Page 58 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
I watch as they take turns high-fiving the rest of the groomsmen, sharing grins and back slaps all around. They’re a couple of happy guys who are thrilled their kids are marrying one another. My mouth curves into a half smile. This is a good week, after all. And I need to remember that.
None of this is about me. Or Natalie. It can’t be.
As our dads come into the shop, they hoot compliments at us, telling Beau and me we look great.
“What are you men up to?” Beau asks, nodding at their outfits.
“Golf!” they both crow at the same time.
“And we wanted to see if you two cared to join us,” my dad says.
Mr. Slater splays his hands. “We had a tee time reserved for a foursome, but our lovely wives backed out. They’re going to Sadie’s instead. Betty says she wants a mani-pedi.”
My dad shrugs. “Elaine said something about getting waxed.”
Mr. Slater cocks his head. “Does she do the Brazilian?” he asks. “I’ve heard about it, but I’m not sure what that is. Something with the eyebrows, I think.”
Oh, man.Ithink I’ve permanently lost my appetite.
“So how ’bout it, boys?” Dale cocks his head.
“You’re done,” Otto tells Beau, dusting his neck off with a brush. I glance at Quentin, who’s busy sweeping the floor around my chair. “I’m done too, I guess.” Otto did my hair first while Beau got his shave, then they switched.
Beau looks at me, one brow raised. “What do you say, my friend? Should we play a little golf with the old men?”
I glance at my dad and Mr. Slater. They’re all geared up and grinning.
“We’ve got two sets of clubs,” my dad says. “You can borrow one of ours. Dale and I don’t mind sharing, do we, Dale?”
“I’ll share anything but my woman, Phil,” Mr. Slater jokes. They both bust up, slapping at their knees. I haven’t hit a golf ball in a while—and I can’t remember the last time I was at the driving range—but I’m supposed to be off work for the rest of the week, and I need to fill my extra time. Supporting Beau is my goal as best man anyway, so I’d be a fool to turn this opportunity down. If I don’t go, I’ll just be thinking about Natalie all day. And worrying about the Swansons. Not to mention LuLu. “Sounds good to me,” I say.
Better than obsessing over things I can’t control.
My dad turns to Mr. Slater. “Maybe we should ask the boys outside if they’d like to play with us.”
Mr. Slater looks at Beau. “Are they still waiting for haircuts or shaves?”
Beau shrugs. “They can skip those if they want, as far as I’m concerned. Their facial hair is their business.”
My dad nudges Mr. Slater. “I’m sure we can sweet-talk Lorraine at the clubhouse to let another threesome tag along.”
“Lorraine?” Mr. Slater winks. “She’ll be putty in our hands. You and I have still got it, Phil.”
I cough out a laugh, trying not to think too hard about what kind ofitour dads think they still have. While they head outside to see if Ford, Three, or Hawk want to come with us, I slip my phone from my pocket. “I just need to check in real quick to be sure I haven’t missed any messages from Doc Swanson,” I tell Beau.
I’m relieved to see nothing new has come in from the doctor. But there is a new text from my sister.
KASEY: Look who I found at Sadie’s!!!
Along with the text, is a picture of her in a tall swivel chair. Sadie’s Salon is basically the female version of Powell and Sons. It’s brightly lit. Pink. Sparkly. Kasey looks like she’s got on one of those powdered wigs the founding fathers used to wear, except her curls are red. She’s got her arm slung around a brunette who’s squatting down to her level, but I spend zero time looking at them. I’m way too focused on the background. Natalie is in a chair behind Kasey. I can only see her face in the mirror, but her hair’s up in curlers and a hunched-over lady is blotting something on the side of her face.
Beau sticks his chin over my shoulder. “Oh boy,” he says, when he sees the picture. “I forgot to give you a heads-up.” He takes a step back, and I turn to face him.
“About what?”
“You meanwho.” He grins, nodding down at my phone. “That’s Molly Fitzpatrick there with Kasey. She’s in town for the wedding.”
“Yeah, I know.”
