Page 47 of Bang Buddies With Benefits
“Um, I’m not sure,” the waiter said, stress pinching his features. “I’m only in charge of serving the samples.”
“Everything looks great, thank you,” I loudly said, intentionally stepping in front of the oncoming train in hopes I could slow it down.
“They look tropical, not beachy, and they’re not at all what I requested.” Julia aimed her pursed lips my way. “It’s my job as Jeremy’s maid of honor to ensure everything is perfect, so you can stop grimacing at me like that, Zac. I asked a simple question, is all, and I was plenty polite.”
I held up my hands. “Didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion.”
“I’ve been assisting in the planning of this wedding formonths. You don’t know enough about the theme to make an informed opinion, much less a decision.”
“All I’m saying is that a ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ never hurt anyone.”
“It’s my brother’swedding.Forgive me if I care enough to stress over details after investing so much time, money, and effort into ensuring everything’s exactly right.”
“Your brother’s wedding? Funny story, it’s my brother’s wedding, too.”
Instead of a thanks for considering my feelings, Noah’s foot collided with my shin. Didn’t I get points for not drawing attention to it being her parents’ money, not hers? I wondered if Jeremy dared to kick Julia beneath the table, or if everyone was in agreement that I was the instigator.
This was why I’d wanted my sexy, amazing girlfriend here as my wing-woman. It’d be that much easier to not get swept up in the drama.
“No offense,” Julia said, so here came the offense. “But Noah’s a lot like you. He just shrugs and says whatever, and whatever isn’t happening on my watch. Now”—she whipped her head toward the petrified twenty-year old in the corner. “Pleasego find me someone who can tell me what happened to the place settings I put a deposit down for.Thank you.”
The waiter scurried through the swinging kitchen door. Not gonna lie, I considered joining him.
What was it about Julia that brought out the worst in me?
Probably the fact that I’d been honest about not being ready to settle down and wanting to go slow from the beginning, and she was still furious at me for not changing my mind after our pregnancy scare.
“…narrow down a few options while we consult with the person who orders the tableware.”
Chair legs scraped the floor—Wait. Where are Noah and Jeremy going? Are they seriously leaving me behind to face the firing squad?
As I glanced across the table, I changed my mind. They were more lionesses, and I was the confused gazelle that’d been separated from the pack.
“So?” Yeah, I didn’t have a follow-up to my lame attempt at a conversation starter.
“So, what?” No surprise that Joy, the oldest and most protective of the Carrington siblings, pounced. “Did you want to ask if we still think you’re a selfish prick who played with our sister’s heart before tossing it aside?” Contrary to her name, she was nearly always disgruntled. Or perhaps I just brought out that side of her.
“Now, Joy, let’s remember this is about Jeremy and Noah, and there’s no reason to rehash the past—Zac’s said so himself.” Either Julia had a change of heart in the last five minutes, or she’d hit her limit of insults for the day. “Instead, let’s take a moment to bask in the fact that Zac’s still a liar, one who’s so scared of us that he made up a girlfriend.”
Okay, that caused the lid on my temper to rock. I didn’t exactly have the high ground on that last point, given things with Catalina originally started out as a ruse, but Julia was referring to something else. “I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t a settle down, build a picket fence, and pop out a baby or two guy.”
“Didn’t you pay attention in health class? I’m the one who’d be popping out the babies. It’s not like your contribution would be super difficult for you. Half the time you didn’t even want to wait till we arrived at my place or yours to have sex. It was ‘there’s a closet here’ or ‘let me show you my office’ and fool that I was for you, I went along with it.”
“Jesus. Is anything our business, or did you want to grab a bullhorn and announce my sexual preferences to everyone in the vicinity while you’re at it?”
“Do I get to be Jesus in this situation?” June chimed in. Given their entire family had names beginning with the letter J, it would still fit. “I’m sure as hell ready to deliver my judgment, and it’s gonna be nice and harsh. Old Testament type stuff.”
I ignored her sisters, keeping my gaze on Julia. “You could’ve told me you’d rather wait until we were near a bed, and that would’ve been that. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t communicate clearly, and I’m sorry about that. Why can’t you let it go?”
“Because,”she shouted, loud enough that our brothers glanced our way. We all froze, like little kids about to get in trouble, and they resumed discussing side dishes or whatever. “I wanted closure, okay? That’s why I came into the bar, and you shrugged off our relationship as if it was nothing. I thought you were the one. I gave you chance after chance, and after all that, you told me you were glad you wouldn’t be the father of my children.”
Talk about “out of context.” The engagement party brought about the bombshell that she’d assumed getting back together meant I’d changed my mind about kids and strolling down the aisle.
While I was still reeling, she asked if I’d prefer a spring or summer wedding.
When I informed her that wires had definitely been crossed,she’dbeen the one to yell that she wasgladsomeone as immature as I was wouldn’t be the father of her children. Her sisters, who’d come rushing when they realized things were getting heated, echoed the sentiment.
I’d figured it wouldn’t hurt for me to do the same.
