by Bella Emy
Maybe that was the case when we were younger because he was just a kid. But now that we’re all adults, it’s not that way anymore.
Not to mention that he was the start of things being ruined for Adelyn and me.
Damn. And to think I had almost gone through the entire morning without thinking about her.
Yeah, okay. That’s a lie, but still.
It’s not his fault the way things turned out with her and me. Yet, he sure as hell is partially to blame. If he hadn’t acted like an ass that night I met her at the party, which had Mom calling me to come back home, things could have been so differently. Things could’ve gone better and I could have been with her from the start.
Instead, we wound up in this damn love triangle, Adelyn, Rick, and me. I don’t want to be in it anymore. I want out.
Why do I feel like I’m trapped between the two of them? Why does it feel like whatever they decide to do has any effect on me?
I have nothing to do with those two, besides the fact that they’re my best friends. That’s all. Nothing more.
“Oh, you finally decided to show up, huh?” My father walks into the back room. Although his question was aimed at me, he didn’t even bother to look at me.
I let out a deep breath. “Hey, Pops.”
Mom flips around in her seat. “Michael, that’s not nice.”
My father walks over to my mother and places his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Dear.” He places a kiss on the top of her head.
She grabs one of his hands with hers as he takes a seat next to her. You’d think this would make him say something to me, or even just look my way, but he doesn’t. Instead, he picks up the newspaper on the table in front of him and sticks his nose right in without a care in the world.
Yeah, my father and I haven’t had the greatest relationship since they transferred me over to the east coast. I’ve tried talking to him time and time again, but it’s useless.
When he still fails to acknowledge me, Mom gives me a sad smile.
I smile back and mouth the words, “It’s okay.”
“Can I get you a cup of coffee, Dear?” she asks my father.
He grunts, continuing to read the paper. Moments later, he stops acting like a caveman and answers. “No, thanks.”
Mom rips her gaze away from my father and turns to face me once more. “So honey, how’s your place? Have you gotten everything situated?” She takes a sip from her coffee.
I place my cup down in front of me. “I’m almost situated. Everything is good, though, thanks.”
She smiles genuinely at me. “That’s good, baby.”
I take another look over at my father, who’s still in his own world. I wonder if he’s just like this now because I’m here or is this how he is when they’re alone at home, too.
Minutes pass by with the three of us sitting in silence, and it’s more than I can take. I peek around and my mother looks as uncomfortable as I feel. I think now is the time for me to mention what Mason told me the previous day.
One of two things is going to happen. One: They don’t get upset and let me help so they don’t lose the store. Or two: They get pissed off, specifically my dad, and he tells me they don’t need my help and storms off.
I’m going to take my chances, even though I already have a feeling I know how this is going to go down. Either way, I’m straight out asking. I know Mom avoided it before when I asked about Lenny. I was hoping she would have given me more. But since she didn’t, she now leaves me no choice and I have to know.
“So, I was talking to Mason last night when I went to see him and—”
“Oh, that’s wonderful, honey,” Mom interrupts. “I’m glad.”
I nod. “Right, yeah. It’s good. I’ve seen him a few times already since I’ve been back home.”
“At least you’re seeing some of the family,” my father chimes in.
Oh, now he wants to talk and not pretend like he’s not here. Fine.
“Michael!” Mom scolds, but Pops doesn’t say another word. “Sorry, sweetie,” she says to me.
I shake my head, letting her know it’s fine. I don’t want to get into that. Right now, I just want to know what is going on with the store. I clear my throat and try again. “Mase was saying you guys are in trouble… that you could lose the store?”
My mom turns a few shades of red. She looks down at the table in front of her and says, “Oh, I don’t know why he said that…”
I don’t know why she insists on hiding this from me. I’m her son. Both of her other sons already know about it and are helping the family to get the store back up on its feet like it used to be. Why not tell me and let me do what I can?
