Closing Time (23 page)

“Someone’s getting defensive…” Cortland said.

Ryan got in his face. “You’re this close to being demoted from being my best friend.”

Cortland shrugged. “I got a lot of people who would be willing to take your place.”

“I’ll do it,” Mike said. “I like Cortland.”

“Me too,” Flynn said. “I’m always looking for a best friend.”

Ryan narrowed his eyes at them all. “Forget it. He’s mine.”

“Wow…I didn’t realize you two were so close.” Sean had a knowing look in his eyes.

“Just leave me alone.” Ryan downed his entire beer then ordered another one.

“So?” Scarlet said. “When and where?”

“When and where what?” I asked.

‘The wedding,” Scarlet said with a laugh.

“Oh.”
Duh.

Flynn shrugged. “Whatever my fiancé wants.”

I hadn’t thought about a wedding. I didn’t have a lot of friends and I didn’t have much of a family besides my brother. “We could have a wedding but I’d have no one to invite.”

“Ouch,” Mike said. “That was cold.”

“Besides you guys,” I said quickly.

“So, what do you want to do?” Flynn asked.

“Honestly, I just want to get married,” I said.

“The courthouse wasn’t that bad,” Cortland said.

“Not that bad?” Monnique asked, offended.

“I meant, it was the most romantic setting you could have asked for,” Cortland said quickly.

“Yeah,” Mike added. “All the jury summons really sprinkles the magic in the air.”

Monnique narrowed his eyes at him. “Excuse me?”

“I mean…” Mike looked at Trinity. “Look at how cute my daughter is.”

Cassandra smirked. “He pulls the same stuff on me when he wants to change the subject.”

“Does it work?” Monnique asked.

“Well…she is pretty cute,” Cassandra said proudly.

“She’s going to be so damn beautiful,” Mike said with a sad sigh. “I’ll have to keep my shotgun on me.”

We all looked at Scarlet at the mention of a gun.

“I’m fine,” she said to all of us. “Really.”

Sean had his arm over the back of her chair. “She is. We both are.”

Ryan eyed her stomach. “So, we can tease you for being a fat ass now?”

Scarlet glared at him. “I’m not a fat ass.”

“Moo,” Cortland said. “Moo…”

Her eyes burned in flames. “You’re so lucky I can’t kick your ass right now.”

“Why?” Ryan pressed. “Is it because your stomach is so big you can’t see your feet?”

Scarlet gave him an evil smirk. “Just because I can’t beat you up doesn’t mean my husband can’t.”

Ryan laughed. “I’m not scared of Sean. I deal with riff-raff at the shop all day. Sean is nothing.”

“But he’s a little more formidable when you throw his brother into the mix,” Mike threatened.

Ryan knew he was outnumbered. “Well…actually…you look breathtaking.”

Scarlet smiled. “That’s what I thought.”

We all laughed and Ryan downed his beer.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for our wedding. “Could we just get married on a beach and have only our c
losest friends and family there?”

“Is that all you want?” Flynn asked. “We can have a nice wedding. Remember, you’re marrying a millionaire.”

“I still don’t want your money,” I said firmly.

“Half of it is going to be legally yours.”

“We can sign a pre-nup.”

Flynn rolled his eyes. “You’re so annoying.”

“So are you,” I snapped.

“Just think about it. If you want a nice wedding, we can do it.”

“I’d rather give the money to charity.”

He looked at me in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I said with confidence. “Whatever money we would spend on a wedding should be given to people less fortunate than us. We already have everything we need. Why should be spend money on just a single day? All I want to do is be married to you. That’s all.”

“Wow,” Janice said. “I couldn’t give up my own day like that.”

“Because you’re a gold-digger,” Ryan said.

She looked at him like she might rip his head off.

“But I like you that way.” Mike smirked at her then gave her a kiss. “Baby, you know I’m kidding.”

Flynn looked at me fondly. “That’s what you really want?”

“Yeah.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Just don’t get married before me,” Ryan added.

“That would be pretty hard to manage since you’re getting married next weekend,” Scarlet said.

