by Amelia Shea
Mike was Stone’s good friend and Carissa’s husband. Carissa went in the limo with the wedding party and Mike was going to drive T’s truck over with Cassie. She strolled up to Mike.
“Sorry I took so long.”
Mike smirked and chuckled. “T was looking for ya.”
“I bet he was.”
Mike laughed. “C’mon, Cass.”
The church was only a ten minute ride to the house. The driveway was lined with cars and trucks when they arrived. Mike helped Cassie out of the truck and they headed inside.
Cassie marveled at the house decorated, it was simple and elegant. Perfect! Roxanne had done a fabulous job. Mike excused himself to use the bathroom. Cassie walked through the kitchen out to the deck. There were people everywhere but it was comfortable. The servers walked around passing out food and the two bars were filled with guests.
Cassie moved over to the edge of the deck and looked down at the field behind the house. They were getting pictures done.
“So, I’m feeling like a super slut right now.”
Cassie whipped around and came face to face with T’s blow job girl. She looked uncomfortable and embarrassed.
“I saw Sadie and…she explained who you are. God, I feel like an asshole. I’m sorry for the comment back at the church. I had no idea who you were, I was just being my usual loud mouth, dumbass self.” She gave Cassie an awkward smile. “I swear I’m not a bitch. Not to girls at least.”
Cassie felt the anger dissipate and smiled. “I’m Cassie.”
“Melinda.”
* * * *
“Last one, everybody, this one is just family,” the photographer said.
Everyone gathered next to one another and Stone looked around the group. “Wait, we’re missing someone.”
Everyone looked around, including T.
“There she is.”
T followed Stone’s stare and smiled when he realized who Stone meant by someone was missing.
Stone shouted to the group gathered on the deck. “Cassie!” He waved her down to the group.
T’s eyes followed Cassie. She was no longer glaring although she didn’t smile back when he smiled.
“Hey,” she said.
“Come on, family picture, get in.”
She took a step back and looked surprised but T reached out and pulled her into him, turning her around in front of him. He hugged her into his chest; she fell back into him, clasping her hands around his at her waist.
“Perfect, everyone. Closer together.”
“Wait. Em, come on, get in the picture.”
Emory was walking up the hill with Carissa when she turned around and gave Sadie a sad smile and shook her head.
“Okay, everyone, big smiles. We save the family picture for last because it’s always the best.”
The photographer snapped a few pictures and they were released to the party.
T purposely walked slower than everyone else, holding Cassie’s hand and holding her back from the group.
“Wanna tell me why you been throwing death stares my way and hiding all day?”
“I met Melinda.”
“Fuck. What did she fucking say to you? Whatever she said, it was bullshit. I never fucking dated her or anyone before you.”
“She said she gave you a blow job in the bathroom.” She folded her arms and gave him a squinty glare.
“Shit!” He sighed. That was true and he wasn’t gonna lie to her. This was so fucked up. Everything before Cassie didn’t matter—all the women, all the sex was nothing, it meant nothing. He was so different now from the man he’d been before her, he almost forgot what a man whore he had been. But fuck him, it was thrown back in his face.
“I was jealous,” she blurted out in a soft voice.
“You got nothing be jealous about. Can’t change who I was before I met ya, Cass. Wish I fucking could. But I love you, there’s no else, never will be anyone else. Only you.”
She nodded, continuing to stare, but her eyes changed. “Will you do something for me? To make me feel better about this whole situation.”
“What do ya need?”
“Come with me.”
She dragged him back to the house by his hand. He didn’t know what she wanted. Did she want him to throw Melinda out? She was a guest and Sadie’s friend but fuck it. He would throw her ass out if it made Cassie feel better.
He gave a few head nods and chin lifts to his uncles and friends as they walked through the kitchen and hallway. Cassie started up the stairs and T followed, wondering where the hell they were going.
She walked down the hall. He thought they were going to his room but she stopped at the bathroom and yanked him inside before shutting the door and locking it.
“What the—?”
