Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3)

by Sadie Grubor

  Once we arrived to the reception I sat between Maggie and Viola, who were oohing and awing over the décor of the table. I sipped on my water listening to them discuss wedding plans and ideas.

  "Lilli, how about you come over around ten on Wednesday morning? I will have the dress ready as well as some dresses brought over for you to look through for your bridesmaids."

  "Sure." I tried to look excited about the details.

  "You should bring your friends so they can be fitted as well." She smiled and the new couple was announced.

  I was sitting and laughing with Maggie when I felt fingers run across my shoulder. I snapped around quickly. Aidan was smiling down on me.

  "Hey," I breathed out and then rolled my eyes at the smirk on his face, clearly proud of catching me off guard.

  "Hey Aidan-o," Maggie giggled.

  "Did someone let you into the champagne?" He scowled playfully at her. "Cause it sounded like you called me Aidan-o, Magpie." He smirked and she scowled at him. "Move over." He ordered.

  "No, I’m sitting next to Lilli. I’m her date." She laughed, wrapping her arm around mine. I played along with her.

  "Oh Maggie, what would I do without you?" I said over dramatically.

  She giggled.

  "You wouldn’t be able to survive, my love."

  "Okay, enough." Aidan rolled his eyes. He grabbed Maggie’s chair and moved her over, placing a chair in the now empty space. He smiled in victory at Maggie who huffed and threw her napkin at him.

  "Margaret!" Viola chided across the table. Maggie scoffed at hearing her full first name.

  "He started it," she said and turned her back on Aidan.

  I was laughing when I felt his breath on the side of my face.

  "I think we should start practicing the public displays of happiness," he kissed my temple and then sat back in his chair with a grin.

  Oh really…well two can play this little game.

  I leaned over to him stopping my lips just one tongue flick from his ear.

  "That’s what you are paying me for, I guess," I teased, grazing my freshly licked lips across his cheek as I sat back into my seat and giggled under my breath.

  I grabbed my water glass and was mid-sip when I felt his hand on my leg. Just like in the car, I felt the pulsating heat that radiated between us. I looked up to him and he was grinning.

  "Loser," I mumbled under my breath and laughed silently. He just smiled larger.

  Once all of the toasts were completed and Liam made sure to announce Aidan’s engagement, the music began and everyone stood to dance. Viola and Liam excused themselves to go to the floor and Aidan grabbed my hand, pulling me up from the chair. I hesitated.

  "What?" he asked.

  "I…uh…don’t really dance like that," I motioned to Liam and Viola who were elegantly moving in a waltz or something.

  "I know how, you can just follow my lead." He tugged and wrapped one arm around my waist while holding my other hand to his chest.

  "Aidan…"

  "Shhh…"

  He swayed us slowly and then began to move us around the floor. I was surprised at how easy it was to follow his lead. We didn’t speak but his body seemed to get closer and closer to mine. He spun us and then dipped me, setting me off into a laughing fit which he joined.

  The ride home was quiet and I had to remove my shoes. They were killing me. Thinking back on the night I realized how much fun it had been to be with Aidan and his family. I adored Maggie. I don’t remember falling asleep but I woke to Aidan carrying me bridal style into the elevator of his building.

  "Oh shit…I’m sorry," I rubbed my eyes.

  "It’s fine," he said tightly.

  I could feel that sensation between us when we touch.

  "Um, I can walk," I said as I wiggled for him to put me down on my feet.

  "It’s alright, we’re almost there." As soon as he finished the sentence, the doors parted and he stepped out to our floor.

  With his arms full, he was having a hard time maneuvering to open the door. I reached down and turned the knob.

  "Thanks," he said.

  "You can put me down, you know?" I said again bracing myself to be put down as I felt his muscles flex under my thighs and my back. I bit my lip to control myself.

  "Oh, sorry," he put me down and as I turned to head for the stairs he grabbed my arm. I turned back, surprised by the action, and he handed me my shoes.

  "Oh. Thanks." I smiled and headed to bed.