“Well, Cortland swooped in and got married in an instant,” Ryan snapped. “It seems to be pretty popular lately.”

Janice smirked and shook her head. “Seeing all of you guys get married just makes us more excited for our wedding day. That’s what he meant to say.”

“No,” Sean said. “He meant to say he was a girl and he made his point pretty clear.”

“You’re lucky you’re sitting way over there, buddy,” Ryan said.

“I’d like to see you do something,” Sean said. “I’ll use my wife as a shield.”

“That’s romantic,” Scarlet said sarcastically.

Sean laughed. “You know I’m kidding.”

Ryan threw a crumpled napkin at Sean’s head. “Maybe we should take this outside.”

Sean rose to the challenge. “Or we could just do it here.”

Cortland rolled his eyes. “Seriously? You’re going to fight now?”

“Arm wrestle,” Ryan said.

“That’s still lame,” Cortland said.

“We need to change the subject,” Scarlet said.

Mike looked down at Trinity. “Look how cute my daughter is.”

Everyone laughed then admired the baby at the table.

After all, she was pretty cute.

19

Ryan

It was the night before my wedding.

I was getting married the next day.

Like, tomorrow.

It was really happening.

Janice stayed at Scarlet’s house while Cortland stayed with me. I didn’t want to be alone the night before the wedding, even if I didn’t say it. Somehow, inexplicably, my best friend knew.

He came over with a six-pack.

“
Dos Equis
?” he asked as he handed one to me.

His attempt at a Spanish accent was laughable. “Sure.”

He smirked then sat down next to me, handing me a cold one. “So…nervous?”

“A little.”

“You aren’t going to run off again, right?”

I suddenly realized something. “Is that the real reason why you’re here?”

Cortland shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“My sister asked you to come over here, didn’t she?”

He drank his beer. “Maybe…”

“That annoying brat.”

“In all seriousness, I wanted to come over anyway.”

“Did you bring handcuffs?”

He cringed. “Eww…what?”

I glared at him. “I meant so I can’t run away, sicko.”

“Oh.” His face relaxed. “Sorry.”

“You better be.”

We both watched the game and downed our beers. Then we moved on to the second round.

“Is there anything you want to do tonight?” he asked as he crossed his ankle at the knee.

“Not really.”

“No strippers?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not my thing and you know it.”

“It used to be,” he jabbed.

“That was a different lifetime.”

“So, what are you going to miss about being a bachelor?”

“Are we really going to have this girly conversation?”

He smirked. “Come on, it’s the night before you
r wedding. Just play along.”

“I didn’t ask you anything like that the night before yours.”

“Because I was too wasted to speak. Honestly, I still don’t remember most of that night. It’s all a blur.”

“Money well spent,” I said sarcastically. “But you were hilarious.”

“I can be fun every now and then. So, what are you going to miss?”

I relived my past, recalling all the threesomes I had, the girls I took back to my apartment, and having the freedom to do what I want
ed and when I wanted. I’d be out until early the following morning, and no one would call to check on me. I ordered pizza and take out on a whim and had the guys over whenever. My money was spent solely on me. I had no obligations and no commitments. Life was simple. “Not a damn thing.”

“Really? You lived th
e bachelor life most guys dream of.”

“It always looks better from the outside.” I remembered how lonely I was. I pounded different pussy every night, but the orgasms were usually empty. It was slightly better than masturbating. “I don’t regret my past because I refuse to. All those empty nights just made me cherish Janice even more once she walked through my door. But there are never days when I wish I was single or could go back to my glory days. I’m so over that.”

“Well, that’s good. It’s pretty clear Janice is the one.”

“She is.”

“So…no doubts, right?”

I wanted to snap at him but I realized he had every right to be hesitant. “No.”

“Then why did you pull that number before?”

I shrugged. “I was being an idiot. I never wanted to be without Janice. That was
never the issue. Sometimes I feel like she isn’t good enough for me. I have a psycho mom that tried to kill my sister. What girl wants to marry into that?”

