37. Katrinia
37
Katrinia
S lipping into an ankle length red satin dress, I pull the strap up over my shoulder just as Cooper steps out of the shower.
“Oh dorogoy, you sure you want to go out tonight?” He whistles as he eyes me up and down.
“Can you just zip me up, please?” I roll my eyes, turning my back to him.
His hands skim my hips before they make their way to the zipper. He gently drags it up my spine and I don’t know how this man can make the most mundane things so incredibly hot. I suck in a breath when he grabs my waist as the zipper glides slowly between my shoulders. When he reaches the top he leans in and his hot breath tickles my neck as he whispers, “you look absolutely divine,” in my ear.
I shiver as my breathing picks up but when I come out of my daze and turn around he is already on the other side of the room. I blow out a long deep breath as he grins at me.
Pulling out my jewelry box from my makeup bag I push some small silver hoops through my ears and reach for a pendant necklace I’ve had for years. Cooper’s hand covers mine, stopping me, as he places a black velvet box on the vanity.
“Wear this one instead.” He insists. When I meet his eyes in the mirror he simply kisses the top of my head before strolling back over to the closet where his pressed shirt is hanging up.
I snap open the box and a glimmering tennis necklace is laid across a velvet cushion. I look up into the mirror and he winks at me as he buttons his shirt. I turn around, holding the box in my hand as I admit, “This is beautiful.”
Cooper rounds the bed on his way back over to me. “You are beautiful, Katrinia.”
I push up on my toes, kissing the tattoo on his neck before he pulls the necklace out of the box and clasps it around mine. Reaching up, I run a single finger across the diamonds before I whisper, “Thank you,” and he nods.
“Now, I thought you weren’t supposed to upstage the bride on her wedding day?” He squeezes my shoulders before stepping back and sitting at the bench at the end of our bed to put on his shoes.
“I would never. I’m sure she will make a lovely bride.”
“No woman could ever hold a candle to you, zhena.” Cooper grins as he finishes lacing his shoe.
Standing he reaches out a hand. I place mine in his and his eyes catch on my ringed finger. His breathing stops for a second before his eyes come back to mine.
“Are you ready for a night of love?” I smile gesturing towards the door.
“I don’t think this is going to be the romantic night you are imagining if that’s how you’re describing it. We will probably hit a buffet or a strip club. Hell, maybe there’s a strip club with a buffet around here.” Cooper laughs as we make our way to the elevator.
“All love deserves to be celebrated. Even the Elvis vows and stripper buffet type.” I tease.
* * *
We are standing outside the chapel when the doors burst open and a very pregnant bride is lifted up into the arms of a man wearing a white suit. She tosses a faux bouquet of light pink roses towards my direction and I catch it over a pretty blonde who was practically diving for it.
She laughs, pointing at me as she shouts, “You’re next! Elvis is warmed up and ready for you right in there.” She sways on her heels, giggling.
She is clearly tipsy from the festivities, but her eyes sober when she finally notices Cooper standing behind me.
“Oh my fucking god! Lieutenant Cabrera!” She stumbles over throwing her arms around his shoulders in a hug. “It’s been a long time. Look at you!” She slaps a hand to his chest as she looks him over. “Post Army life looks good on you, sir.”
I take a step back realizing who she is and I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe. All the air is stolen out of my lungs by a drunk woman in a tacky navy blue sequin dress that makes her look like she is headed to a slutty prom rather than a wedding.
The bride is set back on her feet as she walks over hugging Cooper before she says, “Glad you made it Coop. You remember Ashley, don’t you?”
“Not really,” Cooper dismisses as he turns to face me.
My fingers fidget with my necklace as I process what’s happening in front of me.
It’s her.
She’s the girl.
She has a name.
Ashley .
Cooper comes to stand in front of me, taking my hand he leads me back over to the group.
“Alex, this is Katrinia. You never met but you may remember me talking about her on base.” Cooper wraps an arm around my waist as I reach out to shake Alex’s hand.
I’m running completely on autopilot. I don’t even know if I’m looking at the man. I can’t see anything aside from the memories replaying in my mind.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Katrinia.” Alex says with a slightly humorous tone.
“That’s such a pretty name” Ella compliments as she shakes my hand too. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Congratulations on getting married.” I say, my tone sounding flat, almost robotic, as I try my best to snap out of my thoughts. “You look beautiful.” I gesture towards Ella’s dress and she spins, twirling her skirt as she cradles her baby bump.
“Thank you!”
“I’m Ashley, maid of honor, I actually don’t remember Cooper ever mentioning you. What was your name again?” Ashley sticks out her hand but I just rest my diamond encrusted one on Cooper’s chest as he pulls me closer to him.
“Katrinia, her name is Katrinia.” Cooper reminds her.
She scoffs as she rolls her eyes, “Sounds like a cheap stripper to me.”
