny, and no you’re not!” Tyler shouted with his forehead crossed.
Nicki burst out laughing.
“What do you mean? A spa is a sort of club, and you strip in order to get into a robe and do all the treatments! With very limited clothing! Mud baths, massages, facials. Wouldn’t that be considered a strip club?”
“I’m going to get you for that,” Tyler quipped, bringing her in for a kiss. “I’m so thankful for Christina,” he added between kisses.
“What a crazy whirlwind year it’s been,” Nicki said.
“Best year of my life.”
“Me too.”
Tyler and Nicki kissed passionately before letting their control slip away, ending up naked, on the kitchen table, over the wedding inspiration magazines.
The crew took up the entire bar at Nancy’s. Their light banter made Nancy giddy. She cracked open a new bottle of whiskey and poured them all a shot.
“You can have mine, Nancy,” Tico said, sliding it over.
“Well, normally I wouldn’t dare to, but I’m just so excited about this wedding next weekend that I may just need this to get me through!” she exclaimed.
She took back the shot with the guys and grimaced at the taste.
“I don’t know how you boys do it,” she teased and went to serve some customers nearby.
Vinnie took the bottle and poured them another one.
“One week, buddy, you ready?” he asked Tyler.
“Fuck yeah I am.”
“Yeah, if he doesn’t get eaten by a bear in Alaska!” Tommy chimed in. “If he survives three days in the wild then he’ll be ready for anything, including marriage. And twin boys. Man, I can’t wait to get out there, bro!”
“I’m surprised you weren’t on the strip club train with Vinnie, man!” Jake said. “This guy hasn’t touched a human female since Tiffany in Vegas. His virginity practically grew back!”
The guys laughed, pushing Tommy off the stool.
Tyler put his arm around his brother who didn’t take kindly to the crew’s jokes. Mostly due to the fact that Tommy started to think there was something seriously wrong with him.
“Yo, does Nicki have any sisters?” Vinnie asked.
“She’s got a brother that’s going to kick your ass!” Tyler quipped.
“I’m just asking!” Vinnie corrected.
“I don’t know, guys, what if we actually run into a bear? Or a wolf or something, up there in Alaska?” Luca complained.
“Don’t worry about wolves, bro, they’re cool,” Tommy said, taking another shot.
“Luca, buddy, if it wasn’t for you at the bor—” Tyler cleared his throat.
“If it wasn’t for you meeting us at that place, the whole take down wouldn’t have happened.
Taking on a bear would be nothing for you, man,” Tyler finished, clinking his glass against Luca’s.
“I’ve said it to you personally but I’ll say it again in front of the boys: it’s because of you that we pulled off this job. You did it, buddy.”
“Luca!” the guys said, patting him on the back.
Luca basked in the rare praise from the guys.
The TVs above their heads displayed the evening news.
“Hey, darling, could you turn that up, please?” Jake asked Nancy.
The guys glued their eyes to the screen.
“Two weeks after the high-profile arrest of alleged crime family leader Kane Leeman, authorities have announced a significant expansion of charges. If convicted, Leeman could face a prison sentence of at least 20 years in Canada.”
The boys snickered at the bar.
“Canadian prosecutors are prioritizing the terrorism-related charges, which are considered among the most serious and may delay, or even override, any immediate transfer to the United States.”
Tommy couldn’t hold it in anymore. His temporary melancholy mood broke when he burst into laughter. The rest of the guys followed.
“What are you boys snickering on about over there?” Nancy asked.
“Just about how ridiculous this loser looks, arguing in handcuffs, being escorted by Canadian cops, hahaha!” Tommy blurted out.
“Enough, quiet,” Tyler scolded. “Change the subject,” he whispered.
“Too funny,” Tico added. “Makes me so happy.”
“Alright boys, show’s over,” Tyler said, getting up from the bar. Everyone got up except for Tommy.
“I’ll stay back with him, catch you boys tomorrow for the trip,” Jake said, fist bumping the guys.
He sat down beside Tommy, and poured himself another. It was just the two of them left.
“How ya doin, buddy? With everything?” Jake asked.
Tommy waited a minute before he answered. “I think I’m doing alright.”
Tommy turned to Jake, leaving his shot of whiskey on the bar as is.
