THE WAITRESS CARRIES a tray with six Fireball shots to our table and places one down in front of each of us.
“Are you staying with Matthew’s parents or are you living with them?” Jayne leans over and asks in a low voice so only I can hear.
“Technically living. At least for now.”
“Hold on.” Jayne holds a hand out to the waitress to stop her from walking away. “Six more. Actually, no, just make it twelve. Save yourself a trip.” Jayne looks to me to see if I’m gonna put up a fight.
I’m not. Despite what happened or maybe because of it, I’m in the mood to let loose.
Jeremy raises his shot glass. “I’m glad you’re both safe. To better times ahead.” We all reach in carefully and tap the little glasses before downing the contents.
My body convulses from the fiery booze and I reach for my diet soda to chase it down.
“Explain to me again what the fuck happened.” Jayne is back to talking in her normal voice. Matthew’s already involved in a conversation with Jeremy, while Justin and Juan walk in the direction of the dimly lit corner with the dart board.
“It was electrical. It’s an old building and something ate at the wires or rotted the wires. I’m not even freaking sure. I just know that all tenants have been temporarily evacuated while they are investigating the damage and repairs needed to the building.”
“They can’t just throw you out on the street. They need to provide you with a new home.”
“They offered shelter, but we chose to go to Matthew’s parents over being holed up in a gym with sleeping bags situation.”
The waitress returns with rounds two and three of Fireball, another Diet Coke for me, and four beers for the guys. Jayne and I reach for our shots, not waiting for the guys this time. We clink and drink.
“What about your apartment? Can you go back there?”
“We tried. My lease was up and they already rented it to another person. There were no other units available.”
“Is all your stuff ruined?” Jayne grabs for shot three, and pushes another one in my direction. Her eyes land and linger on my ring. It’s such a unique setting, and I know the sapphires really catch the light. I stretch out my hand and take a moment to admire it as well.
“Some of our stuff was salvageable, but for the most part, yeah, our stuff was ruined.” This time we just raise the shots and air clink. “Luckily some of the bigger items from my apartment went into storage for safekeeping, like my couch and dresser, stuff we didn’t have room for when I moved in. So, at least when we do return to the apartment we won’t be starting at zero. I’m also hoping the building will work out a settlement for the losses or something, but who the hell knows when that’ll be. That could take years.”
“What about work? Are you working from their house?”
Being in charge of social media for a California-based PR firm, most of my job details me sitting in front of a computer at home.
“Well yeah, but I’ve been taking my laptop to Dunkin’ and doing most of my work there the last two days. I feel weird being in the house when Matthew’s not there.” His mom is retired and although she is nothing but nice, I can’t shake the awkwardness I feel whenever I’m around her, especially when we’re by ourselves. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when we first met I made a bold declaration of my feelings for her son where I shared a few too many intimate details.
“Oh, Holl, that sucks so fucking bad. Do you guys want to move in with me instead?” The alcohol must already be hitting Jayne for her to make an offer like that.
“That’s sweet, but Matthew’s parents offered for us to stay as long as we need, and hopefully it won’t be that long.”
“I hope for your sake it isn’t. That sounds brutal, moving into the Daniels house,” she says. Brutal is a harsh word, but yeah, it’s not an ideal situation, moving in with the future in-laws.
Jayne swings her blonde head around in search of her boyfriend, who has one bright blue eye closed, aiming a dart at the bull’s-eye on the wall. “Quick, pass me one of Juan’s shots.”
“Really? You’re going for four? This early? We haven’t even eaten yet.”
“You’re right, I should pace myself,” she says, eyeing my ring once again then eyeing the whisky longingly. “So, any wedding planning yet?”
Wedding talk. Zing. My Fireball buzz kicks in.
“Yes. Before all this happened, we made a plan. We decided we’re gonna keep it small,” I say excitedly, ready to fill her in on some of the details.
“Small? How small?” Jayne sneers, not responding quite like I’d expected.
“Twenty-four people. We’re having it at Romeo’s. We already called and they have the date we want available.”
“Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?” I shake my head, and her face drops. “Holly, this is your wedding. You can’t do that,” she snaps with a bite.
“Um, yes we can,” I bite back.
“You’re gonna have your wedding at a glorified pizza place?”
“Why are you saying it like that? Romeo’s has that nice new room in the back, it’s gonna be great. Matthew’s sister-in-law got us in to the Chateau for June, but the cost is ridiculous. We decided we don’t need all of that fluff.”
“Wait a second. You have a chance to have your wedding at the Chateau, and you’re giving it up? That’s insanity. Who cares what it costs. Find a way.” Her words continue to sting, but I really can’t get upset. That was my first reaction, too. Once I explain, she’ll understand.
“I know, I know, I get it. But after thinking about it, why would I want to invite a hundred people I barely know or give a shit about to my wedding?” I take the straw out of my soda and point it at her. “And go broke in the process?”
“Because,” she says, as if revealing some big rational response and not just one vague word.
“Because why?” I challenge.
