Something Borrowed, Something Boo

by Shane Morton

  “Don’t worry kid,” Crystal said, ruffling my curls with her hand. “You’ll find a way to fuck it up. It serves them right. That is a lot to ask anyone.”

  “Thank you for trusting in me, Crystal. Your vote of no-confidence makes me feel all warm and fuzzy,” I sighed, afraid she was right.

  “That has to be why Blake is here, right? To help keep you on track and you should be happy about that. Planning a wedding is something that people take over a year to do. Be glad you have the help,” she said, staring over at Evan and Blake. “And be glad he’s so nice to look at… Damn.”

  I turned to face the dartboard and threw another dart.

  “I don’t know why he’s here. Maybe they do think I’m gonna fuck everything up and he’s here to stop me from making a mess of their wedding. Who knows,” I threw another dart. “Whatever. I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”

  “Who said you needed a babysitter?” Blake’s deep voice surprised me, making me jump. My stomach flipped… FUCK! How much of that did they hear?

  “Blake?” I feigned ignorance. “When did you get here? Where’s Evan?” I glanced over, glad that Evan was at the bar getting them a drink. I would have hated for him to hear any of that. “Crystal, you didn’t tell me we had company.” I glared over at her.

  “Oh, nooo… That was fun,” she grinned over at Wally who was stifling a laugh. “You were on a roll.”

  I turned back to Blake. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that.” I could feel the blush spread across my face. Fuck…

  “Hey. I am not your babysitter. In fact, I think you might be mine,” he winked at me. “And honestly, I think that we are gonna pull it off, maybe by the skin of our teeth, but uh… I think your plan is solid, Danny. Relax. I’m not here to get you, promise.” He stuck out his hand like we were two generals on a battlefield coming to terms.

  I laughed half-heartedly as I took it and shook. Damn, he has big hands. Strong hands. “Cool. I’m just glad Evan didn’t hear me. I’d be eating crow for weeks.”

  “Don’t think I didn’t read him the riot act when he picked me up,” Blake said, still holding onto my hand. “He said as long as Everett is happy, he doesn’t care. Aw… love, I guess.”

  “Uh… Blake? You planning on keeping my hand or something?” I said, very seriously.

  He kept it in his firm grip. “Maybe?” He laughed and let it go, winking at me. OKAY… that is a little weird. “Hi. I’m Blake,” he said as he turned to Crystal and Wally, shaking each of their hands in turn.

  “We’re all high school buddies with Everett and Danny here,” Wally said, acting like he could give a shit. Wally probably doesn’t. He works at the water plant as a scientist. He’s way too smart to know what an actor even is.

  “I love your show,” Crystal said calmly. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure shoot,” he said as he waved over at Evan. Fuck. Now there would be no escape.

  “Are you really dating Brigitte Stephanson from that reality show?” she said, leaning back into her stool and crossing her arms.

  Blake grinned from ear to ear. “Let’s just say that our PR people are good friends and leave it at that, huh?”

  “Is she really as stupid in person as she is on her show? Cause dude…” Crystal continued. Blake thought that was hilarious and burst out laughing.

  “Don’t believe anything you see on a reality show. None of that is real, for the most part, anyway. And no, we are not really dating or anything, we just go to some events together sometimes. Brigitte isn’t as dumb as she looks on the show though. Honestly, I barely know her.” He shrugged. His pecs moving oh so un-subtly under his cotton polo.

  “Hmmm… So are you single?” Crystal winked at him, and I swear he blushed. That square jaw and carefully groomed stubble only made it hotter.

  “So, you’ve met Crystal and Wally. Hi guys,” Evan appeared just in time to stop the awkwardness.

  “Hey, Evan. I’m giving your brother a good old investigation,” Crystal pouted. “So?”

  “Am I single?” Blake frowned and squinted as if he were deciding whether or not to be honest. “Yes. I am single. I have been for quite some time, no matter what the tabloids might say. Dating in Hollywood is not all it’s cracked up to be.”

  “I keep hoping he will meet someone here and fall in love,” Evan slapped Blake on the back. “That way, perhaps we can see more of each other.”

