by Todd, E. L.
She nudged him in the side then grabbed a cup of coffee.
“I always liked you,” Mike said.
Andrew came into the kitchen. “Ready to go golfing?”
“We get golf carts?” Mike asked.
“You don’t. You crashed the last one.”
“The breaks went out,” he said indignantly.
“Everyone ready?” Andrew asked, ignoring his son.
I looked at my dad. “I think so.”
“Good. We’ll have to take a few cars so we can fit.”
“I’m taking the Mercedes!” Mike yelled.
“It’s my wedding day,” I said. “I automatically win.”
“Damn,” Mike said.
“And you already have a car.”
“It’s not a Mercedes.”
“I’ll drive with you, Son,” Andrew said.
“Great. I get the loser car,” Mike said.
Andrew looked at him. “Who are you calling a loser? I’m a stud. I heard what Scarlet said.”
Scarlet blushed, not realizing he heard her joking words.
“Well, if you got Scarlet, you definitely wouldn’t be a loser, Pa.”
“Let’s go before it gets too hot,” my dad said.
We grabbed the various keys from the garage then hoped into the cars. Scarlet didn’t know anything about vehicles, but I knew she impressed when she saw it.
“Wow,” she said as he approached it.
“You like it?”
“I’d like to get fucked in the backseat.”
My eyes widened. “So you really like it.”
“If that’s any indication.”
I opened the door for her. “We might get lost on the way.” I shut the door then got into the driver’s seat.
“Do you ever think of anything else?”
I started the car then looked at her. “These are the things I think about: your pussy, your ass, your tits, you, sports, food, money, your pussy, your ass, your tits, you. It’s like clockwork.”
“That’s sweet in an eerie way.”
“I’m glad you understand my romantic tactics.”
“That was romantic?”
“That’s the best I got.”
She shook her head and looked out the window. “For our ten year anniversary you’re probably going to get me chains and rope.”
“I was planning on doing that for our first year anniversary.”
“That’s even worse.”
I pulled out of the garage then headed to the road, following my dad and brother in the car ahead.
7
Scarlet
When we arrived at the course, we purchased our clubs and balls and headed to the green. It was a beautiful day. It was warm but not scorching with sweltering heat. I was glad I wore my hat so the sun would stay out of my face. I was already at the beach for hours and I didn’t want to get burned.
“You don’t seem too concerned about my sun exposure now,” I said to Sean.
“You’re wearing a hat.”
“I was wearing a hat yesterday.”
“Well, you were wearing a bikini.”
“Now I’m wearing shorts. Admit it. You just wanted to fondle me yesterday.”
“In front of her brother,” Ryan added.
“No, I just wanted to make sure you had enough sunscreen on.”
“You’re such a liar.”
Sean shrugged. “You think I’m a pervert either way.”
“You’re right about that.”
Cortland looked to the left. “Cool! Go-carts!”
“Awesome,” Ryan said. “You think we can still ride?”
Sean abandoned me and joined the two men. “We should totally come here tomorrow before the wedding.”
“Yeah!” Ryan said. “And we can play in the arcade.”
Janice shared an incredulous glance with me then turned back to Ryan. “Are you in fifth grade?”
“What?” Ryan asked. “It’ll be fun. A lot more fun than listening to you guys freak out about the center pieces and the food.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Monnique asked.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“You’re the maid of honor. You’re supposed to be with the bride.”
“Damn. Why couldn’t I have just been a flower girl?”
Mike looked at him, his eyebrow raised. “Would you have wanted to be a flower girl…?”
“No. I’m just saying I wished I had a job that allowed me to play laser tag.”
“They have laser tag?” Sean asked excitedly.
“Tomorrow is going to be so much fun,” Mike said. “Now we can play in teams.”
“We’ll probably forget about the wedding altogether,” Cortland said.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” I said.
Sean came to me and kissed me. “Can I go, baby?”
“You don’t have to ask my permission.”
He waited for me to answer.
“Yes, you can go.”
“Yes!” he said to the guys. “It’s on tomorrow.”
“Maybe you schedule a birthday party,” Janice said sarcastically.
“Do you think we can?” Ryan said seriously. “Maybe we can get free tokens.”
“Can I come?” Andrew asked.
“Yeah.” Sean said. “And the rest of my groomsmen.”
“Let’s just go,” I said to the girls. We walked to the first course and I hit my ball, watching it fall in the hole on the first shot.
“Beginners luck,” Sean said.
“Then you should get it in too.”
He stepped up to the mound then hit the ball. It wasn’t even close. “You have a woman’s touch.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He walked away and hit his ball until he made it in.
“He’s just mad because you’re better than him,” Monnique said.
“Sean hates to lose,” Mike said. “When we were little, I used to beat him in everything. He would always throw a hissy fit.”
