Page 24 of Where We Met

Shit! All that fantasy did was make me want the real thing even more.

I'm so fucked.

I finish cleaning up and aggressively rip my towel off the bar. I'm so damn angry at myself for not being able to get ahold of these feelings. This is not who I am. I'm not the type of man that gets caught up in such an inappropriate situation.

I need a glass of wine, maybe something from the south of France this time. Madiran sounds just right. I open the bottle and pour myself a glass, watching as Vino follows me to the couch. As soon as I sit down, she joins me and then rests her head on my leg.

I take a sip and let the fruity notes settle on my tongue before swallowing. There's something in the process of drinking wine that is so relaxing. It's not the alcohol that does it; it's the fact that you have to use all of your senses to really take in the entirety of the wine, leaving no room for your brain to focus on anything but the wine. It always puts me fully present in the moment, and not in my worries or troubles.

My phone, which is sitting on the coffee table, begins to light up and vibrate on the wood.

I lean forward and swipe it off the table. It's my brother, Gabe.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey, man. I figured I'd get your voicemail on a Friday night."

"Then why'd you call if you thought I wouldn't answer?" I ask.

"I've got some news. It's kind of urgent," he says.

"Oh, yeah? Everything all right, man?"

I sit up straight, hoping Sienna is okay. That little squirt is our family’s pride and joy. Her smile is enough to make any bad mood lift, even just a little.

"It's more than alright. I just wanted to let you know that the wedding is gonna be a little sooner than expected. Alexis and I want to get started on expanding our family sooner rather than later since I'm not gettin' any younger."

A small laugh reverberates through my chest. "Don't remind me. That means I'm gettin' old too. So, when's the big day?"

"Two weeks," he answers.

I choke on the wine I had just taken a sip of. After I get done with my coughing fit, all the while hearing Gabe chuckling in the background, I put my glass down.

"Two weeks? How do you even plan a wedding in two weeks?" I question.

"Easy, you tell Ma she'll get more grandbabies sooner. Her and Alexis have been running around town putting everything together. The good news is that it's the coldest month of the year. Nobody wants to get married in Cleveland in February. So, we can pick basically wherever we want."

"Damn. Okay, well, good thing I'm in town in two weeks."

"I checked our calendar at work already. All four of us are scheduled to be in town. Listen, Alexis and I want something small. We’re gonna forgo most of the classic wedding traditions and make it simple. There won't be any wedding party, so I hope you and Marcus aren't offended that there won't be speeches or groomsmen."

Gabe's already done the big wedding, and things didn't exactly work out for him. Angie ended up ditching her husband and daughter for a more “glamorous”life in California. It makes perfect sense that he has no interest in making a show of it this time around. This is about the real love shared between him and Alexis.

"I get it, man. It's all about what you two want. I'm just happy you finally found the woman who deserves you and Sienna."

"Nah, you got it backward. Alexis deserves better than me, but I'll spend the rest of my life trying to be the best man I can for her."

I hear weird noises followed by giggling in the background. "What's going on? Is that Alex?"

"You're asking for it, babe. Get your ass in the bedroom. Ugh, hey, I gotta go. I'll be in touch with more details."

"You guys are gross. I'm not an idiot, go have sex with your fiancé. Congrats, man. Can't wait to celebrate,” I tell him before hanging up.

My brother is getting married in two weeks.

There was a day I thought he was so broken that he’d never trust another woman again. It takes a toll on a man when his wife leaves not only him but their baby girl too. He thought if he were just a better man, a better husband, Angie never would have left.

Turns out, Angie had no business becoming a mother in this world. She was too selfish and self-centered. But thank God she did because I couldn't imagine our family without Sienna.

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