“Mom, c’mon… why would Mase lie about it? He told me because it’s the truth and I want to help. I want to do whatever I can to help you and Pops get the store back to where it was.”
I notice my father looking over his newspaper at me. We exchange a look and then he turns to face my mother.
Mom takes another sip from her cup and once she swallows, she places it back down onto the table. She has yet to meet my gaze once more as she fiddles with her fingers.
Is this a nervous habit? Is she embarrassed to confide all this to me?
Once she finally looks into my eyes, she offers me a sad smile and says, “We’ll be okay, baby. I promise. You’re just getting back here and getting situated with your job. I don’t want it to be too much for you and they send you away. We’ll get all of this sorted out, and we’ll be okay. We’re not that far behind on bills.”
I reach out and grab her hand. I run my thumb over her hand to comfort her. “Mom, please. If there is anything at all I can do, let me know. I can manage work and come here to help out when I’m not on the clock. Please, let me help.”
She smiles at me once more. “I don’t know, sweetie. It’s a lot to ask of you since you’re just getting back. We’ll be okay, really. Plus, your brothers are helping us, so we should be okay.”
I shake my head. “I’ll be here. I’ll be here after work, and I’ll help. I’m good now. They won’t send me away. I’ll be fine with work. I promise.”
“You don’t get to come here after being gone for so long and demand to be let back into this family!” Pops slams his fists onto the table and glares at me.
“Pops, I didn’t choose to go away… they made me. And you guys are my family, I want to hel—”
“I’ve heard enough of this!” He stands up from his seat and then focuses his gaze on my mother. “I’ll be in the back, finishing up the unloading. Let me know when he’s gone.”
“No need. I was just leaving.” I rise and push in my chair.
“Maddox, sweetie, wait…” My mother stands up from her seat, reaching out for me, but I’ve already stepped away from the table.
I shut my eyes for a moment, and when I open them back up, I say, “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll see you around.”
I storm out of the room and out of the store before either of them has a chance to say another word to me. It’s not her fault, but my father, blaming me for the force sending me off? It’s bullshit. Now I remember why I wasn’t in a hurry to come back here and see them.
Chapter Ten
I feel as though I’m suffocating. I’ve never been one for dress shirts and pants, and even though I feel like maybe I should have dressed up a little nicer for this occasion, I can’t help being me.
I opted for a gray button-down shirt and black jeans instead of my typical T-shirt and sweatpants attire for a night out with friends.
But is that what we are right now? Friends?
We’re at Rick’s. We were supposed to be at Chili’s, but there was a change of plans. We’re all meeting up here first and getting the reason for our gathering out of the way before heading to Chili’s for dinner. In my case, there will be a lot of alcohol involved.
To my right, Grant and David are downing their drinks—some alcoholic beverage… I didn’t pay attention when they poured it int
o their cups—but to my left, Rick stands patiently, or rather impatiently, against the wall, waiting for the moment his girl walks through that door.
His girl…
Why does that sound so wrong?
Fuck, I need to cut it out. I’m no one to second guess their relationship. I toss the Corona to the back of my throat and swallow hard.
So, while my clothes this evening are not putting a strain on my breathing, the reason we’re all here tonight is. And that’s why I feel like I’m suffocating.
Rick is proposing. He’s proposing to Adelyn, and I don’t even know if it’s the right thing for him to do. I mean, yeah, I get he loves her, but is she really the one for him? Do they honestly belong together? I don’t know if I can say yes. I just don’t see Adelyn with a guy like Rick.
Don’t get me wrong. Rick is a great guy, and if I had a sister, I would definitely want her to end up with a guy like him.
But Adelyn?
I shake my head and tip one back. What the ever-loving fuck am I saying? This alcohol needs to hit, and it needs to hit quickly because I don’t even know what I’m saying right about now.
If Rick would be good enough for my sister, if I had one, then why wouldn’t he be good enough for Adelyn?
