“Thanks. I think I’ll pass. But…I also wanted to ask a small favor. I hate to ask, but—”
“Just spit it out.”
“So, you know Jillian’s wedding is this Saturday.”
“You might have mentioned it.”
“Danny can’t come—”
“Who?” Sean knew damn well who Danny was, but he refused to acknowledge it—the guy was nothing more than Nicki’s boy toy du jour.
“Danny. My boyfriend. You met him last week.”
“Oh. You’re still with that guy?”
“Yes.” The way Nicki was beginning to grow frustrated showed in her voice, and Sean fought to keep the smile off his face. “Anyway, he’s working on Saturday and can’t come with me to Jilly’s wedding. I really want to bring a plus-one.”
“Do you really need someone with you? Aren’t you in the wedding party?”
“No. Jilly has three sisters and, since her mom and dad are paying for the wedding, her bridesmaids and maid of honor are her sisters. Brandy and I are okay with it. We get it. She’s just glad it’s gonna be over soon.”
Raising his eyebrows, Sean let out a long breath. “I don’t get why they’re doing it in the first place.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I can. The only people from school I know who got married were the ones dumb enough to procreate—and then they only got married because they felt like they had to.”
“Seriously, Sean? Jillian and Nate have been together forever, like over ten years—and they’ve been living together since right after high school.”
“Is she pregnant?”
Nicki frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“But you don’t know for sure.”
“They’ve been planning this wedding for over a year—so they’re not marrying because of an unplanned pregnancy, if that’s what you’re asking.”
With a grin, Sean said, “Nothing to get upset about.”
“Look…if you don’t want to come with me, just say so.”
“I never said that. I’ll go. What time?”
“Three—but I’d like to get there around two-thirty.”
“Want me to drive?”
Finally, she was smiling again, flashing those shiny white teeth at him. He’d kill to see her like that all the time—although looking pissed came in a close second. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”
“Then I guess you’ve got yourself a date, Nicki Sosebee.”
Chapter Three
As Sean walked toward the door to Nicki’s apartment, he let out a long breath. This whole process had been a massive pain in the ass. For starters, he’d had to close up shop in his new location early on his first day just so he could drive to Colorado Springs to buy a suit. In high school, he’d had one that his mother had picked up at a thrift store, but it had never fit right and he hated the color, midnight blue. So, when he’d moved out of his mother’s house a few years ago, that was one thing he’d gotten rid of. And he’d thought at the time that he’d never need one again.
But that wasn’t what the internet said when it came to weddings—and, because Nicki had trusted him enough to invite him to be her date, he didn’t want her disappointed or embarrassed to have him next to her.
At first, he’d felt awkward because that old suit had had a clip-on tie and this one was one long piece of silk—but he found a video and some good step-by-step instructions online to get him through tying the real deal. Now, as he knocked on Nicki’s door, he felt pretty good about the way he looked. That didn’t mean he wanted to rush out and fill up his closet with suits, but he decided to keep this one in case anything else ever came up in the future. It was charcoal with a white shirt and blue tie—and the salesman had told him he could leave the tie off if he wanted. But Sean figured he’d wear it to the wedding, and then if he saw a bunch of guys going without, he’d do the same. Better to have it and not need it than the reverse.
“Oh, my fucking God,” Nicki said as she opened the door. “I need to take a picture.”
Sean kept as neutral a look on his face as possible. “What?”
“I’ve never seen you in a suit. You look fantastic—and I want to preserve this moment for posterity. I have no idea when I’ll see you in a suit again.” She’d lost her mind. “Kidding, Sean. But I might call the paper.”
“You’re a laugh riot. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. How do I look?”
There was no way in hell Sean would tell her every thought in his mind at that moment—because she was fucking gorgeous, a breathtaking sight. She wore a burgundy lace dress with a v-neck that didn’t show off her cleavage while still drawing the eyes to her perfect breasts and, because the skirt ended above the knees, it showed off her legs, too. But Sean forced himself to look in those soft brown eyes that gave away Nicki’s zest for life instead of continuing to ogle her, with her permission or not.
Maybe today he would suggest that they give a relationship a serious try. So many times, he’d walked to that precipice but failed to jump, because he was convinced that that one time they’d made love had been nothing but an anomaly. He’d been her rebound guy, nothing more—and, while he appreciated her contrition and they’d worked through the awkwardness to maintain their friendship, he knew he wouldn’t be the right guy for her. He was lucky they were even friends. That she didn’t see it that way made him love her all the more.
But Sean knew.
He was the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Born to an unwed mother who’d had the misfortune of being knocked up by an abusive asshole, Sean had been labeled by teachers and other kids his whole life—and that had stirred up something inside him, something that wanted justice for all, not just the privileged.
Except he’d never be able to do a damn thing about it if he didn’t have money or resources—and all those factors fed into his pursuit to be successfully self-employed.
Today, though, he was just a friend—and he’d be damn proud to have this gorgeous woman on his arm…even if it was just for show.
“Cat got your tongue?” Nicki asked.
“What?” Fuck. What had he missed?
