3. Jake
CHAPTER THREE
jake
M y suit bag hanging on the closet door is taunting me with its presence.
I’ve only worn the stupid thing twice, and I hated it both times.
Thoren’s lucky I love him, because suits are the literal definition of hell.
They’re tight and restrictive and not made for big guys like me, along with the damn shoes that go with them.
Give me a pair of Chucks and a leather apron, and I’ll be a happy man.
I’ve waited until the last possible second to walk over to his place, all to avoid putting on the monkey suit.
With a sigh, I throw it over my shoulder and make the short trek, reminiscing on when I took this walk with Lily to check out her bathroom remodel.
Who knew that a few short months later I would be renting her place and she would be marrying my best friend.
Although, Thoren was set on making sure that last part happened.
It could be worse. At least I don’t have to drive anywhere and can drink to my heart’s content tonight.
Another thing to thank Lily for, but I won’t tell my best friend I think I’m starting to like his soon-to-be wife more than I like him.
I’ve been renting her cabin for the last seven months, and I love the place.
It’s small, but most of it is newly renovated, and it’s the perfect size for me.
She even let me add on a garage this winter to store my bike and some tools in.
The fact the cabin is on a secluded lane with only two other cabins, both owned by her and Thoren, doesn’t hurt either.
There’s a flurry of cars and people surrounding Thoren’s cabin when I walk up, most heading to and from the large white tent on the side of the house. I trudge up to the front door and let myself in, like usual, right as Thoren and his brother River come in the back door.
“Happy wedding day, man,” I say, clapping his back in a hug.
“Thanks, Jake. If you want to get changed in the guest room, I’ll be right behind you. Riv will be right back to get ready too.”
“Hey, my parents send their best, but they’ll be leaving right after the ceremony if they can’t catch you.”
“Bad day?”
I nod and head up the stairs to avoid the looks of pity he and River are likely wearing.
Since my dad’s accident ten years ago, he’s had a lot of bad days, but they’ve gotten more frequent.
It’s been rough on my mom as his sole caregiver, and even with me stopping by as often as I can to help, I know it’s hard on them.
Today isn’t the day to worry about that.
He has my mom, and he’ll be okay if he takes it easy.
In the guest room, laid out on the bed, are two pink bowties and two pairs of pink socks with a note from Lily telling River and me she bought these special and it will break her heart if we don’t wear them.
I have to admit, even though she only uses it for good, she has emotional manipulation down to an art.
River comes bounding through the door as I’m attempting to tie the bowtie, a big smile spreading across his face .
“She’s a special one.” He chuckles, picking up his pair of socks. “She bought Shadow a bandana that matches too.”
Speaking of the devil, their dog comes trotting in wearing a pink bandana that says “Flower girl” on the front.
“She’s exactly what he needed. They have a love people dream about.
” He nods, looking wistfully across the hall to his brother’s door.
“Now help with this damn bowtie so I can get out of here before you strip.”
“Oh, Jakey, if you wanted another look at my dick, all you had to do was ask,” he tuts while practically strangling me with the pink ribbon. Thoren, River, and I lived together in college, and yeah, this wouldn’t be the first time I saw the man’s dick; not by a long shot.
The photographer grabs photos of us before marching back to the bride and her girls. River is their master of ceremony, and I am the unofficial best man. They decided against having any since the wedding has only thirty people attending, yet here I am, matching Lily’s best friends.
Michele and Amber sit in the front row next to me in their matching pink dresses—Amber sitting first to ensure she gets the seat farthest from me.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me.
She’s been avoiding me since the ride home in December, but I have quite the surprise coming her way.
I have to admit, as annoying as she is, she’s sexy as hell with her hair curling around her heart-shaped face and the little stud in her nose glinting in the sunlight.
She looks different than the night we first met.
That night, she had the same fake smile every girl in town wears when they approach me, but there was a spark in her eyes that made me want to poke at her and watch it burn.
Looking at her now, though, there isn’t a glow in her whiskey-colored eyes, and for some odd reason, that really irks me.