  “Well, he’s only here a week so good luck with that,” I laughed.

  “You don’t believe that love can happen that fast?” Blake picked up the black darts and threw one at the board. A fucking bullseye.

  “Beginners luck,” I huffed. “And no. Love doesn’t work like that. It takes time for someone to fall in love. If it happens quickly, it’s probably good old fashioned lust.”

  “Okay… I can agree with that. But, falling in like with someone is just as important, isn’t it? Like comes before love, but love is still the end game. Besides, I have fallen in love in less than a week. It can happen.” Blake eyed the board and threw another dart. This time it landed an inch from the center. “Crap.” Good.

  “A romantic. I thought your kind had died out with the renaissance,” Crystal snorted. “Love sucks. Love is for looooosers,” She glanced over at Evan. “Except for you two of course.” She giggled. “You two are the exception to the rule of Crystal.”

  “I kissed a lot of toads before I found Everett. I’m sure he did too,” Evan grinned.

  “Hey,” I laughed. “I resemble that remark.”

  “Present company excluded, of course. Danny, my friend, no one could ever call you a toad.”

  “No shit,” Blake said under his breath. “I mean, I forgot you dated Everett. The best friend thing and all, it’s easy to forget.”

  I picked up my glass and drained it quickly. “Don’t have too much fun tonight, Hollywood. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

  “You outie?” Crystal asked, perplexed at my sudden exit.

  “Yeah, I think I need to skedaddle. If I stay out late tonight, I’ll hate myself in the morning. See you at nine, Blake. I’ll come to get you and wear clothes that you don’t mind doing some heavy lifting in.” I gave Crystal a quick hug. “Alright, see you guys later.”

  I had to get out. I don’t know why I got so uncomfortable, but I was starting to sweat. Maybe it was Blake, cause he just got under my skin, or perhaps it was all the talk about love. Either way, I was done.

  I got in my truck and drove home. When I entered the house, I stripped and laid down on the couch with Ev’s wedding notebook. I spent the rest of the night going over the plan. This wedding had to be perfect. But if I were honest, I was just trying to get Blake’s perfect face out of my head.

  7

  Blake

  I woke up with a small headache. Evan was excited to see me, I mean, we see each other as often as we can- but that’s usually once a year whenever he decides to come to LA. I am not a very good brother. I realized this as we hung out with his new friends. That Crystal is a trip and Wally seemed nice. It would have been nice if Danny had hung around a little longer, though. We’re gonna be spending all this time together so it would have been nice to get to know him. He’s a hard nut to crack. Only someone who has been hurt, bad is guarded in that way. It’s like he has a wall up and doesn’t allow anyone new in. Or maybe it’s just me?

  Whatever, I will be a gentleman, and he can be whatever he wants. But, I’m not used to someone not liking me. It bothers me.

  I crawl out of bed and take a quick shower. The water wakes me up, and when I get out and dry myself off, I smell the coffee. Thank God for Mrs. Markle.

  I throw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans and head downstairs. According to my clock, I have ten minutes before Danny is supposed to arrive so we can begin this crazy day. Mrs. Markle has set up a small platter of cinnamon rolls and sitting beside it is a coffee cup and a carafe of the best smelling coffee in the world. I pour myself a cup and ta
ke a bite of the gooey goodness she laid out for me.

  “Blake! You’re up. Honey would you like some eggs or anything else?” she asks, entering the room in a flurry.

  “No time, Mrs. Markle. Danny will be here soon,” I say, taking another bite. It is so good.

  “Oh, I doubt that. Did Danny say nine? That means he’ll be here at nine-thirty. I swear that boy hasn’t been on time since the day I met him. Bet he was late to his own birth,” she laughed. “He is a sweetheart, though.”

  “What’s his story? He seems to not like me very much,” I asked. Whenever I thought of Danny, I got butterflies. He made me nervous.