“Since I’m marrying him, are you going to tell me all the dirt?”
He smiled. “I’ve got a lot of dirt on him.”
“I’m listening.”
He laughed. “He’s still my brother. I’ll take it to the grave.”
He told me how you two tricked a girl into thinking you were the same person so you could both bang her.”
Mike laughed. “I can’t believe he told you that.”
“And that he stole your Playboy’s, came all over them, then put them back under your bed.”
“Wow. He has no secrets from you.”
“I’m sure there’s something.”
“What about the Lucinda story?”
“How he told a girl he wanted to meet her parents to propose just so he could fuck her?”
“Damn. And you still want to marry him?”
I laughed. “He’s different now.”
“There’s no question about that, but he was still a fucking dick.”
“He isn’t one to me.”
“He used to be.”
I didn’t like thinking about those dark times. I pushed it to the back of my mind. I forgave Sean and moved on from that. It was in the past. “So how you’ve been?”
He shrugged. “The same. I got to work, hit the gym, meet the boys, fuck some pussy, and do it all over again.”
“Did you ever hook up with Janice’s sister?”
“Once.”
“And that was it?”
“I called her but she never called me back.”
“Now you know how it feels.”
“Yeah.”
Everyone walked ahead of us and Mike and I trailed behind, hitting our balls when our turns arrived. “You okay?”
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
“You’re just like Sean. You’re both pathetic liars.”
“My younger brother is getting married and I’ve never even had a serious relationship. No girl will take a chance on m
e because of my reputation.”
“Sean was in the same situation.”
“But he had you as a friend the entire time. He doesn’t have to hide his secrets from you. You’ll love him no matter what.”
“And you don’t think a girl would do that for you?”
“It doesn’t seem like it.”
“It’ll happen, Mike. Give it time.”
He stood beside me and watched me hit the ball. “There just aren’t girls like you.”
“What? Girls that eat like a pig? Girls that drink three milkshakes a week? Girls that hate makeup? There are plenty of them, Mike.”
“You’re the perfect woman, Scar.”
I stopped and looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “I don’t know about that.”
“It’s true. I mean it. If things were different, I would be pursuing you right now.”
Mike asked me out a long time ago but we hadn’t discussed it since. “Mike, what are you saying?”
“Nothing. I’m just saying I wish I had someone.”
“You’re great guy. You risked your life to protect me. If you let women see that, they’ll want to have a meaningful relationship with you.”
He shook his head. “Scarlet, I wouldn’t have done that for just anybody. You have any idea how fucking scared I was? I seriously thought I was going to die when he burst through the door. I thought that was the end of my story. I’m a very selfish person. I wouldn’t have done that for anyone.”
“Sean’s your brother. Of course you would have done something.”
“Yeah, but I also did it out of love for you. Even if you weren’t with my brother, I still would have protected you. I care about you no matter what.”
“You’re so sweet, Mike.”
“I’m really not. If anything, I’m kinda an asshole. My brother is off hitting his ball while I declare my love for his fiancé.”
“What?”
“I just meant that I’m spending more time with you than I am with him.”
His words had me alarmed but I decided that they were meaningless.
“So, you have any doubts?”
“Doubts about what?”
“My brother.”
He was the last person I wanted to have this conversation with.
“I won’t tell him anything, Scar.”
“I don’t have doubts. I guess I just get scared sometimes.”
“Of what?”
“That he’ll go back to his old ways when he gets tired of me.”
“I don’t think that would ever happen.”
“Or if I can gain weight and he isn’t attracted to me anymore, he’ll find someone else.”
“You couldn’t gain weight if you tried. And if you did, Sean still wouldn’t do that. I saw him with Penelope and I’ve seen him with you. He’s hooked, Scar. Believe me. You may have known him for ten years, but I’ve known him for his whole life.”
“I know. He just hurt me a lot in the past.”
“I know he regrets it.”
“I know.”
“Did you tell him this?”
“Sorta.”
“Maybe you should talk to him. It might make you feel better.”
“I already know how it would go. Nothing needs to be said. I’ll feel better about it tomorrow.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Have you written your speech?”
“Yep. It’s sweet and to the point.”
“Are you going to show a porno?”
He laughed. “No, but that’s a good idea.”
Sean hit his ball then came over to us, his hand immediately moving for my waist. “What are you talking about?”
“Porn,” I answered.
“I like where this is going.”
“I was going to show a porno for my best man speech,” Mike said.
“That sounds about right. Mom will be proud.”
“Maybe she’ll be more mortified over you than me,” I said with a laugh. “It’ll give me a break.”
“Dad was bummed when I told him I didn’t have the video,” Mike said.
“I could kill you,” I said. “I can’t believe you told them about it.”
“It slipped,” he said with a shrug. “Did something else happen?”
