“No. that’s not the crazy girl. It's the girl his mom want’s him to marry.”
“What!” Bri said, sitting upright. She’s choosing a wife for him?”
“What I heard.”
“But, he has a girlfriend,” Bri said.
“Yes, you.”
Bri shook her head. “No. He told me he had a girlfriend, probably back in Montreal.”
“He has no girlfriend, Bri. He wants you.”
“How did you know that? You don’t even know him.”
“Someone who knows him, actually, his sister, the bride, told me. She can’t keep her mouth shut.”
“I don’t want to believe you, but am kind of happy to hear that.” She said.
“You are? His mom doesn’t like you. Didn’t you see her reaction when you walked in?”
“No I did not, besides no one likes me, Alice, yet I survived. I’ve grown a thick skin against haters.” Then Bri went silent.
“What is it?” Alice asked.
“Why am I always unfortunate? Now that I think am falling in love, I have his mom to contend with.” They stopped at the call of Alice's name outside the door.
Alice rose upon hearing her name. “I think we are heading back to the house, that I hate. Why can’t I stay here?”
“Ethan’s why” Bri said. “And I feel sad that you are leaving me with a total stranger.
“Call me if anything strange happens. I’ll come right away. Although, I know he won’t kill you because he loves you.
Ethan walked in looking tired.
“I know it’s time to go,” Alice said, eyeing him. “Take care of my friend.”
“You know I will,” he replied, holding the door open for Alice who walked reluctantly toward it.
“Good night,” Bri said.
“Night, Alice replied, pouting before stepping out of the room.
Ethan shut the door and slumped on the bed and nearly sent Bri flying out of it.
“You might’ve ruined it,” Bri said, smiling.
“I paid for it.”
“You paid to use it. You don’t own it.”
“I could own it if I wanted. You could buy anything you wanted for use as a souvenir,” he said and then took off his Gucci watch. He set it on the table by the bed.
“Really?” Bri asked surprised and glancing around the room to find something.
“Is the room up to your taste?” he asked before she realized he was watching her with his body resting on his arms as he propped himself up.
“Of course,” she said. “I love it here.”
“Bed okay?”
“Yes, but I thought there would be two beds.”
“We don’t need two beds. We are both grown-ups and know what we’re doing,” he said, flirting.
“This is the closest I’ve been with a man in a room all by myself,” she said, and then wished she hadn’t said that.
He gazed at her and then took her hand. She shivered.
“I think I need a shower to keep me warm,” she said, rising.
“It’s a freestanding bathtub. No showers,” he said. “Must be the air conditioning,” he said, pointing at it, but Bri knew it wasn’t the air-conditioning.
“I should turn it down,” he said, rising. He took off his shirt. Bri gazed at his ripped, smooth body and looked away.
“You don’t have to turn it down because of me,” she said. “I have a sweater to keep me warm.”
“You don’t need a sweater to keep you warm.”
“Okay. A warm blanket, or a quilt, like we have here” Bri said, blushing. Her face burned.
“I could warm you up faster than a blanket, or a quilt,” he said.
“I know, but I definitely can’t wrap you around me,” she said before snatching a towel off the railing. She’d walked to the bathroom.
“You can do with me whatever you will.”
“You bet I can. How about strangling you?” she said and shut the bathroom door. He opened it a minute later.
“How about we bathe together? I don’t want to fall asleep while you’re in here.” Bri’s eyes fell on his bare chest before they rose to his eyes.
“What? We can’t both squish ourselves in here like a can of sardine,” Bri said, but he stepped out of his underwear and into the bathtub anyway.
“I don’t bite. Pretend am not here,” he said.
“Yeah, right,” Bri said and then contemplated whether to join him or wait till he was done. Not wanting to seem naïve, she took off her towel and slide in with him but she couldn’t pretend as he said, for his hands were all over her. Her job as a lingerie model had made her less shy, after all, the half-naked photo shoots with other male models and the numerous walks on the runway ramp.
He kissed her gently, she resisted, but he continued until she succumbed and let him part her lips, and then they took turns to lather each other up.
It was a warm bath with lots of cuddles, considering the size of the bathtub. Then they dried up afterward and headed to bed. Bri picked up her phone and her eyes fell on the message: Don’t do it tonight. She smiled. Don’t I know that? she replied; Okay, Mom, and rolled into bed.
She hugged the edge of the bed, but Ethan pulled her to the middle with his strength and spooned with her.
“I promise not to disappear,” Bri said.
“I hope not,” he replied with a yawn.
Soon he fell asleep. Bri stayed awake, listening to his breathing as his bare chest rose and fell against her back. She smiled in the fairly lit room thinking, if this is love, she was willing to explore, but with extra care. She was liking the feeling of being in love and being loved.
28
⸙
She slowly woke up to the sound of his voice. He wasn't loud, but his voice wasn't low enough either. He seemed a bit ruffled.
Bri raised her head and searched for her cell phone which she left lying beneath her pillow. She pushed a button and the cellphone light came on. Eight-thirty, the time said. She laid down again, not wanting to leave the warm, comforting bed. Ethan turned, saw she’d awoken, and then ended the call. He came towards the bed but did not get on it. Rather he sat at the foot of the bed.
