40. （SPELL）bound
VERENA
40
Bachelorette parties were supposed to be wild, right? Full of scandalous games, risqué outfits, and way too much alcohol. But this? This was…different. More like a family get-together with a twist.
The familiar, cozy chaos of Mom’s house greeted me as I stepped through the front door. The living room was decked out with streamers, balloons, and a big “Congratulations, Verena!” banner hanging across the fireplace.
“Vee! You made it!” Laura’s voice rang out, and she rushed over to hug me. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach.
“Of course I did,” I laughed, hugging her back. “Wouldn’t miss my own party, would I?” I was lying to myself. I absolutely wanted to miss my own party. I was debating on pretending to be sick. But that damn guilt, the one where I had to pretend to put on a brave face for Auntie, kept me from hiding.
Mom and Auntie were bustling around the kitchen, arranging trays of food and pitchers of what looked like dangerously strong cocktails. Auntie looked better today, her face lit up with excitement, but I could still see the shadows of exhaustion around her eyes.
“Hey, honey,” Mom said, pulling me into a tight hug. “How’s my beautiful bride-to-be?”
“Nervous,” I admitted. “But good.”
Auntie came over and hugged me next. “You look stunning, Vee. And don’t worry, tonight is going to be perfect.”
“Thanks, Auntie,” I said, squeezing her hand. Her health was deteriorating, and here I was, pretending everything was fine.
Luke strolled in, carrying a large cooler filled with ice and beer. He gave me a lopsided grin. “Ready to party, Vee?”
“Always,” I replied, trying to match his enthusiasm.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and I turned to see Jae walking in, followed by a man who could only be described as the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
“Verena, you remember Sinclaire Jewel,” Jae said, introducing his longtime friend. “Sin owns the Crown Jewels Hotels where the wedding will be.”
“Please, call me Sin,” he said, taking my hand and pressing a light kiss to the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Verena. Jae’s told me so much about you lately.”
I glanced at Jae, raising an eyebrow. “Has he now?”
Jae smirked, a playful glint in his eye. “Only the good stuff.”
Sin laughed, a rich, warm sound that filled the room. “I brought a friend, I hope that’s okay.” He stepped aside to reveal another man, equally attractive, holding several bottles of expensive-looking alcohol.
“More the merrier,” I said, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
Sin’s friend stepped forward, offering a charming smile. “Hi, I’m Nathan. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied, shaking his hand. “Welcome to the coed shower.”
As we settled in, I remembered my night at the hotel Sin owned. “Sin, I must say, your event planner, Danny, has gone above and beyond for us. She is wonderful.”
A shadow crossed Sin’s expression, his charming demeanor faltering for a split second. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he said, his tone cool and measured, but there was an underlying tension that hadn’t been there before.
Nathan glanced at Sin, then back at me, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Danny is exceptional at her job,” he said diplomatically. “Sin is lucky to have her.”
I noticed the brief exchange, sensing there was more to the story, but decided to let it drop for now. “Well, she’s made everything run so smoothly. Please thank her for me.”
Sin nodded, his expression softening slightly. “I will, Verena. Thank you for letting us join your celebration.”
As everyone mingled, I caught snippets of conversations. Luke and Laura were deep in a debate about which game to play first, while Mom and Auntie were discussing the latest episode of their favorite TV show. Sin and Nathan were fitting in effortlessly, charming everyone with their wit and stories.
“Hey, are we going to play a game or what?” Luke called out, breaking the moment.
“Let’s get started!” Laura said, her voice brimming with excitement.
We gathered around the living room, forming a loose circle on the plush carpet. Laura took charge, pulling out a stack of cards with a gleam in her eye. “Alright, everyone, teams of two! Let’s see who can guess the most movie titles. And no cheating!” she declared, pointing a finger at Luke, who feigned innocence.
Sin stood up first, his presence commanding attention. With a devil-may-care grin, he pulled a card from the stack and glanced at it before dramatically dropping to his knees. His face contorted in fierce concentration as he mimed an intense, life-or-death struggle, his movements precise and powerful.
“Gladiator!” Luke shouted, but Sin shook his head, continuing his elaborate performance with unwavering intensity.
“Pirates of the Caribbean!” Auntie guessed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Sin nodded vigorously, and everyone cheered. Nathan gave him a hearty slap on the back. “That was spot on, man.”