  “Oh, Blake. I don’t really like to gossip,” she said, sitting down at the table across from me. “Danny is a wonderful man. Strong, self-sufficient, and one of the most caring people I have ever met. He’s just a little stuck, I think. I knew his mother and father, bless their hearts. He took both of their deaths really hard, of course.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  “Well… of course you didn’t. I doubt if he would want to talk about it. I was his English teacher, and he was a brilliant young man. Very smart. Played football. Everyone loved him, but Danny only cared about Everett. They really are like brothers, now.”

  “That’s easy to see. He’s arranging their entire wedding,” I smiled, finishing the roll and licking my fingers.

  “Have another, honey. Yes… I know he is, bless his heart. Watch out for him, Blake. I am afraid he has taken on a task that is impossible for him. If he messes this up in any way, I’m afraid it will ruin him. Everett is really all he has.” She pointed to the clock. “Well, it’s nine. You can let yourself out, okay. I really have to clean that kitchen today. Good luck, Blake.”

  I waited until nine-ten before I started pacing. Danny was late. I hated that…

  When he finally arrived at nine-twenty, I stopped myself from saying anything. All I could hear was Mrs. Markle’s advice. Danny was worth giving a second chance.

  “Ready?” he asked as he opened the door. He was wearing a tank-top and jeans, and he looked like he just walked out of some lifeguard movie. Dark hair was peppered across his chest, and those arms were something to write stories about. I really wanted to reach out and touch them.

  “So what’s first on the list, boss man?” I said as I slid into the passenger side of his truck.

  He started the truck up and pulled out. “I spoke to the mayor’s office this morning, and he has agreed that we can start setting up the hedge maze on Thursday. I have wrangled Crystal and Wally into helping us set everything up on Saturday, so we will have some muscle. Crystal will be great at doing the table decorations and Wally will do whatever we tell him. So that will help. “

  “Cool. They were fun. I wished you would have been able to stay out a little later. It was nice,” I smiled over at him. Damnit, this man was going to like me whether he wanted to or not.

  “Yeah, well… Here is a list for today. I think the first thing on it is flowers, right?” he said glumly. “I don’t know shit about flowers. So we will be relying on Hildy for that.”

  “Let me guess,” I laughed. “There’s only one florist, right? Hildy?”

  “Dude… There’s only one of everything. Well, except for restaurants and bars. We have a few of them,” he laughed. It was maybe the first honest laugh I had ever heard from him. It wasn’t forced or pointed, just sincere in its levity. It was nice.

  “So what’s the name of the shop?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

  “Hildy’s House of Flowers. It’s cool, I guess. She knows we are coming. She is totally punk rock.” He grinned wickedly.

  “I can’t wait to see what that means in Point Pleasant.” I shrugged.

  What it meant was a fifty-year-old woman with bubble gum pink hair and a nose piercing.

  “Hey Danny!” she shouted as we walked in. She was listening to Mother’s Milk by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I instantly liked her. “Come on in, hon. I’ve got a few things set up over there for you to look at. I’ll be with you as soon as I finish this.”

  She was working on a rather large arrangement with calla lilies and some giant alien-looking flowers. It looked awesome.

  “Okay, this place is cool,” I smiled. Concert posters decorated the walls, and all of the flowers were gathered on numerous tables in glass vases and arranged by color. It was striking.

  “Yeah. Hildy moved here from New York about a decade ago. She visited for a vacation and never left. She bought this place and re-opened it a few weeks later. She does rock. Holy Shit!” he exclaimed as if a lightbulb had just gone off above his head. “She fucking DJ’s! I totally forgot about that.”

  “Hey. One-stop… two things down,” I raised my hand to give him a high five, and he stared at me.

  “Yeah… I’m not that big of a bro, Hollywood.”

  “Whatever,” I shrugged it off, trying not to be hurt by it. I was really trying here, and Danny just rebuffed me every chance he got. “Does Everett… or Evan for that matter like punk rock?”

  “This is Point Pleasant. There's probably not too many who actually like punk rock,” he answered snidely. “She knows what they like. It would be pop and classic rock, probably.”

  “Damn! These are awesome,” I said, turning towards the arrangement she had created for us to look at.