“I just want them both to be happy.”
Jake nodded.
“She got you good, didn’t she?” Jake teased.
A little smile broke on Tommy’s mouth. “Yeah, she got me good.”
Jake nodded with a laugh.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Hey, I’m bringing a new girl to the wedding. Riley. Wait, I think that’s her name. Anyway, want me to see if she has a cute friend for you?”
“Naw, thanks, bro. I’m good. I’m…content. It’s good for me, to just… face myself. Or something…”
“Face yourself? What the hell does that mean? You doing some deep self-care work there, bro?” Jake teased.
“Shut up, man,” Tommy said, resorting to the shot in front of him.
“Hey, hey, it’s cool bro. In fact, I’m proud of you. And I’m glad you and Tyler are solid again. Come on, let’s go, I still gotta pick up some bear shit for Alaska,” Jake said, coming in for a bro hug.
“Alright, man.”
They hugged it out.
The girls’ bachelorette weekend was spent in a luxury hotel on the Pacific ocean coast with a world class spa for the most decadent of treatments.
Nicki hosted the ladies comprised of her mother, her sister-in-law, Tanisha, her younger sister Sierra, Tico’s wife Zana who flew in for the occasion, Amelia and Christina.
They indulged in lavish baths, steams, massages and manicures.
The ladies were just in the relaxation room, after another round of thermal salt baths when Nicki took a picture of them together.
“Say cheese, girls!” Nicki said.
“Say bride to beee!” Tanisha corrected.
The selfie featured eight sets of wide smiles with their hair wrapped in towels.
“This has been the most relaxing two days ever!” Nicki exclaimed. “I’m so glad you could all come and enjoy it with me.”
“Are you kidding? This has been a dream! I’m going to come back here with Phil for our anniversary!”
“So, um, Nicki… Luca is going to be at the wedding, right?” Sierra asked sheepishly.
“Excuse you?” Tanisha quipped.
“What? Ever since he dropped you off that day, we got to talking, and…well—”
“Well, what? Spit it out, Sierra!” Tanisha scolded.
“Well… I like him, OK?” Sierra shouted.
“Awww, how adorable! Sierra, Luca is the sweetest!” Nicki shouted.
“Don’t encourage her, Nicki!” Tanisha warned.
“Don’t listen to your sister. She’s married, she’s not allowed to have any fun. Luca will be at the wedding, Sierra, you should sit with him,” Nicki encouraged and winked at her. “Sierra and Luca sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
Tanisha rolled her eyes. “OK, I think it’s time to get ready for dinner, what do you think, Momma?” she playfully asked Nicki’s mother.
“Wonderful! And more drinks!” her mom replied.
“Mom!” Nicki scolded.
“Don’t listen to her, Mrs. Carter, she’s just mad she can’t drink with us.”
“That’s true, drink one for me!” Nicki shouted.
“We’ll drink for three!” Tanisha added.
The ladies all laughed and made their way to dinner for the evening, at a lovely Italian restaurant overlooking the ocean.
Tyler smiled at the picture he received of all the ladies at the spa.
My sweet angel, he thought.
“Bro! How are you getting service out here, bro?” Vinnie asked from over at the camp fire with all the guys.
“Don’t worry about it,” Tyler quipped back, discreetly showing the picture to Tico.
He nodded in approval, followed by a fist bump.
“Of course. The guy who goes backcountry camping with a private jet and a satellite phone,” Jake teased. “The rest of us are raw doggin’ it out here!”
“Yeah? Cause I didn’t see you catch any fish!” Tyler teased.
“Yeah, but I’m buying lunch at the first sign of civilization we see, bro.”
“Hey, Alpha, can I use your satellite phone?” Trevor piped up for the first time in over an hour.
“Oh, what? So you can call Amelia? What’s wrong with you guys? This is supposed to be a boys’ trip!” Vinnie complained.
Tyler passed Trevor the phone, appreciating his pain.
“Yeah, I don’t see Tico crying about needing to call his wife!” Luca added.
“That’s cause Zana is with Nicki on their spa weekend!” Vinnie quipped back.
“Hey, Alpha! Is Tanisha’s sister with the girls too?” Luca asked.
“Oooooh! Another soldier down! You guys are soft as fuck!” Jake teased.