“Thanks,” Sin said with a wink, his smile causing Laura to practically swoon. “I have a flair for the dramatic.”
Nathan stepped up next, his chiseled features and confident demeanor making him equally captivating. He grabbed a card and immediately started an intense and fluid movement, mimicking the precise and deadly skills of a master assassin. His eyes were sharp, and his movements were controlled and deadly.
“John Wick!” Laura guessed, her voice filled with excitement.
Nathan shook his head, continuing his performance with a relentless focus.
“Mission Impossible?” Mom ventured, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Nathan shook his head again, his expression remaining intense. He then pretended to pull off an elaborate heist, his actions smooth and calculated.
“Ocean’s Eleven!” I shouted, finally catching on.
Nathan pointed at me with a grin, the room erupting in applause. Auntie was wiping tears from her eyes, unable to contain her amusement.
Meanwhile, Luke was taking every opportunity to outshine Jae, clearly trying to impress me. During his turn, he performed an over-the-top impression of King Kong, complete with chest beating and roaring.
“Come on, Jae, you can’t let him win!” Laura teased.
Jae rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his competitive grin. He reached for a card just as his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen, his expression darkening. “One sec,” he muttered, stepping away to take the call.
Luke, seizing the opportunity, sauntered over to me with a cocky smile. “Looks like Jae’s a bit distracted. Maybe he’s realized he can’t compete with the King Kong performance.”
I forced a smile, not wanting to encourage Luke’s antics. “You certainly went all out, Luke.”
He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “You know, Verena, some people are all about talk, but I’m about action. I’m here, giving it my all, while others…well, they’re busy with their phones.”
Before I could respond, Jae returned, his expression stormy. “Everything okay?” I asked, trying to defuse the tension.
Jae’s eyes flicked to Luke, then back to me. “Just business,” he replied curtly, but I could see the jealousy simmering beneath his calm exterior.
Luke chuckled, clearly enjoying the shift in dynamics. “Don’t worry, Jae. We kept the fun going in your absence.”
Jae’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “I’m sure you did, Luke.”
Sensing the brewing confrontation, I stepped between them, placing a hand on Jae’s chest. “Let’s get back to the game, okay?”
Jae’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, but his competitive edge was still sharp. “Alright,” he said, his voice low and controlled. He turned to face Luke, his demeanor all business. “Ready to lose, Luke?”
Luke smirked, unfazed. “Bring it on, Jae.”
Jae picked up a card, his eyes never leaving Luke’s. With a dramatic flourish, he began an intense, spot-on impression of a famous movie scene, his performance both captivating and commanding.
“Terminator!” Laura guessed, laughing.
Jae shook his head, continuing his performance with unwavering intensity. He mimed the intricate actions of the character, every move calculated and precise.
“James Bond!” I guessed, my heart racing.
Jae pointed at me, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. “Correct.”
Luke’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, giving Jae a grudging nod of respect. “Well played, Jae.”
Jae’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Thanks, Luke. Looks like you’ll have to step up your game.”
As the evening wore on, the rivalry between Jae and Luke added an undercurrent of tension to the festivities. Jae’s protective nature and Luke’s persistent attempts to impress me created a dynamic that was both thrilling and exhausting.
At one point, Auntie leaned over to me. “They’re quite the showmen, aren’t they? Do you think Sin and Nathan would strip? It’s a bachelorette party; we need strippers.”
I snorted, trying to stifle my laughter. “Auntie! You can’t just ask them that.”
Auntie shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. “Why not? It’s all in good fun. Besides, look at them. They’d make fantastic strippers.”
“They do look the part,” I admitted, grinning.
“Exactly,” Auntie said, patting my hand. “Let’s just enjoy the view for now. But if things get dull, we know who to ask.”
“Should we do our next game?” Laura asked.
Jae held up a finger, signaling for a moment. He moved to the corner of the room, his voice low and tense as he spoke. “Mina? I told you only to call for emergencies. Yes? Shit. I told them that’s not acceptable.”
I tried to keep my smile. “Guess it’s time for a drink,” I said, forcing a laugh, but the heaviness in my chest was hard to ignore.