“Good morning,” Bri greeted, rubbing her eyes. “You're up early.”
“Good morning. My sister woke me up. We have so much to do today. Tomorrow is the wedding. We have rehearsal, and other stuff I'm not fully involved in. He smiled. “Thank God.”
“Is there any way I can help,” Bri asked. He gazed at the ceiling as if pondering.
“I'll ask when we get there.”
“When are we supposed to be there?”
“Like an hour ago.”
“An hour!” Bri said. “Why didn't you wake me up?”
“You're a guest. I didn't want to ruin your sleep because of my sister.” Bri threw the quilt off of her.
“Still am preventing you from being at the rehearsal on time. I'll just take a quick bath, and we'll be on our way.
It was the shortest bath she ever had; five minutes and she was done. He gazed at her.
“You don't look like you rolled out of bed five minutes ago,” he said, admiring her slender figure.
“It takes practice to throw everything together within a short time. I'm used to it, you know, changing clothes and lingerie at fashion shows.”
“Yeah,” he said.
“I'm ready,” she said, and please don't tell them am the reason for your lateness. They'll hate me for it.”
He opened the passenger door to the car he borrowed from his uncle who was kind to bring it to them. Bri looked from the car to him.
“My uncle's.”
“How did you get it so quickly?”
“He brought it over. I begged him to.” Bri stepped in. The car had seen better years, but it was ok. It had a peculiar odor Bri couldn't put a grip on. She sniffed, unconsciously. To her, it was a pungent odor.
“Incense,” Ethan said.
“Bingo,” she replied. “I thought it was a f
amiliar odor. Can't remember when I last perceived that.
“Could be a church,” he said.
“Maybe, but I can't remember the last time I visited any church.”
“Well, you'll tomorrow. In Catholic churches, they burn incense. You could smell it when the Reverend father is coming in with the altar servers as they swing the thurible, the smell of incense fills the entire church.”
Her stomach growled. He took his eyes off the road and gazed at her.
“Hungry?”
“I think it's the incense.”
“We could grab a cup of coffee before heading to the rehearsal,” he said.
“No. You don't want your sister pulling her hair off her scalp. Weddings are hard to plan, you know.”
“You bet it is,” he said. “My sister is already balding as of the time I spoke with her this morning. Her make-up artist couldn't make it here because of the change in weather back home.”
“That sounds horrible, but doesn't she have a backup plan?” she asked, holding her tummy.
“I asked and she said No. Are you alright?”
“Yes,” she said, sitting upright.
“We should get you something to eat,” he said with concern.
“The rehearsal,” Bri said.
“It can wait, besides, am not one of the groom’s men,” Ethan said
“Why? you don't want to dress-up in a suit?” he opened his mouth and then shut it.
“Yes,” he lied, recalling he'd told her he had a girlfriend.
“It's just for one day. Better still, for a few hours,” Bri said. She raised her hand and brought down the visor to shield her eyes from watering from the sun ray. She didn't want to squint for too long and create lines on her forehead.
Ethan turned into a Tim Horton drive-by and ordered for some Timbits and two double-double coffees. He drove a little bit forward, paid for his order and moved on. Bri turned to him.
“Thanks,” she said, and she meant it. No man had ever bought her anything. It was a new feeling, and she wanted to bask in it.
Conversations were much easier than anticipated. He could make anyone fall in love with him. A part of Bri didn't like that.
He handed her the average Timbits box and cups of coffee. She placed them in the two cup holder in the car, took a few Timbits one after the other, and then turned to him.
“Since you're driving, why don't I feed you?” she took a ball of Timbit and placed it against his lips. He parted them and then she gently pushed it into his mouth.
“Thank you,” he said between munching.
“You know; I could be your sister's makeup artist for the wedding day.”
“You can?” he asked and glanced at her face as if her experience were written boldly on it.
“Yes, that is, if she wants my help.”
“Am positive she would love it. I mean, she has no option at the moment. You are a lifesaver!”
“What is she like personally?”
“Hmm, I can say she’s outgoing and very vivacious. Why?”
“Makeups works with your personality,” she said.
“Yeah, you don’t want her looking like a grumpy old woman on her day.”
“No. she would hate me for the rest of her life. Not that she’d see me again after the wedding.”
There was a long silence afterward. It wasn’t what she expected. He turned into a parking lot. At a glance, Bri could tell it was a church. A few people stood outside.
He opened his door and then grabbed the cups of coffee. Bri opened her door, too, not wanting him to come around to do it for her.
“Here we are. I grew up in this church,’ he said before taking a step forward.
“It’s huge,” Bri said.
“It’s a perfect place for a wedding,” he added.
They walked on the graveled ground. Bri gazed at the sign which read, St Augustine Parish.
Upon arriving at the church entrance, Bri spotted Alice sitting alone. She left Ethan’s side and hurried towards her.
“Alice,” she whispered, sitting beside her.
“Hey,” Alice said. “Boy am I happy to see you!”
“Same here,” Bri said. “What’s going on?”