  After showering, hanging up the dress and climbing into bed I fell into a restless sleep.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Aidan

  The workweek came about quickly. Lilli and I had spent Sunday around the apartment, though we didn’t necessarily interact too much. Once she fell asleep on the couch watching TV, I sat across from her watching. She would make the most interesting faces while she slept, I wished I could read her mind.

  Lilli spent a lot of time Sunday talking to Viola as they planned to get together on Wednesday. I overheard Lilli talking to Phoebe and Celia about meeting her here on Wednesday morning so they could go over to plan wedding stuff with Viola. I heard Lilli groan a few times. I knew she wasn’t thrilled to do all this but she was going along with it for Viola. I didn’t know how to convey how much I appreciated that.

  I left for work Wednesday morning without seeing or talking to Lilli. Surprisingly, it bothered me.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Lilli

  Wednesday arrived quickly. I heard Aidan moving around downstairs as I showered and dressed. I was shoving a piece of toast in my mouth when there was a knock at the door. I answered.

  "Lilli!" Phoebe chirped as she hugged me tightly. I almost choked on my toast.

  "Down, lawn gnome," Celia laughed and then took her turn hugging me.

  "Hey girls, you ready to experience all this?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

  "Bring on the mimosa’s, dahhling," Celia joked. Phoebe and I giggled as we all went downstairs.

  "Lilli, where are we goin—?" Phoebe looked confused.

  "To the car," I motioned over my shoulder to the black car waiting to drive us over to Viola’s.

  "The car?" Celia said with a smirk.

  "Shut up," I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Viola had the car sent over. I have to get used to this kind of shit for the next four years, don’t make it worse for me." I pretended to lecture them.

  We all climbed into the car and headed to Viola.

  "Lilli dear!" Viola exclaimed as Mrs. Summers showed us into the house.

  "Viola," I smiled as she kissed both of my cheeks and I kissed back. "This is Phoebe and Celia."

  "Hello and welcome" Viola hugged both of them and then motioned us into a large room to the left of us.

  "Holy shit," Phoebe stated when we entered the room. I knew that all three of our mouths were hanging wide open.

  Viola had removed all of the furniture replacing them with tables and garment wracks filled with dresses. There was a large three way mirror against the far right wall with a small stand. A large table of fruit, pastries and mimosas sat next to the entrance.

  "Viola," I breathed out. "This is too much," I shook my head.

  "Nonsense," she rebutted. "You should see what I could do if I had proper time to plan," she winked and turned to a large garment bag hanging beside her.

  "I want you to try this on." She motioned to a small curtained off area in the room. "Then come out and we’ll see what needs to be altered." She smiled brightly. "I hope that you like the dress, dear."

  I took the bag and headed to the curtained area. Slipping into the dress, I emerged from the area and heard gasps around the room. I looked up and saw Maggie, Viola, Elora, Celia and Phoebe all looking at me with different emotions on each of their faces.

  "Lilli, you look amazing," Phoebe said as she flitted over to my side and walked around me.

  "It’s a gorgeous dress," Elora added with a warm smile.

  "Oh, Lilli, do you like it?" Viola
pulled my hands out in front of me while looking me over.

  "Are you sure you don’t want to save this dress for Maggie?" I questioned and looked from Viola to Maggie.

  Maggie giggled.

  "Does my daughter look like she would wear this dress?" Viola smiled and we both turned to Maggie who was wearing black fishnet stockings, a pleated red plaid skirt, black rock band shirt, black patent leather boots and her red hair was up in multiple twisted knots.

  I laughed.

  "Yeah, I guess not, huh?" Then I looked back to Maggie again. "Why aren’t you in school, by the way?"

  She shrugged.

  "I get to be here for the wedding stuff," she smiled brightly.

  Viola led me to the white stand so that the seamstress could go over the dress and pin the places that she would need to make alterations. I glanced into the mirror in front of me and looked at myself in the ivory dress. The dress was made of ivory organza. It was strapless and fitted through the body, flaring at my hips all the way to the floor. A single wrap of sheer ivory organza went around my shoulders and there were creamy sparkled appliqué’s across my stomach and over my right hip. The dress was truly beautiful, too beautiful to waste on a fake marriage. I sighed.