Ella’s eyes go wide before she pleads, “Ash! Come on. Play nice.”
Just then a party bus that has the phrase ‘Just Married’ plastered on it pulls up.
“It’s time to get this party started!” Alex shouts, blasting finger guns from his hips and giving a loud, “Wahoo,” he jumps up on the handrail and swings from the bus door.
Ella and Ashley follow him onto the bus but Cooper holds me back. “I didn’t know for sure if she would be here. We don’t have to….”
I cut him off with a finger to his lips. “Cooper, I love you. I forgive you. I’m marrying you. I’m fine. I can handle it. Let’s go support your friends. They just got married and are having a baby. That’s bigger than a little fling from almost a decade ago.” With that I step away from him and start towards the bus.
I look back as I reach for the handle to step on, Cooper stands there for a moment longer before he shakes his head and eventually makes his way onto the bus behind me.
As we take our seats, a few others join us on the bus from the chapel.
The groom swings his arm above his head like he’s holding an imaginary lasso and shouts, “Start em’ up boys! We’re ready to party.”
Looking over at Cooper with curiosity surely painted all over my face he just smiles and shrugs his shoulders. He even looks a little embarrassed if I’m being honest, but I just smile and shake my head.
Alex pops a bottle of champagne and we all take the glasses he hands us before we all toast to a long and happy marriage and a healthy baby boy. As we drive the scenic route around Las Vegas Cooper catches up with Alex and the guys as I get into a conversation with Ella about how she met her now husband and life as a military spouse.
The only one who is sitting alone is Ashley who seems to be pouting in the corner the last time I glanced her way.
When the bus comes to a stop light Ashley seizes the opportunity, “Let’s really get this party started.” She declares in an attempted sultry voice as she swings around the stripper pole.
Ella, Alex and the rest of their military friends encourage her by tossing a couple dollar bills her way.
“You remember that night at the Crystal Lounge don’t you Coop?” Ashley asks as she swings around the pole.
Cooper shakes his head.
“Oh yeah! It was amateur pole dancing night at that dive bar we used to go to for karaoke.” Alex chimes in, nudging Cooper on the shoulder. “It was hilarious how Ashley was trying to be all sexy for ya. You know she had a huge crush on you back then but you were so stuck on that high school chick. You remember, right Ell?”
Ella coughs and nods her head in my direction and Alex’s eyes go wide as his drunken mind puts two and two together. Forgetting for a second that I am that high school chick .
“Sorry man, we didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a little prank.” Alex clinks glasses with Cooper as he turns back to watch Ashley try to dance on the pole. If she wasn’t as loaded as she seems to be she would maybe be a little embarrassed. Lucky for her she reeks of liquid courage and her pupils are more dilated than a raccoon’s in headlights.
“What do you mean? What was a little prank?” Cooper questions as his brows dip down between his eyes.
“You know the whole Ashley thing. You were so freaked out when you woke up to a naked chick in your bed, man.” Alex laughs, slapping his knee before he looks over to some of his Army buddies. “We stuck Ash here in his bed after lugging his ass up the stairs of the barracks and dumping him face down. Dude was passed out. Didn’t even make a peep. I took a few pics just in case I ever needed to blackmail my man here into doing my fatigue duties. Never got the chance to use them though.”
My mouth falls open as Cooper’s mood is shifting from a simmering annoyance to a blistering rage before my eyes.
“So we never hooked up?” Cooper stands and directs his question at Ashley in a dangerously low tone that demands an answer.
“Unfortunately no. You were too drunk and too obsessed with that hometown girl you couldn’t even see what you were missing out on.” She sways her hips gripping the pole with both hands above her head. The other men are eating her up but Cooper is looking at her like she’s the most disgusting thing he’s ever seen.
My heart begins to race in my chest. Pounding so hard and so fast it’s painful. Breaking all over again with every beat.
Everything is happening too fast even though it feels like time is slowing down. Once again I feel like my entire grasp on reality is shattering.
I have no control.
Everything I thought I knew. Every moment we were apart. Every night I cried myself to sleep. Every day I woke up feeling empty and numb inside. Every gnawing ache of loneliness. Every failed attempt I ever made to move on was all a lie.
No not a lie… a joke, a prank ?
“Why didn’t you tell me!? You let me believe I fucked her.” Cooper screams in Alex’s face as he grips the lapels of his cheap white tuxedo.
“Bro chill. There are worse things in the world than thinking you had a one night stand with a pretty girl.” Alex huffs a laugh and my vision spins. The bus sways and the strobe lights are disorientating, making me feel sick.
My chest feels so tight. I can no longer breathe and before too long my entire body goes numb as blood rushes in my ears. My vision rapidly sways in and out of focus and the last thing I remember is seeing Cooper swing at Alex.
Then it feels like I’m falling before everything goes black.