“I asked how I look. Is there something you’re afraid of telling me?”
Sean laughed, relieved that she hadn’t read his mind. “You look great. But isn’t there some rule about not looking better than the bride?”
“Ah…you’re cute. The rule is to not wear white. That’s the bride’s color.”
“If she’s a virgin?”
“That’s a stupid, antiquated rule. Of course, Jilly’s not a virgin. They’ve been living together forever. And I doubt that even way back when that stupid rule was created that half the women were actually virgins.”
“You’re probably right.” They were still standing on the tiny concrete slab in front of Nicki’s apartment. “Are you ready?”
“I think so. Did you need anything before we go?”
“What? Like an aspirin? Or maybe a couple of beers?”
Rolling her eyes, Nicki closed the door. “It won’t be that bad. I promise. Jilly’s not Catholic.”
“What does that have to do with it?” Sean walked over to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door for his friend. “I’m gonna have to help you up in that dress.”
“Yeah, I guess you better, so I don’t look like a little girl climbing a tree in a dress—but how should I do this?”
“Just face me and I’ll lift you up.” Sean swallowed, because his mouth started watering as if Nicki were cheeseburger hot off the grill—which was fucking stupid. He had to get out of this weird mindset today because, otherwise, he’d wind up making an ass of himself. With a nod, Nicki grinned, clutching a tiny silver purse as Sean wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her up as if she were light as a feather. Instead of her eyes, he tried focusing on her neck, a mistake, so he shifted his gaze to her forehead as he hoisted her into the seat, but it didn’t matter where he looked.
She was be
autiful from head to toe.
And the way she wore her hair up only highlighted her delicate peach-colored neck, while the earrings dangling from her ears merely served to draw the eyes there more often.
Jesus. If there was an open bar at the reception, Sean was going to have to indulge—a lot—because he would otherwise drive himself crazy.
By the time he got in the driver’s side, he was back in control. The music started playing as soon as he turned the key, a welcome distraction, but he could also keep his eyes on the road, and that would help with focus. “So how’s the new apartment?”
“Oh, my God. I love it. Now that I finally got the extra day job, it’ll be smooth sailing.”
“I thought you liked your roommates.”
With a shrug, Nicki looked out the passenger door window as they drove down the road. “Maybe if Jilly and Brandy had been my roommates. I didn’t hate the ones I had, but people are sometimes inconsiderate assholes. I shouldn’t have to be the cop asking them to clean their dishes. And, besides, when I want—” After a moment of silence as Sean drove half a block, she said, “Let’s just say I prefer living alone.”
“When you want what?” Sean had the feeling he knew what she’d been reluctant to say. After all, he’d decided long ago that roommates were not an option. If Jesse had ever been homeless, he’d have taken him in without hesitation, but Sean was better off living by himself.
“Privacy.”
Simply nodding, Sean pulled up to the stoplight. When it turned green, he said, “I like having my own place, too. That way, if I want to cook lasagna in the buff, I can.”
Nicki burst out laughing, a sound that had always been music to his ears—and when he was the one making her giggle, even better. “You cook lasagna naked?”
“No…but I could if I wanted. That’s the point.”
“I’d love to see that.” When Sean slid his eyes to the right, Nicki’s widened and, as if in slow motion, her mouth gaped as if she couldn’t believe her own ears. “I mean…you know, figuratively.”
“Gotcha.” But little did she know, she’d gotten his hopes up. For that woman, he’d cook a three-course meal naked.
Too bad they would never work.
* * *
Goddamn. Even arriving really early, Sean had a hell of a time finding a parking spot. Of course, he was pretty sure Winchester Christian Church hadn’t seen this much action since the fifties. The few times his mom ever took him to church, this was the place they’d gone, and since then, the size of the congregation had dwindled. It was probably where Jillian’s parents attended every Sunday, so they chose it out of loyalty, regardless of considering if the venue could actually hold all the attendees.
As he and Nicki made their way inside the building, their progress slowed immensely. The large hallway in front of the worship area was packed with people. While some of them were talking with each other, most were waiting to sign the guest book.
The line was moving…but at a snail’s pace.
“Nicki-chicky!” Nicki’s dark-haired friend Brandy squealed, embracing her as if she were sacking a quarterback.
“Brandy. Oh, my God, you look stunning!”
“You, too. Hey, do you remember Kevin?”
“Yeah. Good to see you again. Kevin, this is my friend Sean.”
Sean nodded and thrust out his hand for a shake. “Nice to meet you.” Sean didn’t know Nicki’s friends that well and he was okay with that. While they didn’t seem as prone to drama as many of the girlfriends he’d had recently, they had their fair share. Maybe settling down would cure them of that.
But, of course, Sean was known to be wrong a time or two, and he was about to find out that even a ceremony like a wedding didn’t guarantee a drama-free day…
Chapter Four
“Oh, thank God you’re here,” said a lovely young woman with dark hair. She was rushing toward them in a slim teal dress with matching shoes, which meant she was definitely in the wedding party.
