“You better walk your ass to somewhere private unless you want whoever’s in hearing distance to hear me lose my mind.”
“I take it Mom’s started?”
“Started? If you mean tricking my mother into asking me to lunch and then ambushing me with Bizzy and Rory as tag-alongs, then yes!”
“Shit, she didn’t go in easy.”
“Easy, because you told her I was skittish?”
“Fuck, baby, I really can’t talk about this right now. Have lunch, work with them to pick out whatever women pick out for weddings, and we can discuss this tonight.”
My head threatens to blow apart. I stand abruptly, throwing my napkin on the table, and stomp to the side of the patio out of range from my gaggle of nosy bodies. “Whatever women pick out for weddings? Did you truly just say that shit to me?”
“Yes, isn’t that what women do?”
“Maybe, when they’re engaged!” I hiss.
“Motherfucker,” he rumbles, and I hear a rustling on his end. “I thought we worked through this.”
“You decided we were getting married in Vegas. I love that idea. You made some other bold declarations, and I didn’t argue. But what you haven’t done is bring it up again.”
“I thought I made myself clear in Boston. In the weeks we’ve been back, we’ve lost a patient and had several other things happening, including everyone’s focus on Nick and Grace moving. You are the one who didn’t bring it up again, and I waited. I’m sick of waiting. In order for me to give the woman I love the wedding she deserves, I need a hint of what she wants. Since I don’t know jack shit about this stuff, I decided it was time to get the ball rolling, so I called in reinforcements.”
I take a second to think, finding a little calm. “I’m not skittish.”
“Then sit your ass down with those women who know how to make things happen and get the ball fucking rolling.”
“You could have given me a head’s up.”
“I did that when I told you I wasn’t giving you a choice to say no and that you were the love of my life.”
I lose all my verve and the remaining anger vanishes. I peek over my shoulder and see the four smiles aimed knowingly at me. “Do you have any requests in this process. They’ve pulled out all the stops today and settled in to make big decisions.”
“I want you wearing champagne.”
“Not white?”
“Not because of the white wedding dress purity and kindness folklore, but because you shine in champagne.”
“I guess I can handle that.” I smile myself.
“You over your snit?”
“Not totally, you’ll pay for this later.”
“That is something I’ll look forward to.” He hangs up before I can respond.
I go back to the table with a lot less attitude. “It seems there was a lack of communication on Mathis’s part,” I tell no one in particular.
“Don’t test the Bennett brothers,” Bizzy advises.
“Shut up.” I sit my ass down as Mathis instructed. “This is a bit unconventional, and when Mathis said we discussed this, it wasn’t in the traditional sense.”
“Been there, have the ring and the baby to prove it.”
My face flames, not because I’m a prude, but I try to refrain from talking about sex in front of the moms.
“So,” my mom claps loudly, once again bringing the attention of other tables to us, “are we gonna do this?”