Chapter 24
Ginny
The weddings are here! Today is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to see my brother pledge his love to my sister in all but name. And after they say ‘I do’, she really will be my sister. I’ve been dreaming about this day for decades! I knew when we were six that my hero, my big brother, would marry my best friend. It didn’t matter that he called us names and teased us. I knew he loved her even then. And it turns out I was right. Ha!
And my other best friend is marrying the man who finally made her believe in love. The everlasting kind. Not the quid pro quo kind. Tiny is so great with Nat, and my unofficial niece is over the moon happy. Of course, she’s already demanding that they keep kissing so she can have a baby brother or sister. I’m not going to tell her. Would you?
“You about done? We should have left ten minutes ago, but of course, we have to wait on your ass to get ready.”
I close my eyes and take in a breath. I know the time, and I also know we don’t have to leave for another twenty minutes. But that’s Keith, isn’t it? Always demanding we get places early so he can scope out the best position to be in to make himself look like a god.
“I’m coming!” I finally call back, checking my face in the mirror one more time. I’m not a big makeup girl. Come to think of it, I’m not really big on dressing up and being in large crowds of people over the average age of fourteen either, but for my best friends? I’ll do anything they request.
I walk into the sitting area of the suite we’re in and look at Keith. He’s a good-looking man with a tall swimmer’s build. Brown hair and eyes with a mustache. I could live without the mustache—either shave it all or grow it all, but he likes it, so who am I to rain on his parade?
“It’s about fucking time. What did you do in there, trowel your face? You look like a goddamn hooker, Virgina!”
I don’t respond. There’s no use. Besides, I’d rather not show up to my best friend’s wedding with a swollen cheek.
“Well, I was going to make a proposal, but it’ll never work with your face covered in all that shit.”
Ignoring the insult, I focus on the first part of his comment. “What proposal?”
“Well, your ‘soul-sisters’ are both getting married today. I thought we should just go ahead and make it a triple wedding.”
I stare at him in horror. “What?”
“You going deaf now, too? I said that we should just go ahead and get our nuptials over with. I mean, the preacher is already paid.”
“Are you nuts?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“What did you say?” he very quietly asks me.
“Nothing!” I’m quick to correct myself. “Just why would you want to do that? Have to share your big day with two other men? We all know you would hate that. Could you even imagine the pictures?” I laugh, covering up my urge to cry. “You, Tiny, and Davis? Together? You don’t even like them, and you want to get married with them? Share the spotlight? I’m only thinking about you, honey, and gosh, you’d hate that.”
“Hmm,” he grunts, thinking it over. “Yeah,” he chuckles, “you’re right, of course. I do hate them. When we’re married, you know that’s going to stop, right? You going over to visit those people whenever you want? And if we aren’t going to do it today, you need to set a date. Soon. I’m tired of waiting.”
“Of course.” Crisis averted. But, of course, then I have to open my mouth again. “Can I ask you a question? A serious one?”
“If you must.”
“Why do you want to marry me?”
He rolls his eyes, like I’m stupid. “Well, I guess because you look so good on paper. You come from a great family that has lots of money. They are well respected in the community. Your dad alone has contacts I just can’t get to on my own. It’s a bonus you’re a pretty good lay, even if I can’t stand to do it with the lights on.”
“Why do you do that? Is my family really worth attaching yourself to me?”
“Look, let’s face it. I’m all you’re ever going to get, Virginia,” he sneers. “No one else will look at you twice with your face and your fat and your failure as a woman to even be able to provide an heir. The fact I’m letting you be with me should win you over. Now let’s go before we’re late, and I expect to have a date when we get back to town.”
We make it to the door before he turns to face me, grabbing my chin in his fingers and forcing me to look at him. “And if the clown boy talks to you today without me at your side, you’ll regret it.”
Joker. He’s talking about Joker, who he hates the most. I’ve tried to ask him why he hates them all so much, and the answer he gave me was absurd. He said it was because ‘people shouldn’t like other people as much as you people do. It’s unhealthy to have that many people close to you. And when we get married, I’ll be the one person you’re close to and those people will become acquaintances only. People from your past, because I’m the only future you need.’ I mean, how do you respond to that? One of those people is my brother!
“I’m begging you not to make a scene today,” I finally say when we’re in the car. “For me. If you have any affection in your heart for me, please don’t make a scene.”