“Because that’s what people do,” she says loudly, almost shouting. “Because at a wedding, people are supposed to meet crazy college friends and flirt with drunk uncles at the open bar and dance and do the motherfucking Macarena.” She caves and reaches for Juan’s shot and gulps it down. “And because… for you.”
For me. Ha. Good save, Jayne.
“I did the math. We can’t afford the Chateau,” I say angrily. “Besides, we just lost half our shit in the apartment, we’re saving for a house, Matthew wants to go back to school, plus my parents aren’t able to help out. Michael got sick. They needed to use the money they had set aside for my wedding.”
“Michael?” Jayne recoils, confused, until it hits her. “Oh my God, the cat.” Her small frame shakes with a laugh that comes from deep down in her belly. “See, there’s another reason you have to have a big wedding, so you can put his furry ass in a tux and make him walk down the aisle. Wait?” She stops laughing. “Can you even have an aisle with only twenty-four people? Oh my God, and please don’t tell me that number is including all the kids?”
“Yes, our nieces are part of that number.” The ceremony will be at Romeo’s, too. Will I have an aisle? I guess not. But that doesn’t matter. I don’t need a frickin’ aisle… you bitch. Okay, now I might be getting a little upset.
“How many nieces do you guys have again?”
“Eight in total.”
“No. No. No.” Jayne raises her arms and waves them erratically in front of her face. “This cannot happen like this. I cannot let you do this.”
Matthew and Jeremy slide down to the chairs closer to us. “You guys are so loud. What’s going on down here?” Matthew asks, putting his arm around the back of my chair.
“Matthew!” Jayne points. “You cannot marry Holly in a greasy pizza parlor.”
My heart sinks as I watch Matthew’s face fall.
“Those are her words, not mine. She’s already had four shots,” I say quickly, giving his hand an assuring squeeze. “Ignore her.”
“No, do not ignore me. Listen to me. No woman wants to have a small wedding where half the guests are freaking little kids.”
Matthew looks to me for answers. I try and defuse the situation before Jayne says anything else. It’s one thing to make me feel like shit, but I’m not gonna let her do it to Matthew, too.
“We are happy with our decision to have a small wedding at Romeo’s. That’s what we want,” I say firmly.
“You don’t want the Chateau?” Jayne’s eyes connect with mine, a stare that penetrates deep within me, searching for the truth.
“No.” I snap my head away from her stare. That is the truth. I think. Fuck. No. It is. It definitely is. Why is she pulling this crap? She should be happy for me, not belittling our decision and making me second-guess our plans.
“Bull. Shit.” She swivels in her seat. “Jeremy, back me up. They have a chance to get married at the Chateau… in June, and instead they’re gonna get married in a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint. Isn’t that crazy?” She thinks and holds up a pointed finger. “Ya know what? I puked at Romeo’s once,” she says, as if that should sway our decision.
All eyes land on Jeremy, who thoughtfully strokes his beard. “I am staying out of this. It’s their decision.”
“Come on, Jeremy, be honest, if you were getting married, where would you want it?” Jayne leads him to answer in her unrelenting way. “Be. Honest.”
He rubs his temple and sighs. “Well, actually… Justin and I are already on a two-year wait list for the Chateau.”
“See!” Jayne all but explodes.
“You guys good over here?” The waitress walks over at just the right moment, giving us a desperately needed interruption.
“Food.” We need to order food. This night went from zero to sixty in a flash. A little food in our systems is desperately needed before I lose it and tell Jayne to fuck off and that our guest list just got even smaller. Jayne’s liquor-induced wedding tangent is messing with my own fuzzed-up mind. Romeo’s is a charming little restaurant, one of my favorite places. Yes, it’s quaint, but that’s what makes it so fucking charming. Grr. I flip open my menu aggressively, scanning it for the greasiest monstrosity they have so I can snarf it down along with all this frustration I’m suddenly overwhelmed with. “I’ll have a double cheeseburger and chili fries.”
“Would you like another round of shots?” the waitress asks.
“No.” I answer for everyone. My buzz has been completely killed. I just want to eat and go home, even though home is not really home. It’s Matthew’s parents’ home.
I pinch my lips over my straw and slurp up a big gulp of soda. I refuse to let Jayne get to me. So what if I’m getting married in a greasy pizza place?
Fuck. Now I just called it a greasy pizza place. I completely let that bitch screw with my head. It’s our wedding, not hers.
“Can you bring the check with the food?” I ask the waitress before she takes off.
I just want to get the hell out of here.
“HOW WAS YOUR night?” My mom walks into the hallway and greets us as we walk in. She’s in her robe and slippers, arms folded against the slight chill we brought into the house with us. “Did you have fun?”
The night didn’t go as late as expected. Usually when we all get together it involves drinks and Uber rides and headaches the next day. But the night took a weird turn, and after the check was paid, everyone grumbled their good nights and headed back home. Except for us. We headed back to my parents’ home.
“Hi, Mrs. Daniels.” Holly was told to call my mom Grace, but for some reason that never took. Her voice gets a peculiar pitch and she plasters on a weird smile that she seems to have reserved just for my mom.