“I want your only memory of a blow job in the bathroom to be with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me, drop your pants.”
T stood in shock and watched Cassie drop to her knees, unzip his fly and pull out his cock. Just her touch made his cock spring up. No chick had ever gotten him so hard, so fast. She cocked an eyebrow. “Do you not want a blow job?”
T snorted and bridged his eyebrows. “Pix, I always want your lips on me.”
Her lips spread in a sexy smile. She grabbed hold of his cock and stroked him, her eyes gazing up at his through thick lashes. Her pouty mouth spread over his crown before she swallowed his length. He dropped his hand down to her head and laced his fingers through her hair.
The feel of her tongue sliding over him and her warm mouth devouring him had him throwing back his head and grunting. He came hard and fast and she took all of him. This was by far the best blow job he’d ever had and ever would have. T had always thought of sex as just getting off. But sex with the girl he loved, feisty, crazy pixie and her bathroom blow jobs, this girl had his heart, finally giving sex a meaning. The women in his past were a blur; he never gave them a thought. With Cassie, he remembered everything.
He panted and pulled her to her feet.
“Now, you have me as your bathroom BJ memory.”
T burst out laughing and pulled her in for a hug. “Fucking crazy, I called it the minute I saw you talking to yourself in your kitchen.”
She giggled and looked up to him. “But I’m your kind of crazy.”
“Fuck yeah, all mine.”
They were able to blend back into to the party with only a few people smirking at their return from upstairs. Emory gave Cassie wiggled eyebrows and a knowing wink. T rolled his eyes while his girl blushed.
Discreet was not what Bogs was about to be so T decided to get to him before he opened his mouth. T whispered in his ear. “Think it, man, I can’t stop ya. Say it and I will beat your ass.”
Bogs nodded, laughter in his eyes.
“Who needs a drink?” he asked, passing by Cassie. T could see her face relax. No way would he let his little brother embarrass her any more.
“Baker girl?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Ha…so I hear.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him.” T growled and charged for Bogs but he sprinted away, his laugh carrying through the room.
T felt a soft touch on his arm. He peered down at Cassie, her face still red but her eyes glowing. “Baby, please don’t kick his ass during Sadie’s wedding. I’m an event planner, I know wedding etiquette. Ass kicking during the reception is a major faux pas.” She giggled and winked.
T pulled Cassie into his body, wrapping his arms around her. Her head cocked back and he leaned in close. “I won’t beat his ass now. For you.” He kissed her lips. “But I ain’t making any promises for later.”
She reached up and pulled his face to hers and giggled. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get your revenge on Bogs, eventually.”
T quirked his brow in confusion. “What do ya mean?”
“Well, someday, your little brother’s going to fall hard f
or a girl, and when he does, we will get our sweet revenge.”
T burst out laughing. Yeah, someday Bogs would fall hard just like him and Stone. And when he did, T was going to enjoy it. A lot!
The next few hours flew by. T was never big on weddings and all the girlie shit but seeing Sadie and Stone, together, so happy, even he couldn’t help but enjoy the day. His brother, his best friend, getting his girl, his missing puzzle piece.
T sat at the table with Cassie and his family thinking, Wish you were here with us, Mom. She would have loved seeing Stone like this, happier than he’d ever been. T watched his brother and Sadie slow dance on the makeshift floor they built for the wedding. Smiling to himself, he grabbed Cassie’s hand and held it in his.
Cassie turned her head from the dance floor and gifted T with her beautiful smile. She didn’t know it yet, but someday soon it would be them at their wedding.
“Roxanne, my sweet girl, you outdid yourself with this wedding.” His aunt stopped at the end of their table, smiling at Roxanne. “Your mom would be proud.” She let her gaze cross the table. “Proud of all of you.”
There was a somber silence. She would have loved being here, watching Stone get married and seeing T fall in love. They all felt her absence today.
“Thanks, Aunt Judy.”
“Nina’s going to be sorry she missed this. So busy at work and traveling. I made sure to take lots of pictures for her though.” She smiled at the table before heading out to the dance floor.
