Faith sighs and picks up the invitation again.
“Going to this wedding is going to be a shitshow, I can already tell. I’ll wear a dress that doesn’t fit me right, according to Samantha, but what she really means is that I need to lose weight.”
I pause for a moment.
“Have you talked to your mom about how much her words hurt you?”
Faith shakes her head. “Why bother? I doubt anything would change. It’s been almost twenty years of her behavior, and old habits die hard.”
I nod emphatically. No one should have to endure such awful behavior from a parent, and I’m beginning to understand why Faith doesn’t want to be around her mom. I wouldn’t want a relationship with someone like that either, because who would?
“So are you going to attend the wedding?” I ask carefully. My girlfriend lets out another tired sigh.
“Yes, I suppose. Despite everything Samantha’s done, I feel like it’s my duty.”
I take her hand and squeeze. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, you know. Especially since this is her sixth wedding, it sounds like.”
The pretty brunette sighs. “I know. I just think skipping the wedding would cause a bigger problem than going. Sometimes it’s just easier to swallow the poison and hope it clears quickly.”
I grin.
“Well, lucky for you, I happen to have plenty of free time in August, so you’ll have a handsome man on your arm. And I dance too.”
Faith giggles. “Thanks, Hunter. The wedding might be bearable if I have you there with me. Otherwise, I really don’t think I could stomach it.”
I press a fond kiss to her forehead.
“I’m with you every step of the way, pretty lady. You can count on me.”
And with that, Faith cuddles against my broad chest as I hold her curvy form close. We go back to watching the show, and contentment settles in my chest. After all, how bad could this wedding be? Of course, Samantha sounds like a witch, but I can deal with witches. I’ve handled nasty women in the past, and I’m sure I can do it again.
“Things will be fine,” I murmur against Faith’s hair. “Trust me.”
But the beautiful brunette is asleep now, and I merely settle her more firmly against my large frame, enjoying the feel of her breasts pressed against the hard wall of my chest. This girl is my everything, and going to a wedding is least I can do for the woman I adore.
7
Faith
* * *
Bella is already at the restaurant when I arrive.
“Hey, beautiful,” she sings, standing to hug me. “How are you? How’s it going?”
I smile.
“I’m good. I’m so sorry I’m late. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
She shakes her head. “I just got here, sweetie. Relax.”
My best friend is early to pretty much everything. Meanwhile, I tend to run late, so I always feel bad about making her wait. But Bella never chastises me for it because she knows I’m working on my bad habits.
A waitress sidles up with a nice smile.
“Hi, welcome to Desmond’s, can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll have a coffee,” Bella says. “Cream and sugar, please.”
“Orange juice for me.”
The waitress leaves to get our drinks as Bella and I settle in with our menus. Desmond’s is a traditional American restaurant with things like burgers and fried chicken, plus totally yummy fries. I always have to get fries, no matter where I am. Sure enough, when the waitress returns, Bella and I each order a juicy burger with pickles, our favorite, and I also throw in an extra large order of their sweet potato fries with an extra helping of mayonnaise dip, and ketchup on the side as back-up.
“Eeew, mayo?” Bella says with one eyebrow scrunched. “That sounds awful.”
“Don’t diss it until you try it, girlfriend,” I warn. “It’s good!”
“Okay, okay! But tell me about Hunter,” Bella giggles once the waitress departs. “Is he good in the sack?”
“OMG!” I blush while giggling. But then I lean forward and say conspiratorially, “He’s amazing. He’s so thorough and I feel like I’m a new woman every day we’re together.”
Bella high-fives me.
“So how often are you guys doing it?”
I grin.
“As often as possible.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“So like once a day? Twice?”
I blush.
“No, he has a bigger appetite than that.”
Bella’s brows go up.
“Three times? Four?”
I nod. “Sometimes even five,” I confess in a whisper. “And sometimes, he gives it to me in my bottom too. Actually, I really like it when we do anal now.”
Bella’s eyes practically bug out of her head.
“You go, girlfriend!” she squeals. “OMG, did this work out or what?”
I giggle in return.
“Yes, yes, you were right to push me to meet up with Hunter that first night. None of this would be happening without you. Thank you for your sage advice.”
My buddy laughs.
“So long as you promise to name your first child after me.”