Nicki and Brandy, almost simultaneously, asked what was going on, and although the noise of the people in that tight hallway made it hard for Sean to hear, it didn’t take him long to understand that this girl was one of the bridesmaids, one of Jillian’s sisters, and something had gone terribly wrong.
Kevin raised his eyebrows at Sean, and the latter man simply shrugged. He wasn’t invested in anything here emotionally other than Nicki—and, truth be told, he’d rather be riding his hog in the hills than sitting in a sappy ceremony.
But he was a sucker, happy to spend any time he could with Nicki—and this was where she’d asked him to follow.
So when Nicki got close to whisper in his ear, he steadied himself. “Something’s going on with Jilly—so Brandy and I are gonna go talk to her. Would you mind saving me a seat?”
He’d been tempted to say something sarcastic and instead bit his tongue.
A few minutes later, when he signed the guest book, he kept it simple: Nicki & Sean.
* * *
The wedding was supposed to have started five minutes earlier—and most of the guests seemed oblivious to the passing of time, likely because no one, groom, preacher, or anyone else, was at the front of the room yet, and the soft background music hadn’t changed.
But Sean knew—and so did Kevin. The other man said, “If this wedding doesn’t happen and our girls need to spend the rest of the day consoling Jillian, what say we go have a beer or two?”
Before Sean could reply, both Nicki and Brandy began walking through the pew to find their places next to the men. When Nicki sat down, he asked, “Everything okay?”
She let out a sigh, her whispered words not completely matching her expression. “The wedding will be starting shortly. I’ll tell you all about it during the reception. Did you and Kevin get to know each other?”
“I’ll tell you all about it at the reception, too.”
Nicki flashed him a droll expression as the prerecorded music was switched off and the sounds of a live organ filled the room, signaling that the wedding was beginning in earnest…a few minutes late, but with few the wiser.
* * *
Once again standing in a line, Sean questioned all the pomp and formality of this ceremony, particularly irritating, he thought, when you took into account that about half of all marriages in the country ended in divorce. What was the fucking point of all this bullshit? And how the hell had the notion of making a commitment become such a ridiculously expensive proposition full of stupidity anyway? Unfortunately, he knew the ceremony at the church was just the beginning. The wedding reception, while offering food, dance, and alcohol, also had a number of stupid rituals that made no sense. The bride tossing her bouquet was just one of several traditions, some superstitious, that had no place in this day and age. While Sean never intended to marry, partly because the ceremony in itself was antiquated, if he did, it would be with the justice of the peace.
If a wedding were a mere gift grab, he’d understand it—but the thousands of dollars of debt this kind of thing had to generate? What a racket. The cost of the wedding likely overshadowed anything the bridal couple received in gifts.
By the time they finally got to the bride and groom, Sean was over this shit. But he still shook the groom’s hand, a guy he remembered from high school and had never much cared for, and he told the bride congratulations. Nicki was smiling and happy now, and Sean was trying to be supportive, although he would have rather been anywhere but here.
Then, as they stood outside the church, Nicki unwrapped the tiny bag of bird seed in her hand. “Oh, my God. Isn’t this so romantic?”
Sean almost literally bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something he’d probably regret. Fortunately, Brandy answered, “It’s so beautiful. Jilly got the wedding she deserved.”
Goddamn. If there wasn’t a cash bar at the reception, Sean would probably have to kill himself—and he was suddenly grateful that he’d never had to go to many of these. But he’d been to enough of the
m to know he’d never be a groom.
Maybe that was just another sign that he and Nicki would never work.
What she said next made him realize maybe his mood was showing all over his face—and yet he’d willingly agreed to come along. Knowing how much he hated these things, why had he agreed in the first place?
Because of Nicki.
So he needed to get over the whiny shit of being here. He could have said no.
Placing a hand next to his ear, Nicki got on her tiptoes and whispered, “I am so sorry you’re having to endure all this. If you want to go, I’ll see if I can get a ride home with Brandy and Kevin.”
When she pulled back, she looked in his eyes, and he felt so guilty then, because he had always wanted to be her knight…and instead he was acting like a spoiled kid used to always getting his way. “No, I promised.”
“But you’re hating all of this, Sean.”
The smile on his face was no longer forced, taking in her beauty, even seeing the exasperation in her eyes. Goddamn, he loved her—and why the hell couldn’t they try? Why couldn’t they make it work? “I don’t hate it—and I’ll keep my facial expressions in check.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind asking Brandy.”
“I got this, okay? I won’t let you down.”
The smile she once again flashed at him got cut short as, finally, the bride and groom exited the church toward the limo waiting at the end of the sidewalk. As they rushed through the crowd, birdseed rained down on them from all sides.
This time, though, Sean kept his thoughts completely to himself, making sure his face wasn’t betraying what he really felt about this whole spectacle.
* * *
At last. Standing in the buffet line, Sean’s emotions simmered down a lot. He’d already had one beer and would be nursing several more—but, on top of that, the food smelled great. Nicki, in front of him, picked up a plate. Brandy and Kevin were in front of her, already filling up. Her voice low, Nicki asked Sean, “So what do you think of Kevin?”
Bad Ass (Nicki Sosebee #14) Page 2