I’m not making sense. I’m bugging out, and this evening needs to come to an end soon.
“What if she says no?” Rick pulls me out of my thoughts, as he leans over and whispers so only I can hear him. It’s a good thing David and Grant are currently immersed in their own conversation. Somehow, I don’t think this is something Rick wants them to hear, even though we’re all good friends. Well, maybe I don’t know David well enough to consider him a good friend, but still.
I clear my throat and face him. “What?”
He repeats his question. “What if she says no? What then? I asked all these people to come out and witness this proposal party, which may not even be a proposal party if she says no. I’m going to look like a fool.”
I shake my head. “You’re not going to look like a fool, Rick.”
Rick finally turns his head to look at me. “I mean, she could. She absolutely can say no. And then, do we just break up? What do I tell all these people? Granted, it’s just a few of us, and once she gets here with her friends, it’ll just be a few more of us. But still. It’s going to be awkward, isn’t it?”
It sure is. It is right now, and Adelyn isn’t even here yet. I’m standing here with a couple of my friends, waiting on this girl to arrive so Rick can propose to her and sweep her off of her feet while I just look on and clap for them?
I don’t even know.
And even though these are the thoughts that are going on through my head right now, I don’t dare bring them to life to make Rick question his decision. That’s not my place.
“Rick, it’s going to be fine. She’s going to say yes, and everyone is going to be happy for the two of you.” Not a lie. I’ll be happy, I am happy, for them, but still…
Rick lets out a labored sigh. “I hope so.”
I offer him a small smile. “You’ll see. It’ll be great, and after she says yes, we’ll all get drunk and celebrate.”
Because getting drunk tonight is the only way I’m going to be able to get through this evening.
Rick loosens up and chuckles. “You’re the best friend a guy could ask for, you know that, Maddox?”
I shrug. If he only knew the thoughts I’ve been having and the questions of their relationship in my mind, would he still feel I’m a great friend?
“Seriously, I mean it,” he says. “Therefore, I want you to be the one to hold this for me.” He turns around and opens the drawer to the right, pulling out a ring box. “Can you hold on to this for me until I’m ready?”
Is he not proposing tonight? Isn’t he already ready?
“What’s this?” I ask, studying the box. Okay, obviously, I know what it is. I just really want to know why he’s asked me to guard this.
Rick chuckles. “It’s the reason for tonight’s festivities. You’re going to be my best man, and so who better to hold on to it for me than you?” He pats me on the back.
I raise an eyebrow. Best man? I don’t ever recall him mentioning me being his best man. But I guess it should have dawned on me. We’ve been best friends for years, and he doesn’t have any brothers. Who else would he have made his best man? Clearly, I’ve been avoiding all the wedding thoughts as much as possible.
I look down at the box, twirling it around in my hand, but I don’t dare open it. After a few moments, I look back up at Rick. “Are you certain about this? Me holding the ring, I mean. Not the proposal.”
Smooth, Maddox. Real smooth.
Rick chuckles once more. “What? Yeah, absolutely, Mad. You’re my guy. You’re not allowed to say no.”
I let out a nervous laugh, but nod. “Okay.”
“Cool! Now put it away before Addy walks through that door and you ruin the surprise.”
I nod again because all comprehensible words have escaped me. I tuck the ring in my back pocket and take another long swig of my beer. Oh, the alcohol… it needs to make me forget this night… and it hasn’t even begun yet.
Rick takes a sip from his own beer. “So you’re good with being the best man and all… assuming Addy says yes when I propose? I mean, I know I didn’t officially ask, but I’m asking you now…”
I consider his words. If I think that tonight is going to be difficult when he asks Adelyn to marry him, how am I going to feel on the day of their wedding when they say their vows?
I swallow hard. I can’t let this get to me. Whatever happened in the past, happened. This is the present, and I need to accept it and the future. Whatever that may be.