The rest of the guests take their seats as the wedding starts, and Thoren’s dad walks Lily down the aisle.
She looks like a vision in her white dress, the brightest smile gracing her lips.
My best friend subtly wipes a tear from his eye, and a longing hits me like never before.
I used to love one-night stands, giving and receiving pleasure to feel something other than numb for a night.
It stopped feeling good a while ago, and loneliness overtook that emptiness in my chest. I want a partner, someone to spend my small bits of free time with, someone who sees past my looks and gruff exterior and gets to know the man I strive to be under it all.
Thoren and Lily have such a pure and beautiful love they want to cultivate and share with others and their hopefully growing family.
While I love that for them, that’s not what I want or need.
A darkness in me calls for something more, someone I can fight with, someone I can punish and drag to the depths of my black soul, who won’t balk at what they find.
I thought I saw that similar glint of pain in Amber when she stood up to me without fear, spitting her anger and hatred freely.
My hand itched to spank her for her insolence, but the lifeless woman two seats down is different.
A flicker of emotion appears on her face as Thoren promises to love and cherish Lily for the rest of their lives, but it’s gone just as quick.
I focus back on the ceremony, as Lily whispers against Thoren’s lips before he dips her in a passionate kiss and picks her up and twirls her around, burying his face in her neck.
When they walk down the aisle hand in hand, his eyes trail down to her stomach more than once, and I recognize the smile on his face immediately.
Thoren’s been my best friend since we were kids, and we know things about each other no one else does.
We’ve talked about our biggest goals in life, and when he talked about wanting to have children, he always got a certain look in his eyes; the same look he has now.
I can’t wipe the stupid grin from my face. I may not want kids, but I want that for him more than anything. Michele slips her arm through mine, coaxing me down the aisle to follow the happy couple.
“So, who do you think is next?” she asks, staring wistfully at our best friends.
“River, maybe? Are you dating anyone?”
“God, I hope it’s not River. If he marries that twit, I don’t think I can be his friend anymore. I’ve gone on dates, but no one is sticking. I had my great love, I’m not sure a person is lucky enough to get two.”
I glance down at her, rubbing my chest with my free hand. Michele’s a great friend, and an amazing and beautiful woman. The look in her eyes says she believes every word, and that breaks my heart. Ethan’s a fucking idiot for not coming back for her.
“If neither of us are married in ten years, I’ll marry you. It would be my honor.”
She snorts out a laugh, slapping my chest. “Just because I saw what you’re working with doesn’t mean I want to marry you. It’ll take more than a pretty dick to lock me down.”
Why is everyone talking about seeing dicks today? I’m not a bad guy, and I do well for myself. I try to keep the pout off my face. I think my big dick would also aid in making me a good husband. “Fine. Your loss.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t. I would be lucky to marry you.
I’m just saying it’s not a given because you showed me your sparkly dick a few months ago.
” She cackles, clearly amused with her own hilarity.
It’s not like I go around whipping out my cock for people, but she heard about my piercing and whined incessantly until I showed her.
I shove her arm from around mine. “You begged to see it, thank you very much. I rescind my offer.”
She steps into the tent set up at the back of the house for the reception and heads straight for the bar. “That’s fair. You’re still stuck with me though. Papers should be ready for signature in about a week.”
I nod to her and head over to River to see if he can confirm my suspicions on Lily’s pregnancy.
That, and I don’t get to spend enough time with him.
He and Thoren were the glue that held me together through college, whether they know it or not.
They will always be my closest friends, and while I’m so proud of Riv’s career in the MLB, I hate that he doesn’t come home that often.
River is busy talking with his parents, so I veer to the bar instead to grab a drink. To my luck, a bratty little thing is waiting for a drink of her own. Her pink dress is fitted up top, flaring at her waist, the style accentuating a magnificent ass. Definitely didn’t notice that at Lily’s party.
“I’ll get yours,” I say, stepping close enough behind her that my breath fans over her hair.
“If that’s your version of an apology, I’m not interested. Plus, it’s an open bar, idiot.” She mutters the last part, but I hear it clearly.