“They are practicing with the priest,” Alice said, and then both girls turned when they heard a loud laughter. A lady had her arms around Ethan whose hands held both cups of coffee. She wouldn’t let go. Bri turned away from them.
“You’ve formed a habit recently,” Alice said.
“I have? What habit?”
“Lateness. The rehearsal part is over.”
“You don’t say. You mean we missed everything?”
“Uhmm, and his sister doesn’t seem pleased about it.”
“Not a good impression,” Bri said. “I volunteered to do her makeup.”
Alice turned to her.
“Ethan said her artist couldn’t make it here due to the bad weather in Montreal, so I offered to help.”
“That was kind of you,” Alice said, “but have you any experience as a makeup artist?”
“I think I do,” Bri said, a little taken aback. “Why, you think I’m not that good enough to do her makeup?”
“No. Not at all. I just thought that wedding makeup is quite different from the regular ones you do daily, just saying.”
“You just killed my confidence. I should tell Ethan to forget about telling his sister before it’s too late.”
“You don’t have to. You could try… see if it comes out better than my imagination.” Bri rose.
“I don’t want to make a fool out of myself.” She turned around and spotted the lady and Ethan still standing together. They were talking. There was a lot of arm movements. She looked closer. The lady’s face was wet with tears. Ethan seemed lost.
Bri contemplated between interrupting whatever was going on and squashing the promise she made to lend a hand to her sister. Having decided which was riskier, she bounded towards them. Ethan’s back was turned to her, so it was the lady who saw her first. She’d stopped talking upon spotting Bri which made Ethan turn to see who might’ve shut her up.
He handed her a cup of coffee. Bri took it with a smile, said hi to the lady who responded lightly and then took Ethan’s free hand.
“Please excuse us,” Bri said. Ethan turned to the lady with a smile as he followed Bri.
“What’s going on?” he said before taking a sip of his coffee.
“I can’t do it,” Bri said.
“Do what?”
“The makeup thing.”
“Why? You were happy to help. What changed?”
“I think she needs a special person for her makeup, and I am not that special person.”
“Now, who killed your confidence, Alice?”
“No. I don’t want to ruin her special day.”
“You would if you don’t help her.”
“There must be someone on the Island who can help her.”
“Bri, don’t worry about anything. If she doesn’t like your makeup, she’s grown-up enough to change it to whatever pleases her. At least you know you tried.”
Just then, his sister walked towards them.
“I’m sorry, Nikki, we woke up quite late and hurried here as soon as we could,” Ethan said before she got there, but she heard him.
“You promised to be here early. Everything is just going south. I have no makeup artist, no wedding veil, and spending over budget,” she said before turning to Bri who smiled sheepishly.
“I’m so sorry. I take responsibility for his tardiness.”
“Which is why she has volunteered to do your makeup,” Ethan said before Bri could slap his hand to keep quiet. Nikki stopped. She placed her palm on her chest as if preventing it from popping out. Her eyes bulged
“Can you do professional makeup?” Bri started to nod no when Ethan jumped in.
“Yes, she can. She’s a model and does her own makeup,” he said. Nikki scanned Bri’s face.
“Yeah, I h
urried out the door to make it here on time, so, no, am not my best right now,” Bri said. “But I promise to make you smile.”
“Sample, can we do a sample to see what you can do for me, and my bridesmaids?” Nikki said. Bri turned to Ethan. He shrugged.
“Umm, why not,” Bri said.
“Great. When shall we begin, and where?”
“At the inn,” Ethan said. “I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
“Aww,” Bri said, genuinely touched. “But you forget there are,” she turned to Nikki. “How many bridesmaids?”
“Five.”
“Five bridesmaids to fit into the small room without enough chairs.”
“They can manage. After all, you’re doing them a favor.” He turned to Nikki. “They should pay her for her services. She was only supposed to help you. The rest of them can do their own makeup.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Bri said.
“Would tonight be all right?” Nikki asked.
“Hell no,” Ethan said. “We need to get some sleep.”
“Why don’t we do it now?” Bri suggested.
“Because I have a little outing planned for us,” Ethan said.
Wow, Bri thought. He seems to want everything his way. Nikki turned to Bri.
“Please, it’s my wedding, not his. I would really appreciate it if you gave me time to come since he wouldn’t let you walk free. How about in three hours?” she said, turning to her brother.
“That would be all right. We should be back in three hours.”
“Where are we going?” Bri said, as Nikki waved bye to her and joined the rest of them.
“Somewhere. It was supposed to be a surprise until Nikki spoiled it for me.”
“It’s still a surprise,” Bri said. And then she remembered. “Alice. I think I lost her.” Bri turned, and there was Alice talking to the lady who was throwing herself all over Ethan earlier. She walked towards them promising Ethan to return soon.
“Alice,” Bri said. “We’re leaving. Would you like to join us?”
“Umm, I think I’ll just hang around with the others. Where are you two going anyway?”
“I don’t know. Someplace special.” Alice turned to the lady, and back at Bri.
“I don’t want to be the third wheel. I’ll hang around here.”
“It won’t be fun without you,” Bri said, still persuading her and wondering why she’d rather hang out with the lady, not her.
Still Breathing Page 12
