Her eyes widen but she drawls out a long, “Ooo-kay.”
“My own sister doesn’t want to be in my wedding and why do you think that is, Claire, huh?” He gets in her face spitting his words at her.
“What’s going on, Eddie? I get it. You need space. The wedding has put a lot of pressure on you, but if you need a breather. That’s fine.”
“What’s going on is I don’t want to marry you, Claire. We’re over.”
Damn he just really took it all the way there. I thought for sure he’d end up yelling at her, but then he’d find a way to forgive her, but he’s serious about this shit. Not that I can blame him. I might have kicked his ass if he gave in to her.
“What!? You don’t mean that. You’re upset. Talk some sense into your friend, Darin, before he throws away the greatest thing to ever happen to him.”
“Sure, you’re so great. So fucking great that you treat my sister like shit and talk to her the way that you do. But not only that you’ve been fucking your ex behind my back or was it the other way around? Was I the other man? You know what it doesn’t matter.”
“What are you talking about!”
“Here!” He shouts, red faced and tosses some pictures at her I didn’t know he had.
Her face pales and she slides down to the floor clutching the pictures with her hand over her mouth as she cries.
“Let’s get out of here,” Eddie says to me. We get into my car and head to a bar. The guy could use a drink or four.
**
TWO WEEKS LATER
“Do you think she will go for it?”
“Faye has always dreamed of a fairytale, man. I’m happy to make it happen.”
“You haven’t told her you’re leaving have you?”
Eddie shakes his head.
“Man, you need to tell her.”
“I will just not yet.” He grins and pats me on the back.
I can’t believe I let him talk me into this shit.
When I told Eddie about Enzo and Claire he wasn’t shocked. Even told me he had been having doubts for some time and he found some questioning photos on her phone. They weren’t of his dick, but they were of Enzo’s. He stole Faye’s phone when she was in the bathroom at work and compared the shots.
Now I am standing here at the church feeling like a fool waiting for a bride who doesn’t know she’s a bride. Yup, Eddie arranged all this for Faye and me. Said there was no sense in letting the decorations and food go to waste. He even somehow managed to get the marriage license. Something about a woman at city hall wanting one of our big treehouses for her grandkids.
I’m either a fool or a romantic. I’m not sure which yet. All I know is Eddie was right. Faye deserves the fairytale.
I look down at Beans, dressed in his doggy tuxedo with a pillow strapped to his back holding the rings.
I suck in a deep breath. I hope this doesn’t blow up in my face.
Eddie grins and tucks his phone in his pocket. “She here.” I watch as he casually strolls out the front of the church. This is it. The make or break moment. I look to the pews and see Jen and Linda giving me big smiles of encouragement among some of our other friends. I may have invited those two just to prove that Eddie and I aren’t together. I have a big ego, so sue me.
I can hear shouting coming from the front of the church. I can only guess Eddie has told Faye what is really happening or not here today.
The voices quieten and eventually the church doors open. Eddie is standing there alone and my heart sinks. I knew there was a possibility she’d hate this. He gives me a sad smile and I shrug, biting back my disappointment. I don’t know why I let Eddie talk me into this crazy shit. But just as Eddie starts to walk toward me, Faye steps up next to him and takes his arm.
My jaw drops. She is absolutely stunning. Dressed in a creamy colored wrap around dress that hugs those curves I love so much, I get a peek at her matching thigh high stocking trimmed in lace at the tops through the slit that comes up the side of her thigh. Her hair is pinned back, adorned with red roses. I swallow hard, knowing that if this goes according to plan in a few hours I will be the one peeling those sexy as sin stockings from her legs and worshiping her body like the goddess she is.
FAYE