Chapter 3 Now
The DJ announced the couple's first dance, and I watched as Wes spun my baby sister around in the sand. The entire beach was full of solar lights, and Christmas lights were strung from the chairs. It was a beautiful night, and a beautiful wedding. As sad as I was to be officially losing Zoe, I was also grateful. She had a tough time after losing our parents, and she deserved to be happy.
When the song finished, other couples began to fill the space in the sand. I sat, and watched as they all swayed to the music. I smiled, and laughed, when an older couple did a dramatic dip. That would be Zoe someday, but it wouldn't be me. I never had time for any kind of relationship other than a sexual one, and there was only ever one girl that I truly cared about.
Evie Perez, my best friend as a teen, but I haven't seen her in two years. She was on her last year of residency, and was probably living her dream by now. She was the only person I could truly be myself around, I wasn't exactly a sociable kid, and she pulled me out of my shell just by being her. Night's like this, made me realize how much I truly missed her.
A tap on my shoulder, shook me from my thoughts as I starred up into my sister's big brown eyes. “Dance with me?” She asked, with a smile.
“Of course.” I smiled back, standing, and taking her hand in mine. “You look beautiful.” I said, when I was holding her on the dance floor.
“Thank you.” She sighed, looking around at her guests. “You know, I have a few single friends here tonight.. I'd be happy to hook you up.”
“Zoe.” I warned, making her roll her eyes.
“Alright.” She said, giving up for now, and allowing me to lead her around in the sand.
The song had only been over for a matter of seconds, before Wes was stealing her away from me again. I gladly dodged the blind date bullet, and slipped away towards the open bar. Grabbing a beer, I took a seat on the bar stool, and took a long pull from my bottle.
“Mind if I join you?” A familiar voice asked.
“Why not.” I said, patting the stool beside me.
Cole took the seat I offered, and grabbed a beer of his own. He was Wes' foster brother, and served as best man in the wedding today. He had become like a brother to me as well, especially after what happened last year. Zoe was kidnapped by Wes' crazy ex foster sister Vanessa, and Cole, was almost destroyed. He'd been turned into a drug kingpin, and locked in jail, all because Wes left a foster home they shared without her. To be fair, he didn't know she wanted to come along, but in her eyes, he did. Cole saved all of our lives that day, and even though I always thought he was a bit of a fuck up, he earned my respect.
“I can't believe he did it.” Cole said, slamming his empty beer down on the counter, and selecting another.
“You'll be next if you aren't careful brother.” I said, grinning.
“Shit.” He snort laughed, taking a swig from his bottle. “Harper and I are only friends. Besides, she has a lot of skeletons in her closet, and I'm definitely not the man to help her get rid of them.”
“You don't think we've noticed the way you talk about her? You've got it bad.”
“She's a sweet girl.”
“Woman. She's a sweet woman, who has you wrapped around her pretty little finger.”
“It doesn't matter, does it? She's stuck in some God forsaken institution, what if she never gets out?”
Harper Blue, was Vanessa's younger sister. She had been through a traumatic ordeal as a child, and Vanessa tried to shield her as best as she could, but something inside of Harper broke. She was institutionalized when she just thirteen, and now she was twenty three, same as Cole. When we found out about her, he began to visit her, and they became fast friends. We all knew Cole had a thing for her, but he was right, she was in there, and he was out here. With Vanessa being her only living relative, and locked up in prison, there wasn't much Cole could do.
“She will. You said it yourself, she's getting better every day, and that's because of you.”
“Maybe.” He said, polishing off his second beer, and reaching for a third.
“You might wanna slow down.” I said, cocking my head in Wes' direction.
“Fuck him.” He said bringing his bottle to his lips, and slamming it on the counter. “I've got a bride to dance with.” He winked, before patting me on the back, and heading towards Zoe.
I laughed, shaking my head. Cole was always the kid to push the limits, especially with Wes. I kind of liked that about him, someone had to keep my best friend on his toes after all. Not that Zoe wasn't doing a damn fine job of it already. In the year and a half that they had been together, Wes had become a completely different man. He was still the same cocky bastard I'd served with, but he was less of a hot head.
Zoe's laughter, caught my attention and I laughed with her when I witnessed Cole attempting to dip her the way the elderly couple had done earlier. He was much less graceful, and nearly fell on top of her. Lucky for him, my sister had a sense of humor, and with a kiss on the cheek, she sent him on his way before gliding back into Wes' arms. I finished my third beer, and reached around the bar for another. I was definitely calling an Uber tonight.
I was home for three weeks. Three solid weeks of sitting by myself in a big empty house, that no longer felt like home. Zoe and Wes would be gone on their honeymoon, and the friends that I did have, I don't any more. It's funny how friendships fade. One day you're talking about the future, and how you want houses next door to each other, and the next you're left all alone, with nothing but the memories to keep you company. At least that's what happened with Evie. The more I drank, the more I thought about her, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to stop.
I lost count after seven, and the people around me were all beginning to blend together. I knew my limit, but I hadn't passed it yet. A quick dip in the water would sober me right up, I thought loosening my tie, and shrugging my jacket off. I was already barefoot, so slipping my pants off seemed like the next logical move. I manged to make it a few feet from the water, before Wes ran out in front of me.
“What are you doing man?” He asked, with humor in his eyes.
“Just need to sober up a bit.” I said, in a voice that didn't sound like my own.
“So you can drink some more? I don't think so man, let me call you an Uber alright?”
“No! It's early, and it's your wedding.” I slurred, leaning heavily against him. “You made a beautiful bride – groom!” I corrected myself.
“Buddy, you're at my wedding reception, in your underwear.” He said, quietly.
I looked down at my bare feet and smiled. He was right. Reaching for the band of my boxers I said “I should of thought about that sooner.” And before he had the chance to stop me, I was running bare ass naked into the cool water. The last thing I heard before plunging in were hoops and hollers from the women of the party, and I smiled inwardly, enjoying every second.
I swam out a ways, and when I spun around it was to see Wes. He'd jumped in after me, clothes and all, and when he reached me, he looked like he was ready to kill me. I couldn't help it. I started laughing uncontrollably. “When did you become such a stick in the mud Wes Granger?” I asked, splashing water at him.
“One of us has to make sure your drunk ass doesn't drown in the damn ocean!” He said, splashing me back with anger.
A crowd had formed at the edge of the beach, Zoe being dead in the center, but it wasn't her who caught my attention. Ignoring Wes all together, I started for the shore, my eyes locked on the woman to my sister's right. When I was close enough to see her face, my eyes widened in disbelief. “Evie?” I asked, the wonder in my voice evident.
“Hi Jake.” She said quietly.