Page 54 of The Lake House

“You’re not kidding; I’ve totally been replaced by the cutest little munchkin, and I know it. I can’t compete with that,” he replies as we reach the table.

Rachel places Lily down on her feet. “Hey! You guys finally made it!”

Roger walks over to his fiancée and plants a big fat one on her lips, holding her close. “Damn, I missed you, babe.”

Rachel places a finger on the tip of his nose. “Well, aren’t you the sweetest.” As they pull away, she acknowledges me. “Hey Dec, you remember my good friend, Shaunna, don’t you?”

I break into a smile and put out my hand as Shaunna walks over. “I sure do. How are you doing, Shaunna?”

She scans me over up and down a few times as she takes my hand in hers before she responds. “Hi, Declan. I’m well, thanks. How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been good, too, thanks.”

“Daddy, I want to sit next to Shaunna and Auntie Rachel!” Lily exclaims, demanding my attention.

I grab her hand gently and say, “Well, I think Auntie Rachel and Shaunna are already sitting together, and I’m sure Uncle Rog wants to sit next to Aunt Rachel… why don’t you sit next to me?” I ask quietly, hoping this doesn’t cause a scene and that Lily will agree.

I can see the look on her face. She’s getting ready to blow and tell me she doesn’t want to sit next to me, when suddenly, Rachel replies.

“Nonsense! We are going to rearrange the seating so that Lily can sit between Shaunna and I.” Turning to face her friend, she says, “You don’t mind, do you, Shauns?”

“Are you kidding me? Not at all!” Shaunna replies, already fetching her purse from the chair she had been sitting in before we got here.

As the three ladies go to take their seats, Roger leans into me and says, “See, man, I told you. I’ve been replaced.”

* * *

Dinner with the ladies is going well. The three of them are immersed in wedding planning talk—even my little princess is involved in the discussion, which is nothing short of adorable. I see her little face light up every time they mention her dress or how they’re going to get her hair styled. She’s such a little diva, it’s so funny.

My little princess. I know she’s going to love getting pampered and dressing up in her big white gown, matching the bride’s.

In the meantime, Roger and I manage to get some bro-bonding time and we’ve been discussing some very important wedding related things as well.

Current topic of discussion: his bachelor party.

“I don’t know… it just doesn’t feel right… you know?” Rog asks, referring to the strip club we’re supposed to be going to.

Not his idea or mine, really. Obviously, the other two groomsmen, Brad and Joey, want to go, but he and I really don’t care for it. I never have. Not even before Giules walked back into town. Now she’s the only woman I want to see. Whether she’s clothed or not, it doesn’t matter. I just want her.

The other person pushing for us to go is his wife-to-be. Rachel says he needs that experience to know what he’s getting into for the rest of his life. She’s saying if he doesn’t, he’s always going to wonder what else is out there since they’ve been together for so long. She doesn’t believe in divorce and states that once they tie the knot, that’s who they are going to be with for the rest of their lives: one another.

Shit, at one point, that’s all I wanted for myself. Now I’m glad that Claire is no longer in the picture.

I nod. “I know, and trust me, I get it wholeheartedly.” I never did the whole stripper thing for my bachelor party, either. Claire insisted we have a joint bachelor-bachelorette party, which was great, but what had me confused was that she still had her own bachelorette party on the side with her friends. But instead of calling it a bachelorette party, they called it a girls’ night out. Male strippers and drinks included.

Roger nods. “So what do I do? Do I tell her I don’t want to go? I really don’t see the point of looking at anyone else’s boobs,” he whispers.

I dart a quick glance over at the other side of the table, but the women haven’t heard a thing. They’re so busy going on and on about the details of the wedding that I don’t even think they remember we’re here. Whatever, it works for us right now.

“Rach’s not going to hear that. We’d better just do it and get it over with,” I respond.

Roger nods yet again. I’d think he was lost for words if I didn’t know him better. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Hey!” Rachel’s voice booms from across the table, making the both of us snap our heads to face her. She raises an eyebrow. “What are you two so busy gossiping about over there?”

After a few seconds with no response, I kick Rog to snap out of it.

“Nothing, honey,” he responds, and he couldn’t sound more guilty if he tried. Being the very best friend that I am, I jump in and save him.

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