  "What’s wrong?" Celia cocked her eyebrow at me.

  "I just feel like it’s all a bit much for what this is, ya know?" Celia smiled softly.

  Viola interrupted.

  "Lilli, this may be an arranged marriage, in a sense, but that does not mean that you don’t deserve a beautiful day." With that she turned back to the seamstress to discuss things.

  "Guess she told you," Phoebe piped in from behind me.

  "Hush it, gnome." I laughed.

  "I am not a lawn gnome!" She argued.

  I changed out of the dress and was instructed to walk through the racks of clothing to look for bridesmaid dress ideas. I stopped on a strapless empire waist gown. It was simply, yet elegant and it was just beautiful. The dress was a very deep fuchsia like color; the description on the dress tag said watermelon.

  "What about this?" I shouted over my shoulder and the girls appeared at my side. They all looked it over and added it to the pile of dresses to try on.

  I sat back with Viola and Elora with a mimosa and some fruit waiting for Celia and Phoebe to change into the different dresses.

  "Try the same one on at the same time" I asked. I then noticed Maggie starting to sit next to Elora. "What are you doing?" Maggie looked at me confused. I smiled and nodded my head toward the changing curtain. "Get your little ass behind that curtain." I winked. She smiled large and ran to the curtain.

  "I think you just became her favorite person" Elora leaned over and whispered.

  "Oh hell, she loves you already" Viola stated and tilted her flute glass back completely.

  Whoa. Viola is feeling the champagne.

  I smiled to myself as I heard Elora giggle at Viola’s change of demeanor.

  "Well, Viola, I do believe that you are a little hell cat underneath all of this." I smiled as I motioned over her body. She just smirked and grabbed another glass with a wink. I giggled with Elora. The girls went through a few dresses until they came upon the one that I picked out. Each of them looked perfect in it and they felt comfortable, so that’s the one we got.

  I thought that the dresses would be the end of it but I was so wrong. The rest of the afternoon was spent picking out a cake; I picked out a plain white cake with deep red lilies decorations. Selecting flowers, deep red lilies and ivory color snowball flowers or Guelder Rose and going over hairstyles, shoes, menus for the reception and the location. Viola had a couple of New York locations picked out but I could tell that there was one she favored, so that is the one that I picked. The wedding and the reception would be held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Pier. It was truly a beautiful location.

  We were all about to start our goodbyes when Phoebe chimed in quickly.

  "What about the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette parties?"

  I rolled my eyes.

  "Phoebe, there is no time for those things. We simply…" Viola cut me off.

  "Nonsense! What did you have in mind Phoebe?"

  "Well, I’m sure you have family and friends that you would like to invite to a shower type brunch, right?" Viola nodded. "Okay then, I say we plan a brunch shower for the weekend before the wedding." She smiled brightly.

  "Sounds perfect," Viola agreed. "We can tell Aidan to make a guys day/night out and we can use the apartment. I’ll have arrangements made for catering, table set up, etc." I sat back as they continued to discuss things before exchanging numbers to talk later.

  Returning to the apartment, Phoebe took off saying she had plans to make. Celia and I took a nap before we had to get to the club to work.

  Once we got dressed and were on our way to the club, I turned to Celia.

  "Well, at least I got out of the bachelorette party." I smiled at my small victory.

  Celia smiled slyly.

  "Oh, I wouldn’t count on that." She giggled.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Events and Parties

  Aidan

  I was sitting at my desk glaring at James who was not paying one ounce of attention to the conference call going on. I muted my phone from Mr. Yiroshimu as he rambled on about quarterly standings.

  "James," I hissed. He looked up. "Am I taking up too much of your time this afternoon?" I glared.

  "Oh Jesus, it's just the financials, Aidan. What the hell has your tightie whities in a knot?" He chuckled.