No one at the table said a word. Nina was their cousin, Aunt Judy’s daughter, but not a blood related cousin seeing as how they all were adopted. They hadn’t spent much time with her as kids. No one liked her, even back then she was a stuck-up bitch. Nothing good ever came from her. T watched Ethan’s body stiffen where he stood when Nina’s name was mentioned. Talk of Nina made him uncomfortable. Something happened with them last year. T wasn’t sure what but he was sure whatever it was, Ethan regretted it.
Easing the awkwardness, Ethan walked over near Roxanne. “Well done, Rox, the wedding was beautiful,” he said as he took a seat next to her.
“Thank you! Not bad, if I do say so myself.” She smiled and giggled. Her eyes turned to Cassie. “So, Cass, what do you think? I want a professional opinion.”
“Absolutely beautiful, Roxanne. You are a natural at event planning.”
“So am I good enough to partner up with?” Roxanne cocked her head with a sly smirk.
“What do you mean?” Cassie asked, slightly confused.
“Well, I’m thinking of leaving the glamorous life of bounty hunting and starting up my own event planning company. I talked to Ethan, and I have the start-up money. Now, all I need is an amazing partner.” Roxanne grinned. “What do ya say, Cassie? RC Event Planning has a nice ring to it, don’t ya think?”
“You want me to be your partner?” Her tone was shocked, her eyes widening.
“Yes!”
“But, I can’t. I mean, I don’t have any money, and I’ve only been doing it a short time.”
“I’ll put up the money, that’s covered. You know event planning, Cassie, you’re brilliant. Aside from seeing your work firsthand, I know people who have raved about you. C’mon, Cass, say yes!”
Cassie looked at T. She looked confused and unsure but in her eyes he saw it, she wanted this. He leaned in her ear. “Say yes, pix.”
She looked at him, smiled, and then back to Roxanne and laughed. “Yes!”
Roxanne shot up from the table and pulled Cassie in for a hug. Ethan, Emory, and T all laughed. This was the beginning of something great, he thought.
Cassie settled back into her chair, all smiles, and cuddled into T. His girl was happy, he was happy.
His dad’s laugh drew his attention away from Cassie. Beyond their table, near the bar, T saw his dad laughing with a woman. He watched as the woman touched his arm and then whispered something in his ear. His dad burst out laughing again. He looked happy. The woman turned around and T smiled to himself. It was Sadie’s friend, Pearl. She looked different, younger and prettier than he remembered. She, too, looked happy.
Bringing his attention back to his table, he noticed Ethan watching his dad and the woman. T waited until Ethan looked back at him and T quirked up his eyebrows. Ethan snorted and shook his head. Smart move, E, shut your mouth.
“Okay, so, I have an announcement, too,” Emory said, before throwing back her wine and slamming her glass down on the table.
Everyone peered at her.
“So, as most of you know, I am brilliant myself. In fact, so amazing and brilliant, I have been asked to head up a new real estate venture on vacation homes.”
Roxanne’s jaw dropped. “Oh, my God, Em, that’s awesome.”
Emory smiled. “Yep! It’s an opportunity that just kind of landed in my lap. It’s new and I expect lots of craziness but I accepted. I said yes!”
Roxanne leaned over and hugged Emory. “I’m so proud of you, Em. This is what you wanted. You did it!”
Emory laughed. “Yeah, well, it could turn out to be an epic fail but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. New beginning and all that bullshit.”
“Congrats, Emory, I know you’ll do great!” Cassie praised.
T smiled over at Emory, who was beaming. “Good job, Em.”
“Thanks, T! Hey, you and Cassie should be my first customers.”
They all laughed.
“Congratulations, Emory, best of luck,” Ethan said. Those two were cordial but the rift between them was so deep the tension could be heard in his voice. And it was visible in her face when she replied, “Thanks.”
Roxanne broke the awkward tension. “So, when do you start? Is the commute going to be killer? Tell me everything.”