  “Sorry, boys,” Hildy said as she sauntered over to us. “I really needed to finish that before I began something else. So what do you think?”

  “Are these little pumpkin trees?” Danny said in awe at one of the arrangements. Wooden branches stuck out of a large glass canister that was filled with black gravel. Little pumpkins hung from the branches, twisted and strange as if they didn’t belong. It was both alarming and impressive at the same time.

  “Yeah… I thought those were cool. You said Halloween… so, I went all in.” she said.

  “Everett is going to lose his mind. I think this is perfect,” he turned to me. “What do you think?”

  I smirked. “He’s asking my opinion,” I said to Hildy. “Hi, I’m Blake Hudson, one of the groom's brothers.”

  “Nice to meet you, Blake. So? Is it the winner?” She placed her hands on her hips and bit her bottom lip. Cool, her tongue was pierced too.

  “Sure. Why not? I think it seems perfect for a Halloween theme. Do you have enough of those branch thingies and are they actually real?”

  “Yeah. They are. We call them pumpkin trees but really they are a kind of eggplant. I always thought they were cool and order a few for the season. How many tables are you going to have?” Hildy asked, leaning over on the table.

  “Uh… There will be seven round tables. Eight people at each table. And of course the groom's table.” He looked lost, so I jumped in.

  “We will also have a table for the cake and a registry gift table. Could you order large branches? Like how big do these come? It would be cool to have a couple scattered throughout the maze, don’t you think?” I asked Danny, hoping he would appreciate the help.

  “Yeah…” he replied glumly. I could only guess he was beating himself up for not knowing everything. “So, ten tables, total?”

  “That sounds like a plan. I have enough of these to make an arrangement for each of the tables. Smaller ones for the gift and cake table, I suppose. How about an arrangement for the bar?”

  “Oh yeah… Fuck,” Danny said. “I should have written this stuff down.” He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and walked over to the counter so he could grab a pen.

  “You want larger branches? I think I can get some four-foot branches if I special order them today. They should be here by Friday at the latest. Give me a second to make sure I can get them.” She walked over and got on her computer. Danny walked back over.

  “Hey… You okay?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t get gruff about it.

  “Man… There’s too much. I am going to fuck this whole thing up, and they will never forgive me,” he hung hi
s head. He was adorable when he pouted. I reached out and touched his bare shoulder, I felt the electricity, and he looked up at me. Our eyes met, and we held each other’s gaze for a second before he took a step away, breaking the current that shot through us. “Thanks for that. I’m glad you thought about the other tables. I… uh, wrote them down. So you really do like these?”

  “Danny, you are doing a great job. Trust yourself. I mean, I just met you, and I trust you,” I smiled at him, wanting him to see that he had this. He could relax a little.

  “Yeah… Well, you don’t really know me, so…”

  “But I would like to if you would just let me in a little. I’m not really that bad of a guy,” I stuck my bottom lip out, trying to break the tension just a little.

  “Bingo bitches! They will arrive on Friday, and they are five feet tall. I’m ordering five of them, is that enough?”

  “Excellent. So are we good?” I said happily. One thing down!

  “Oh, wait… We need boutonnieres for the four of us. Something halloweeny too?” He said quickly, proud that he hadn’t forgotten something so important.

  “Do you trust me?” Hildy asked.

  “Yeah,” Danny grinned.

  “Let that be my surprise. I imagine I need corsages for the two moms too? Trust me, I got this.”

  We walked out a little bit lighter. Danny had gotten the steam back in his sails and as he slid into the driver’s seat, he actually genuinely smiled at me.

  “Cake time!”

  8

  Danny

  My expectations of Blake have changed. He’s been an enormous help all day and actually kind of cool to hang out with. Maybe he isn’t the Hollywood asshole I assumed him to be. Perhaps he is an actual person, after all instead of just a handsome face plastered on all the magazine covers. Let’s just say the jury is still out. But today has been a surprise, to say the least.

  He actually took point on the cake, and I think it’s going to be fucking fantastic. We tried about five kinds, and they were all good, but he thought red velvet would match the best for the Halloween theme, and I think he was right.