May 24th
Make me choose.
Ainsley
I’m at the bridal tea, and I’m watching the bride. She’s beaming. Happy. In her element. And I love the fact that her dad is here.
And while I’m happy for Dani, a sudden sadness washes over me. Not that I think I will ever get married, but if I did, I’d want both my dad and the rest of the family by my side.
I’m starting to get the feeling that my dad would make me choose.
Maybe I could help mend some fences.
I glance at my mom, who, although she’s putting on a happy face, has chugged down two Bloody Marys already, and that’s unlike her. She’s also constantly checking her phone.
And she must not see what she hoped for because she scowls at it and then shoves it back into her purse.
I excuse myself for a moment, moving outside the restaurant, and take out my phone .
Me: I miss you. I was hoping you’d be here in the Ozarks for at least a little while. Even if it was just for me.
Dad: I miss you too, honey.
Me: Then you should come. I don’t know if you heard, but there’s going to be a wedding tonight. You could totally make it in time.
Dad: I don’t get along with my brothers very well. You know that.
Me: You wouldn’t be doing this for them. You’d actually be crashing the wedding of Danny Diamond’s daughter. So, you know it’s going to be good. And since, technically, your brothers aren’t paying for it …
Dad: You bring up a good point.
Me: Does that mean you will come?
Dad: Yeah, I will.
Me: Good. Plus, you and Mom need to make up.
Dad: You know that she’s upset with me?
Me: Yeah. She said you had a disagreement, but she keeps checking her phone. Hoping you will text her maybe?
Dad: I haven’t. Was trying to give her some space.
Me: Maybe that’s not really what she wants.
Dad: The woman does love me. She’s put up with me for a long time.
Me: What’s there to put up with? Besides the fact that you’re a little messy sometimes.
Dad: Exactly.
Me: Okay, gotta go. I’ll see you tonight. And don’t tell Mom. I think you should surprise her.
Dad: Yes, it will definitely be a surprise. For a lot of people.
When I get back to the table, I look at my mom and smile at her. “What was your wedding like? I don’t remember ever seeing pictures of it.”
“Well, we hadn’t known each other all that long.
I found out I was pregnant just a few months into our relationship.
He was super excited about the baby, proposed, then told me he didn’t want to have to deal with a big family wedding.
That he didn’t get along with his that well to begin with and didn’t want their uptight attitudes to ruin our special day.
So, we flew to Vegas and eloped. We didn’t have much money, but he splurged on a suite. It was utterly romantic,” she says.
After the brunch is over, when I’m walking back to the house to relax and get ready for tonight, I hear a whistle.
I turn around and spot Damon.
“Hot stuff, right there in front of me,” he says with a grin, but I am not what’s hot.
He is.
I do a little twirl though because I did get all gussied up for the tea.
He claps his hands and moves closer to me.
Did I mention that he’s wet and wearing just a pair of swim trunks?
That, even though a towel is wrapped around his neck, there are little beads of water sliding down the front of him, highlighting his muscles. Those abs.
And let’s not forget about his hair. It’s slicked back, and it looks darker than it is, and it makes him look . . .
Older.
“Where have you been? Out skiing?” I ask.
“The guys had a water-gun fight. My sister and dad left her tea early, and she joined in. It was actually really awesome. Especially since my team took home the victory.”
“And what did you get?” I ask him, wishing I could ask what I could get.
“It’s more about what the loser has to do. Which is a secret.”
I lean closer to him. “Can you tell me?”
“Only if you promise not to tell anyone.”
“Cross my heart,” I say, slowly making an X motion across my chest.
Damon just tilts his head and watches. And I like that he does.
“Well, in that case, the losers have to do a dance to kick off the reception. When we were talking about the wedding, my grandma told me that my dad and some of their friends did a choreographed dance at Chase’s parents’ wedding.
That it was a huge hit. So, I thought it would be cool to re-create it.
The songs are old, but I recognize them all, so … ”
“That’s really thoughtful of you.”
“I also threw Chase a bachelor party this morning,” he says with a sly grin .
“I’ve heard of bachelor parties lasting all night, but not sure I’ve ever heard of a morning event. What did you do?”
“I told him I was disappointed because if I’d had some notice, I would have thrown him an epic party. But instead, I had to bring strippers into the wilderness the morning of his wedding.”
My eyes go wide in surprise. “You didn’t!”
“I also said that his dad told me that I had to make sure Chase was sober in time for the ceremony, but that I thought that point was debatable.”