Taking a deep breath, I say, “You’re my boy. I’m here for you always and I—”
“Hey!” Adelyn’s voice booms through the door, cutting me off as she walks in toward us with her two female best friends on either side of her. She looks as though she owns the ground she steps on. She’s all sparkly and vibrant and glowing, and I’m just a damn fool thinking I could be here to support the two of them.
How can I possibly be supportive of either of them when I keep questioning their relationship?
“Oh my God, it’s so nice to see everybody here,” Adelyn announces as she places her handbag down on the couch. “You all know my best friends, Julia and Orion, right?” she asks, looking around the room.
David and Grant nod and say their hellos to the other two girls, but the only thing I can see at the moment is Adelyn. I can’t rip my gaze away.
“Hey, baby,” she says to her soon-to-be fiancé.
“Hi, sweetie.” Rick smiles and walks over to her, pulling her into an embrace. Adelyn plants a kiss on his lips.
It’s at that moment that I have to look away, and I finally acknowledge the other two women. Julia looks a lot like Adelyn, with darker hair and green eyes. Orion is blonde with blue eyes and a body any man would be blind not to notice. Usually, all the guys ogle over her. Maybe it’s the tight, low-cut blouses she typically wears, showcasing her amazing cleavage that gets to them. Who knows?
“Maddox, it’s good to see you after so long. How’ve you been?” Julia is the first to speak to me, and it’s a great distraction from Adelyn and Rick still greeting one another and speaking in hushed tones.
Orion laughs. “God, it’s been years.”
I nod. “It has. But I’ve been good, thanks. How about you two?”
Julia smiles, resembling Adelyn even more. I guess it’s true when they say some girls hang out so much they start looking a lot alike. “That’s good. I’m fine, too. Your mom and dad good? Mav and Mase?” Her eyes light up at the mention of my brothers.
Ah. There it is. Julia always did have a thing for Mason. He knew about it, but being the stay at home, low-key dude that he is, he never really pursued her. But come to think of it, Orion had a thing for Maverick, too. They hooked up once, but that’s all it was. Maverick’s never been the t
ype to settle down. He’s always looking for the next best thing.
“His brothers are responsible citizens of the world, right, Maddox?” Adelyn finally joins in on the conversation, and I’m left bringing my gaze back to her.
I smile politely, but I can’t really think right now. Rick has his arm around her waist, but I manage to say, “They’ve both done a bit of growing up, yes.”
“At least some of the Martinelli’s are,” Grant chimes in.
Everyone chuckles and laughs along. I just give Grant a smug grin. “Yeah, we can’t all be grown-ups.”
After a few moments, and once everyone settles down, Rick steps forward.
This is it. He’s not even going to waste any time. He’s doing this right now.
I feel my heart beating faster, my pulse quickening.
He runs a hand through his thick blond hair. “So, I just want to thank everyone for coming tonight to chill with us. I know we haven’t had much time lately to get together and just hang out, but I’m grateful you are all here tonight while I—” he stops and turns around to face Adelyn, “get ready to make the best decision of my life.”
My eyes dart over to Adelyn, who’s got a confused expression on her face.
“Rick?” she asks.
Rick takes a deep breath and you can hear the silent chuckles around the room, specifically from Julia and Orion.
“He’s doing it now,” they say. “Oh, my God, this is it,” they whisper.
And it’s all deafening to me.
Rick turns around to face us, flashing a radiant but anxious smile in our direction. In all my years of knowing Rick, I knew the moment he’d propose to a girl, he’d be nervous. I just never expected it to be Adelyn.
“Mad, it’s time,” he says to me, willing me to step forward.
I snap out of my thoughts. “Huh?”
He chuckles nervously. “The box?”
“Oh… right, the box,” I say quietly, reaching into my back pocket and pulling out the black velvety rectangular box.
He reaches out so I can place it into his hand, and as it falls in the center of his palm, he grabs Adelyn’s hand and drops on one knee.