“She’s not marrying into that,” he said firmly. “She’s marrying into us. You,
me, Sean, Mike, Monnique, Flynn, Hazel, and Scarlet. That’s your family, not that crazy bitch.”

“I know…”

“Don’t let it get to you. And Janice loves you for you, not what you do for a living or where your roots grow.”

“I know that too.”

“So…I don’t have to keep an eye on you?”

“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll marry her tomorrow. I just hope she shows up.”

He smirked. “She will. I’m not sure why she loves you, but she’ll be there. If not, Scarlet would tackle her to the ground and sit on her with her fat ass.”

I laughed. “God, my sister is a cow.”

“I hope she doesn’t have the baby tomorrow.”

“They said the due date is the week after. Hopefully it stays that way.”

“She told me she had to get another dress,” Cortland said with a chuckle. “The other one wouldn’t fit.”

“I hope Sean likes them round,” I joked.

“Man, I love making fun of her. It’s universal, something everyone can enjoy.”

“Word.” I clanked my glass against his.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of my alarm. It was the first night I hadn’t slept with Janice for a long time. It was weird not feeling her next to me. I knew she was thinking the same thing at Scarlet’s house. I’d grown accustomed to the sound of her light breathing, the way she sighed when she turned over, and the way she would reach out to me in her sleep, making sure I was still beside her. It was a habit she never broke. I never mentioned it to her, but I always wanted to know why she did it. It seemed like she was afraid she’d wake up to my absence.

I sat up in bed then rubbed my eyes. I didn’t sleep well the night before. The anxiety plagued my body every second of the night. Cortland slept on the couch and I could hear his snores even through the closed door.

I was spending the rest of my life with the on
e girl who changed my ways. It didn’t take any effort and we never discussed it. As soon as we touched, I was monogamous and faithful. I respected relationships and marriages, thinking the sanctity was beautiful and impressive. As a result, I never slept with a girl who had a boyfriend, and I certainly never slept with a married woman. But never in my life did I think I’d be married myself.

There was no one that caught my
eye and kept my attention. Girls were attractive and sexy, and after I got my way with them, I was over it, looking for something else to occupy my time. I knew Janice was different because I was hooked on her before the sex. One look at her sent shivers down my spine. I was obsessed with everything about her; her voice, her appearance, her smile, her confidence, and that attitude that drove me crazy. While I wanted to be inside her, sex wasn’t the only thing on my mind. And that was a first.

Now I was going to marry her. Committing to her for the rest of my life wasn’t scary. When I left her, it was a stupid decision, but it’s never what I really wanted. I was trying to be selfless and put her first. But, of course, that blew up in my face. I was lucky I only got a few slaps out of it. And honestly, it was
kinda hot. When we had sex every night, I asked her to hit me because it turned me on in a sick way. She slapped me across the face, not using too much force, and I slapped her ass. Our carnal but romantic relationship was perfect for the two of us. I was never bored with her. Every time we had sex, I was satisfied but still a little hungry, wanting more of her.

I wanted to have kids with her. I always questioned my capability of being a great father, but Mike made me feel a little better. He never struck me as the parenting type. He spent most of his life fucking around, unable to take anything seriously. But when Trinity was born, he swooped in and automatically became the dad of the year. If he could
do it, surely I could. Maybe when I held my son or daughter in my arms, hopefully just a son, that instinct would come out and take over. Maybe they wouldn’t care about what I did for a living. Hopefully, they would understand that I was passionate about my work and I took care of them, gave them a roof over their head, and put food on the table. And one day, hopefully, they would respect me.

Cortland knocked on the door. “It’s time to get up, sunshine.”

“I’m up,” I said groggily.

Cortland opened the door. “Good. You aren’t naked.”

“What’s the point if there’s no girls in here?”

“Well, at least you didn’t jerk off the night before your wedding. That’s not exactly romantic.”

“Maybe I did,” I challenged.

Cortland cringed. “Anyway…”

“You brought it up.”

Cortland grabbed the suit from the living room then placed it on the bed. “I got your shoes, tie, and your watch. You’ll look spiffy.”