Time passed, and I couldn’t help but notice Jae still on the phone. His words drifted over to me, fragments of his conversation painting a picture of chaos. “No, Mina, they can’t just override the system… Yes, get IT on it now.”
The laughter around me became background noise as I kept glancing his way. Auntie’s eyes flickered between him and me, concern etched on her face. I took another sip of my drink, letting the alcohol blur the edges of my disappointment.
“Alright, what’s next?” Luke called out, oblivious to the tension.
“Cake,” Laura said, jumping up with a giggle.
I tried to match her enthusiasm, but I could feel the weight of Jae’s absence settling in the pit of my stomach.
Work. It was always work.
Jae finally returned, but his phone buzzed again almost immediately. He sighed, frustration evident, and turned away to answer it. Auntie caught my eye, her brow furrowed. I shrugged helplessly, downing the rest of my drink.
“Vee, let’s cut the cake,” Laura suggested, handing me another glass. I smiled gratefully, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through me.
Luke leaned in, clearly trying to distract me. “Hey, remember that time in high school when we tried to cook Thanksgiving dinner and almost burned the house down?”
I laughed, the memory brightening my mood momentarily. “Yeah, and we had to call the fire department. That was a disaster.”
Just then, Jae returned, his expression serious. “Sorry,” he said, looking around the room. “We’ve got a major issue at work. Our servers went down, and there’s a huge security breach. I need to get to the office and handle this personally. It’s a complete mess.”
Sin gave him a pointed look. “Really? No one else can handle it?”
Jae turned to me, his eyes filled with regret. “Would you mind, Vee?”
I forced a smile for Auntie’s sake, even though I was miserable. Wasn’t this what I feared? That work would take priority. I understood, but it still stung. “Of course, it’s fine.”
He leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. “Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
As Jae turned to leave, Luke seized the moment, stepping up to me with a smirk. “Looks like the knight in shining armor has to ride off to save the day. Again.”
The tension in the room spiked as Jae paused mid-step, his shoulders tensing. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Luke. “You have something to say, Luke?”
Luke didn’t back down, his smirk widening. “Just seems like you’re always leaving her hanging for work. Maybe you should learn to prioritize.”
Jae’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. “This is a critical issue, Luke. Something you wouldn’t understand because you’ve never had to handle real responsibility.”
The air grew thick with the charged silence that followed. I could feel the intensity radiating from Jae, his domineering presence almost suffocating.
Luke crossed his arms, his posture challenging. “Funny, I seem to remember being pretty responsible back in high school when Verena needed someone to rely on. I was there.”
Jae took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “You think you’re a better man for her, Luke? Think you can do what I do?”
Luke shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glint of challenge in his eyes. “I’m just saying, maybe she deserves someone who’s actually present. Someone who doesn’t always put work first.”
I stepped between them, placing a hand on Jae’s chest to calm him down. “Enough, both of you. This isn’t the time or place.”
Jae’s eyes softened slightly as he looked at me, but his anger was still simmering beneath the surface. “I’ll deal with you later, Luke.”
With that, he turned and walked out, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake. I turned to Luke, frustration and disappointment swirling within me. “Why do you always have to provoke him?”
Luke shrugged, his smirk fading. “Just trying to remind him what he’s got. Maybe he needs a wake-up call.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t helping, Luke.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. I’m sorry. I just…hate seeing you hurt.”
I glanced towards the door where Jae had disappeared, my heart heavy with the conflict between them. “We all have our ways of dealing with things, Luke. But this…this isn’t the way.”
Luke nodded, his expression softening. “I get it. I’m sorry.”
I forced a smile. “Let’s just focus on enjoying the rest of the evening, okay?”
He nodded, his demeanor more subdued. “Okay.”
The room felt emptier without Jae, the laughter and warmth a little dimmer. Auntie’s worried gaze followed Jae out the door, then turned to me. I swallowed hard and raised my glass.
Laura nudged me playfully. “Hey, let’s make a toast. To Vee, the most amazing bride-to-be!”
My voice was steady despite the turmoil inside. “To all of you, for making this night special.”
We clinked glasses, and I downed my drink, the alcohol a welcome distraction from the ache in my chest. As the night wore on, I felt the tension ease slightly, the love and support from my friends and family a soothing balm. But underneath it all, the worry for Jae and Auntie lingered, a constant reminder of the fragile balance we were trying to maintain.