  "You are not paying attention, that's what the problem is," I snapped. I knew that the sexual frustration was getting to me, putting me in a pissy mood.

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he nodded absentmindedly. I growled.

  I was about to yell at him again but my cell phone vibrated.

  "Hello?" I picked it up without looking at the caller Id.

  "Aidan," It was Viola.

  "Yes, Viola, what can I do for you?" My mood lightened at the sound of her voice.

  "Lilli and the girls just left, I wanted to make sure that you didn't mind me rearranging your apartment the weekend before the wedding for a Bridal Luncheon." I sighed and smiled. I felt some relief knowing that it was only a month away from the wedding day and that I was going to be married in time. Though, mid January was cutting it close.

  "Of course you can."

  "Thank you, dear. I'll let you get back to work...oh, and I just wanted to tell you that you have a tux fitting tomorrow afternoon with your Uncle and James. Make sure you are there, on time." She was in motherly tone now.

  "Okay," I responded and we said our goodbyes.

  As soon as my phone was back on my desk it vibrated again; Phoebe. I furrowed my brow and answered.

  "Hello?"

  "Aidan, it’s Phoebe." She chirped.

  "I know. What can I do for you, Phoebe?"

  "I need you to be out of your apartment the Saturday before the wedding for—"

  "For the Bridal Luncheon right?"

  "Well...wait how did you know?"

  "Viola just called me," I smirked into the phone.

  "Oh, well, I'm going to plan more than that. Viola can handle the brunch. I'm planning the bachelorette party," She giggled mischievously.

  "Really?" I raised my brows.

  "Yeah, so I need you to be out before the brunch and if possible just spend the night with Oscar or something, okay?"

  "So, I'm supposed to hand my place over—"

  "Yes, you are going to let me use Lilli and your apartment to give her a party." I could tell that she was smiling.

  "Oh, I am?"

  "Yes, you are, so make plans with the guys. Talk to you later, I have plans to make. Bye."

  Before I could even say anything else she had hung up. Well I guess she told me.

  "Who the hell was that?" James pulled himself away from his iPhone to ask.

  "Phoebe." He raised his brow in question. "Looks like you get to give me a bachelor's night out
the Saturday before the wedding." I smiled crookedly at him and a large smile spread over his face. He turned his attention back to his phone with a little more enthusiasm.

  I took the phone off mute and listened to the remainder of the conference call.

  Plans were made and tuxes were fitted. Lilli had a few more trips to Viola's during some afternoons to finalize some things. The planning was good for her since she wasn't working at the club anymore, I could sense her boredom more and more.

  Work had gotten crazy with a couple of new mergers that were being dealt with. I was rushing out of the apartment Tuesday. When I got to the elevator I realized that I forgot something. Running back to the apartment, I found Lilli standing outside of the door with my iPhone in her hand, holding it out to me. I took it smiling and she walked back into the apartment.

  "Bye," I yelled before the door shut.

  "Later," she yelled back.

  It was small things like that, which I was starting to get used to with her. She was around so much and knew a lot about my routine. It was like she was starting to know me and it was comfortable.

  Christmas arrived quickly and Lilli went to Maine to be with her father while I stayed in New York with my family and work. Being in the apartment alone felt different after having another person around; I found myself more irritated at being by myself.

  On Christmas Eve I ended up at Viola and Liam’s, I ended up staying over at their place instead of going home alone.

  "What’s the matter Aidan-o, are you sad because your fake fiancée isn’t here?" Maggie teased.

  "That’s really not funny," I retorted.

  "Oh, please!" She rolled her eyes. "So, how you going to convince Lilli to sleep with you?" she giggled.

  "What? Maggie…who…how—?"

  She wrinkled up her face.

  "Like I don’t overhear things going on around here," she snorted.

  "I think that you should stop eavesdropping. Besides, you don’t know what you are talking about." I huffed and went back to my laptop.

  "Mmmhmm…" she said trying not to laugh."You’re so uptight, it’s crazy. You used to be so playful." Maggie pouted and left the room. I sighed and put my head in my hands.