I stood up in my sweatpants and looked at the outfit. “I hate wearing suits.”

“I don’t
think Janice would appreciate it if you came wearing jeans and a sweater.”

“We both know she’d marry me anyway.”

“Don’t push your luck.” He laughed then left the bedroom.

I showered then
got ready for my big day. After I did my hair three different times, I brushed my teeth and tried to perfect myself as much as possible. I knew Janice would look beautiful, but I wanted her to think the same of me. I put on my suit then struggled with the tie.

How the hell do you put this on?
My dad showed me once but I forgot how. Scarlet usually did it for me.

“How is he?” I heard my sister say from the living room.

“He’s not thrilled about wearing a suit,” Cortland said.

“Shocking,” she said sarcastically. She walked to my door then barged in without knocking.
Typical.

She stopped when she saw me in my suit. A smirk spread on her face. “You combed your hair.”

I smirked. “Don’t get used to it.”

She came to me then stared at my jacket. “You look so handsome, Ryan.”

“I always look handsome.”

“No, you don’t,” she said quickly. She eyed my tie. “Can I do the honors?”

“Sure.” I dropped my hands and let her grab the material. Like a pro, she put it around my neck and tightened it. “I do it for Sean all the time.”

“Lucky guy.”

She flattened it against my chest then stepped back. She wearing a green gown with her hair pulled back. A pink flower was in her hair. She looked beautiful, even though she was swollen and big. “You don’t look that ugly today.” That was the nicest compliment she was getting from me.

She smirked. “Thank you.”

I put my hands in my pocket while I stood in front of her. “How’s Janice doing?”

“Good. She looks amazing, by the way.”

“I bet she does.”

“You’ll probably rip the dress off her when she comes near.”

“I hope you guys like free porn.”

She rolled her eyes. “Can you be serious for just a second?”

“No,” I said with a laugh.

She examined my room, noticing the picture of Janice and I. There was one
of me and Scarlet at Mega-Shake. Janice found it in the moving box and immediately put it on the dresser. It was a candid shot and we were both laughing. I admit it had a special place in my heart.

“I’m really happy for you,” she whispered. “Janice is the perfect girl for you.”

“She is.” I cleared my throat, feeling the emotion coming through.

“And you deserve nothing but the best, Ryan.”

“I don’t know about that, but I will gladly cherish her.”

“When you clean up, comb your hair, and put on a suit, you look so much like Dad.”

I thought the same thing when I looked in the mirror. Maybe that was why I purposely dressed down all the time. My image haunted me. I would never be as smart or as successful as my father. I was just a shadow of him.

“He would be really proud of you, Ryan.”

“You think?” I whispered.

“I know. But he wouldn’t be as proud as I am. Married or not, you’re still my hero.”

She’d been saying that to me since I can remember. “Now you have a new hero in your life.”

“Yeah, I do. But you’ll always be the first.”

“You aren’t too bad yourself. You beat the shit out of Sarah.”

“Yeah, I did. But nobody messes with my daughter and gets away with it.”

“True.” I loved my sister more than words could say. Now that I was getting married to an amazing woman, I realized Scarlet wouldn’t be the number one girl in my life. My wife would be. And I guess that was hard to accept.

My sister could read my mind just by looking into my eyes. “We still have each other’s backs until the end of time. And just because we have our own families now doesn’t mean we don’t love each other as much as we always have.”

“I know…”

Her eyes welled up. “I love you so much.”

My eyes started to moisten.
Damn it.
“I love you too, baby sister.”

She moved into my arms and hugged me, resting her head against my chest. I held her close, my hand on her back and the other on her shoulder. Memories of our childhood came to me. We had suffered more than anyone ever should, but we go
t through it together. And we would always get through it together. The bad times were challenging and hard, but we pulled through. And happy times like this, where we were both getting a happily ever after, were times I cherished. I didn’t have parents, even my best friends couldn’t completely erase what I lost, but Scarlet could. No matter what happened, I could always rely on her and she could rely on me. And now we both had editions to the family, making it bigger and stronger.