Page 81 of XO

I frown as Vicki giggles like an excited school girl. “How many of those have you had?”

“I started as soon as the boys left this morning.”

“Which was when?”

“Seven.”

I glance at my phone. “You’ve been drinking for three and a half hours on your own?”

She smiles with the straw in her mouth. “Maybe.”

“Jesus, no wonder you’ve got the girls on display.” I turn to the male masseuses, who are now discreetly standing on the other side of the tables facing in the opposite direction. “Come on, you’re lying next to me where I can keep an eye on you.”

She skips as I walk, and when I have her on the table with her breasts hidden away, I climb up on mine. We face each other, and she takes my hand and smiles.

“I love you, Rosie. I may be slightly tipsy, but I see your pain. I really do. But I know this will all work out for you.”

A tear slips from the corner on my eye because I want so much to believe her. But it’s hard to have faith in something when not even I know the full truth.

“Because I’m serious when I say, you two looked fucking hot last night together.”

~

After an afternoon of ensuring Vicki’s cocktails became virgins, we finally made it to the group rehearsal. It was an effort considering we were already on location. But as the two parties came together on the green at twilight with the minister waiting at the end of the stand-in red carpet, everyone becomes giddy with excitement.

Sandra, the wedding planner, buzzes around us ensuring we’re all in the right places. Vicki and Jase are all over each other, his hands moving over her silk dress as if he can’t get enough of her curves. We watch as Sandra leads them through the formalities before she comes running over to us.

“Positions, please,” she yells while looking at her clipboard. “The order will be Katy and Peter, Amber and Max, and then Rosie and Jacob.”

In an effort to get through the night without incident, I avoid eye contact with Jacob as we stand behind the others. His arm briefly brushes mine sending shivers down my spine, his scent making me heady.

“You two, look alive,” Sandra says pushing in line and hooking my arm through Jacob’s. My stomach flips and dives, and I concentrate on the setting sun to take my mind off my current predicament. When Sandra moves on, Jacob breaks the silence but not the awkwardness.

“Meet me on the rooftop after dinner.”

There’s an edge to his tone that’s no-muck-around. It’s not a suggestion, nor is it an order. It’s simplythat time.

~

Just like we had at the garden party, Jacob and I are seated opposite each other at the dinner table. Caterers mill around us, serving our food and topping up drinks at a dangerous speed. I cover my glass with my hand to indicate no more wine on the third round because whatever Jacob has to say, I need to be sober. He too has done the same, the worry lines etched on his face fill me with a sense of foreboding.

Unlike the garden party where I couldn’t stomach a single mouthful, my nerves have suddenly gotten the better of me, and instead of feeling sick, I’m ravenous. I put it down to needing to pre-occupy my mind otherwise I’ll go stir crazy.

A fork dings on a wine glass and Jase stands ready to give a speech. “You motherfuckers are—”

“Jase!” Vicki chides, slapping his thigh.

“Sorry… you mofos mean more to us than you’ll ever know. You’ve all been selected to be a part of our day because you’re special to us in your own unique ways. Pete, you’re the biggest twit I’ve ever met. But I’ve known you since kindergarten, so it would have been a bit awkward had I not chosen you to be a groomsman.”

Pete laughs and flips his friend the bird.

“Max, you’re a laugh a minute even if you do gross my fiancée out with your crude humor, and even if you have tried to sleep with all the bridesmaids at least once.”

Amber angrily slaps his chest because this is probably news to her. He holds his hands out in question like he’s the innocent party. Giggles go around because we all know Amber’s been blinded to his cocky ways.

“And then there’s my best man, Jacob…” Jase pauses, suddenly growing serious. “Buddy, you’re like my fucking angel, bro. What many of you don’t know is that Jacob and I fought alongside each other back when we thought we knew it all. Back when Jacob actually did know all, and I was just a boy along for the ride. But if it weren’t for him, I’d be dead right now.”

Vicki takes his hand for support.

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