“What did Chase think of that?”
Damon lets out a hearty laugh. “He was all like, Tell me you’re joking , but I just pointed to one of the guest cottages and told him to get in there.
Of course, he resisted, so I had to tell him there weren’t really strippers and he needed to just go with it.
Basically, when he walked in, my dad, his dad, our grandpas, and his little brothers yelled out wishes for a happy day. ”
“A little family bachelor brunch. That’s so cute.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be cute though. I had to do something bad, so I went to the gas station and bought all the unhealthy stuff we used to stop and get before school. Oh my gosh though, Ryder told us that he wanted to do a toast at the reception, but got turned down, so he did it for us then.”
“He seems like a bit of a hellion. What did he say?”
“He wanted to congratulate Chase on his marriage, tell him that he has a really hot wife, and now he gets to have sex with her all the time.”
“Oh, that’s funny, but probably for the best that he didn’t say it at the reception.”
“It gets better. Crusher didn’t want to be outdone, so he did a toast too.” He starts laughing, just thinking about it. “He said he hoped Chase would dominate in his marriage the way he does on a football field.”
I start laughing too. “You have a dirty mind.”
“Hard not to when they say stuff like that. I dominate too, just so you know,” he practically purrs.
“Please, I’ve had sex with guys your age, and to be honest, it wasn’t great. It’s like they only care about themselves.”
He moves closer and whispers, “Not me. I’m a considerate lover.”
“Who even says that at your age?” I blurt out.
“My point,” he counters. “And on that note, I have a wedding to get pretty for.”
And I’m thinking he looks pretty dang good now.
The wedding ceremony is truly beautiful. The stone chapel is a new addition and a brilliant one at that. Even though I know I’m in the Ozarks, the chapel makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time. Like I’m on a hillside in the Italian countryside, a lake shimmering in the distance.
The bride is beaming. The groom emotional. But it’s the best man I can’t stop looking at.
Last time I saw him, he was half naked and dripping wet. Now, he’s in a black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie. The tuxedo jacket has gold buttons, the pants have a slim leg, and on his feet are black velvet smoking shoes with a gold-and-ivory embroidered crest.
And dare I say, he looks even more attractive.
Possibly because he looks equally comfortable in both.
His eyes lock on mine. His gaze flickers across my face. A smile plays at his lips.
And it makes me think of what it would be like. To stand up and stare into the eyes of someone I truly, deeply was in love with. Someone who wanted to be my partner in life.
Okay, Ainsley, enough daydreaming.
I shake my head, turn my focus to the wedding vows being said, and try hard not to look in his direction.
But when the happy couple is pronounced husband and wife and make their way down the aisle, Damon catches my gaze again, a little smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
Like he just heard a funny joke and is trying not to laugh.
I have a crazy flash of those eyes at different ages. Still playful. Still looking at me.
The second I get out of the church, I pull out my phone and text Sammy. Because clearly, something is wrong with me.
Me: Does lack of sex make you feel so desperate that you envision a lifetime with the first guy you’ve wanted to do it with in a while?
Sammy: OMG, is it like L-O-V-E?!? !
Me: I asked you a question.
Sammy: I’d suggest it’s the wedding festivities. Seeing a couple all happy and getting married makes you long for that yourself. Even if it’s not something you are really looking for.
Me: Pre-Brad, I always saw myself being married. Having kids. He stripped that dream from me.
Sammy: I have an idea on how you can find out though. Strip that boy down and get your groove on!
Me: I couldn’t!
Sammy: Clearly, you need to. Oh, I know. Take him skinny-dipping. When you are naked, he’ll think the sexy times are his idea and not that you have been seducing him all along. Makes it a little less Mrs. Robinson.
Me: !!!! In the movie, they had, like, a twenty-year age gap. I’m ONLY four years older!
Sammy: Wow. Four exclamation marks in a row. I must have pissed you off. (Also just proved that you aren’t too old. And you’re totally hot for him.)
Me: But I shouldn’t be.
Sammy: If not him, then find someone else. You’re looking for a shag right now, not a life partner.
True , I think as I go outside, where the bride and groom are taking photos with family and friends.
I saunter over to Damon, who appears to be waiting for his turn.
I run my finger down the lapel of his tuxedo. “Pretty snazzy. You clean up nice. ”
“I was thinking about you up there,” he says, the mood turning serious quickly. “About us actually.”