Sean shrugged. “Scarlet and I were fooling around on the beach when Mom and Dad appeared.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Mike said.
“I was having an orgasm when they showed up,” I said.
“Oh. I bet my dad was excited about that.”
“You three are all a bunch of perverts,” I said. “I don’t understand how your mom is so stuck up when she’s lived with you for so long.”
“She ignores us,” Sean said.
“I wish she would ignore me,” I said.
“Scarlet, my mom likes you,” Sean said. “She would tell me if she didn’t.”
Mike nodded. “She does, Scarlet. You’re just a little different for her.”
“Different?”
“Yeah. You actually have a personality,” Mike said.
I laughed. “Thanks, I guess.”
“Mom and Dad are making me sign a prenup,” Sean said.
“That isn’t surprising. All they care about is money.” Mike looked at me. “I hope you don’t take it personal.”
“I’m fine with it. Sean is the one who’s upset about it.”
“It just pisses me off. It’s my marriage, you know?” Sean said.
Mike shrugged. “We’re both momma’s boys. We do whatever she says. She used to breast feed us. That’s real love.”
“Are you always this gross?” I asked.
Mike turned to Sean. “You told her about Lucinda?”
Sean grinned. “Yeah. That wasn’t my finest hour.”
“And that dumb as fuck girl that believed you and I were the same person just so we could screw her?”
Sean laughed. “I forgot about that. That was hilarious.”
“Man, you have a good woman on your hands if she still sticks around.”
“I tell Scarlet everything. If she hasn’t run for the hills yet, I don’t think she’s going to.”
“Don’t pull that twin trick on me,” I said.
“You did think I was Sean when we were in Vegas,” Mike reminded me.
“But I didn’t try to sleep with you,” I said.
Mike looked at me. “But you were rambling on about anal sex.”
I felt my cheeks blush. “Oh no.”
“Apparently, you like it or something?” he asked with a smile.
Sean caught my embarrassment. “Okay. We’re done with that conversation.”
“And my bother has a huge cock apparently?” Mike added.
“Look! Free laser tag!” Sean said.
“What? Where?” Mike said, looking over his shoulder.
Sean pulled me away before Mike turned back around.
“Thanks for saving me,” I said as I started laughing.
“It was either that or naked chicks. I didn’t think he would believe me if I said girls were walking around the park in nothing but heels.”
“It’s Mike—I’m sure he would have.”
“You’re probably right. Was he bothering you?”
“No. We’re just talking.”
“About what?”
“Personal stuff.”
“You’ve gotten really close to my brother.”
“Well, he did risk his life to protect me.”
“So did Ryan.”
“And I can’t get any closer to him.”
“I don’t know. It’s you guys we’re talking about here.”
I pushed him gently. “Shut up.”
“You know I’m joking, baby.”
“So, when are you going to tell your parents?”
“Oh. I guess when we get back.”
“Should you tell Mike first?”
“Nah. He said he didn’t want the company. I don’t think he’ll care
either way.”
“It’s always nice to be courteous.”
“When has my brother ever been courteous?”
“When he risked his life for me.”
“Damn. He’s going to be exonerated for everything because of that.”
“He should be.”
He sighed. “You’re right.”
We caught up with everyone and saw Andrew shake his hips as he danced on the green, spinning his club around.
“I’m guessing your dad won the game?”
“You’ve never seen his victory dance?”
“No,” I said with a laugh.
“He does it with everything.”
“It’s cute.”
“Not when you’re playing ball with your friends.”
“It’s cute no matter what context it’s in.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I worry you’re going to leave me for my dad or my brother.”
“They are both good choices.”
He eyed me. “Even my brother?”
“I already said this like a million times. He’s a really good guy. He’s just like you, Sean. He wants to change his ways.”
“Do—you think he has feelings for you?”
I rolled my eyes. “You think everyone is in love with me. First it was Cortland, and now it’s your brother.”
That comment didn’t seem to assuage his doubt. “Did he say anything like that?”
“No, Sean. He thinks of me as family.”
He didn’t seem convinced.
“Sean.”
“What?”
“You’re being paranoid and annoying. Drop it.”
“Fine.”
I could tell by the look in his eyes that the conversation was nowhere near over.
8
Sean
“Need any help, Mom?” I asked when we walked inside.
“No. Everything is ready. Now we just have to wait for everyone to arrive.”
I looked at my watch. My friends from college would be here soon. I knew they were excited about the wedding even though all the bridesmaids were taken. “Cool.”
My mom sat down at the table and sighed, holding her cup of coffee. “Did you have fun at the golf course?”
“I kicked ass,” Andrew said as he kissed his wife on the head.
She rolled her eyes. “No cussing, Andrew. We have company.”
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Our sons speak more profanities than a gangster.”
“And I wonder why,” she said as she glared at him.
He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down, avoiding her gaze.