“Then don’t be a bitch,” he replies. “Don’t be stupid like you usually are. I’d really love it if you didn’t drink, because you become sloppy when you do. You think you can get away with things when there’s alcohol involved. You need something to make you feel less? I can find you something. Me.”
“Why are you here? Why did you come if you’re so fucking miserable?”
“Oh, going to grow a spine today, Ms. Thang? I’m here because it’s a family event and I’ll be your family soon. And there were some good contacts last night until your friends fucked it up. Imagine that.”
“Contacts for what? You’re a vice principal at a high school in a nowhere town in the middle of the mountains!”
“That doesn’t mean that’s all I’ll ever be!” he roars. “I have plans. And you can either get on board and let me do what I have to do or get out of my way. But you know as well as I do that you won’t find anyone else to put up with your…everything. You’re too much trouble and no one is ever going to love you.”
“When did you become so mean?”
He looks at me, gripping my thigh over the console, the contrite look in his eyes burning with sincerity. “I’m sorry, baby. Really. Weddings just make me jittery, and I’m so eager for ours. I didn’t mean it. Really.” He leans over and kisses my cheek. “You just hurt my feelings when you said you didn’t want to marry me today and I lashed out. I won’t do it again, promise.”
It’s like going through a fucking tornado with this man. One minute he hates me and treats me like shit and the next, he’s this guy. But he’s right, isn’t he? I am broken. And what man wants a woman who’s broken?
“What’s wrong?” Elle asks the minute she sees me at the ceremony location on the beach.
Keith squeezes my hand and I can feel his eyes bore into the side of my face. I wish he’d go find his seat and give me a minute to breathe.
“Nothing. Just nerves. It’s a big day for so many people!” I smile big, but Elle shoots a glance in Keith’s direction and nods her head.
“It is. I’m so sorry about last night,” she says to the both of us, “things got a little crazy.”
“Obviously.” Keith rolls his eyes. “There’s always drama when this group gets together.”
I nudge him with my elbow, and he squeezes my arm back. “Honey,” I smile at him, “why don’t you go sit with Dad? I’m sure Mom’s going nuts flitting around with last-minute things, and he’s all alone. I’m sure he’d love the company.”
“Huh. First bright idea you’ve had today, Virginia. See ya.”
I hear Elle sigh when he leaves us, and I turn to her. The look on her face is pained. Like she has something to say, but doesn’t want to say it. I’ve seen the look before on Trish and Lottie. I know what it means.
“Not today. Do not make today about me and my problems. They’re mine, and I’m dealing with them.”
“Fine,” she agrees, but her face says something completely different. “But we aren’t done with this.”
“Never thought we would be as much as I’d like to.”
“Aren’t we a pair?” she laughs, linking her arm with mine. “You’re with that and I’ve got some crazy stalker determined to make me crazy.”
“And a former Army Ranger who all but declared you his last night in front of everyone.”
“No, he didn’t,” she shakes her head sadly. “The opposite, in fact.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard him on the phone. I think he was talking to Joker. He said he felt nothing. So, that’s how I’m going to feel, too.”
“Oh, Elle.” I pull her into a hug. “One day, you’ll tell me everything.”
“Right,” she huffs out a laugh. “That’ll be the same day you let me have the conversation with you about Keith.”
“So, let’s schedule it now for nine days after never?”
“Precisely. I also overheard another phone call. I think it was his brother. It didn’t go well.”
“Poor Ranger. He’s really been through it with his family.”
“He has. But just like everything else, today is about total avoidance of all the shitty stuff. Let’s make this wedding beautiful for our friends and family!” Elle cheers, an almost manic look on her face. It’s comical and gets another laugh, this time closer to real.
“Let’s do this!” I mimic her mania.
The weddings are beautiful, my friends happier than I’ve ever seen them. The men all look dapper in their dressed down suits, and the kids are all beaming. Big happy families. Something I know I’ll never have. I excuse myself when I can’t take it and lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes. I want a happy life. I want a man that loves me for all that I am. I know that man isn’t Keith, really, I do.
I think Elle and I need to have that night together sooner rather than later. She cuts through all the bullshit and isn’t careful with my feelings. It’s refreshing, and after today, I think I need a dose of Elle’s reality.