“Well, no, the commute is awesome. I can actually walk from the house that the company has rented for me.”
“Wow! Is it downtown?”
“Yeah, it’s downtown.” Emory nodded and took a deep breath. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Downtown Beaufort.”
“Beaufort? Where’s that?” Roxanne inquired.
“South Carolina.”
T watched as Roxanne’s face paled and she lost her smile. Her best friend was moving far away. T chanced a look at Ethan. His face remained like stone, no emotion. That’s how Ethan was, not much shocked him, but behind the façade, T could see it. He’d known Ethan long enough to know, Em leaving affected him. Even if he’d never say it.
“South Carolina?”
“Yeah, imagine me, a coastal girl. Crazy, right?”
Roxanne said nothing, she just nodded. Her eyes slightly teared up. T knew this was breaking his sister’s heart. Roxanne and Emory had been inseparable since they first met in kindergarten. She was more than a best friend, she was a sister to Rox. Her sister was leaving.
“Hey,” Emory whispered, her eyes on Roxanne. “Be happy for me, Rox. Please.”
It took a few seconds but his sister’s smile crept in and she pulled Emory in for a hug. “I am happy for you, Em. You know, I’m going to visit your ass every month, right?”
“You better, bitch.”
The woman laughed and T smirked. Girls could call each other bitches all the time but a guy said it and he was fucked. T smirked and shook his head. Ethan stood up from the table, grabbing his empty wineglass.
“I’m going to get a drink.” He started away and stopped before looking over his shoulder at Emory. His eyes looked regretful and somber. That was the look that he knew Ethan was feeling. He opened his mouth but immediately closed it and walked away. Fucking coward.
* * * *
The reception was beautiful, comfortable, and one of the best Cassie had ever been to. The food was great, the drinks, the entertainment—everything was perfect. It was a flawless night, and a long one at that.
The DJ announced the last song and a few couples made it out to the dance floor. She was sitting at a small table
with Emory and Roxanne. The music started and the slow song intro of a guitar strum had Cassie looking at the dance floor and smiling. Their song.
“I love this song,” she said to herself. This would forever be her favorite song. She’d always think of it as theirs.
“You’re not the only one,” Roxanne chimed in, looking over Cassie’s head, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Cassie looked over at Roxanne and Emory, who were both smiling and looking over her shoulder. She turned in her seat to see T stalking over to her. He had taken off his jacket, removed his tie, and his top button was undone. He was perfect. He reached for her hand and she was pulled up from her seat and onto the dance floor.
“What happened to your no dancing rule?” She teased as she followed behind him.
He wrapped both arms around her waist and she clasped her hands around his neck.
“Still in effect, I don’t dance.” He bent down to her, their faces an inch away, his eyes soft. “Unless it’s our song.”
They swayed silently to their song. Cassie looked up to T and mouthed, “Yours.”
Epilogue
Five Years Later
THE barred metal door clanked as it opened and they were ushered in by the officer in uniform. This was a one-time deal, Cassie swore to herself. This was a place she never wanted to come again.
They walked through the metal detectors and her bag was placed in a locker. They were ushered into a room that had cheap, yellow plastic tables and chairs scattered around. Her hands started to shake a bit. This place was beyond creepy and scary but she inhaled a deep breath. She had to do this. For him.
She would do anything for T, especially giving him something he couldn’t give himself. Peace.
They had spent the last five years living an amazing life. It was far from perfect. He still remained stubborn, she never did get her own apartment, his plan all along she knew. T still said the f word fifty times a day, that she’d come to learn would never change. Cassie smiled to herself, remembering their wedding day. Standing at the end of the aisle with her arm wrapped around her dad’s waiting for the music to start. Her in a beautiful gown and staring down the aisle at T, her soon-to-be husband. He was so handsome in his tux surrounded by his brothers. She practically rushed down the aisle, so eager to marry him. When it was his turn to say I do, he leaned forward and winked at her before whispering, “Fuck yeah, I do.”