“I didn’t expect you guys back so early.”
“It was just dinner,” I answer quickly; she doesn’t need the details. “Are the blankets still on the couches?” The last few nights we’ve slept on the couches in the back room. After all the commotion with the apartment and with work, it was just easier to crash on the couches at the end of the night.
“No, your father and I set up your room for you and Holly. We moved the twin out of Kent’s old room and moved it into yours.” She clears her throat. “We pushed the beds together for you guys.”
“Oh, uh....” I look over at Holly and watch her pale skin turn bright red.
“Don’t be embarrassed. You’ll need a room of your own with privacy while you’re here. I put your bags in the room, too.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“And Holly, I want you to make yourself at home. Help yourself to whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
My mother grabs onto the railing and starts up the stairs. “With you being off tomorrow, we’re having everyone over for a family dinner. We never really had a chance to celebrate the engagement. The girls have something special planned. I hope that’s okay?”
“It sounds great,” Holly gushes in a plastic tone. “That’s so sweet.”
“Wonderful. We can’t wait to hear all the wedding details,” my mom says, then finishes her ascent up the stairs.
“Ugh, wedding details,” Holly mutters under her breath, and the smile she was just wearing vanishes.
“Should we talk about what happened tonight?” I ask, stopping Holly from climbing the stairs.
“Nothing happened.” Holly shrugs, not meeting my eyes.
“Jayne’s comments about the wedding didn’t bother you?”
Holly shakes her head, but doesn’t actually answer me in words.
“So, we’re still on with our plan? June, Romeo’s, twenty-four loved ones?”
Again, no words, just a nod.
“You sure?” I tip her chin up so that I can meet her dark brown eyes, searching for the truth.
“I am. Maybe Jayne’s reaction bothered me a little, but it’s probably because it’s been a long few days and I’m tired. And the Fireball definitely didn’t help things any. I’m sorry I let her get to me. You, twenty-four loved ones, Romeo’s—that is truly what I want.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Her eyes give me a warm gleam of assurance and her shiny pink lips break into a smile. I kiss her. And then I kiss her again. I have to. It’s been too long since we’ve had any real privacy.
“What do you say we go upstairs and check out our new pushed-together bed?”
“Matthew, shh,” Holly whispers with a giggle, and motions her head up the staircase. “I don’t want your parents to hear us talking about bed stuff.”
Really, the word bed bothers her? It’s not like my parents don’t know we have sex. Holly flat-out told my mother we did the first night she met her. She had defended her own honor after a horrifying introduction to my family. I wasn’t there for that part, but I’ve heard the story many times. Many.
“They pushed the beds together for us. You don’t need to feel weird.” I start up the steps and Holly follows. My mother has left the door open a crack, and as we pass by I see her in bed with the light on, reading. Odd that she left the door open.
“I’ve never been in your old room before,” Holly whispers as I open the door to our new accommodations. Everything in my old room looks the same, except for the addition of Kent’s bed, which has been pushed up against mine. My mother has done a good job in making it appear as if it’s one big king-sized bed. It’s been made up with one large comforter rather than two separate ones. Nice touch.
Holly bites back a smile as she takes in all the details of my nerdy childhood décor. She slides a finger over the shiny surface of an old Pokémon poster. “You laminated your posters?
“I didn’t want the corners to rip.”
“And you liked Pokémon?”
“Every boy likes Pokémon. ‘A Caterpie may change into a Butterfree, but the heart that remains inside stays the same,’” I quote Brock, and it goes right over Holly’s head; not that she cares what I’m talking about. I close my door and twist the lock.
Holly hears the click and turns. “Your door has a lock?”
“It does. Does that make you feel more comfortable?” I hope it does, because it’s going to be impossible for me to keep my hands off her for two more minutes, never mind the one to two more weeks we may need to stay here.
“It does help.” Holly toes off one of her heels then kicks off the other one; it lands with a thump and she cringes. “Shit, do you think they heard that?”
“It was just a shoe. Relax.” If she’s worried about the sound of a shoe, we might be in some trouble in a few minutes. Hopefully a pillow may help muffle any other sounds I plan on evoking.
Tugging my shirt over my head, I suck in my stomach to flex the muscles. Holly’s gaze follows the V my abs make. She likes to refer to it as the arrow to my peen— no, to my cock. I try to no longer use the word peen. Before Holly, I had an odd relationship with that part of my body. We were on a first-name basis. I have since matured and no longer need to communicate with Peen. Shit, I just thought his name twice. I need to move on, or I may have a Beetlejuice situation on my hands where after three times, he shows back up.
Holly saunters over and places her hands on my chest. She steps up on tiptoe for a kiss that instantly goes deep. Tongue, suction, neither one of us takes a breath; neither one of us needs air, just each other. It’s been three long days. She tugs at the button of my jeans, and I cross my arms over hers to tear at her top button as well. She lets mine in first to do a little exploring. With a soft mewl of delight, she begins to walk backwards toward the beds. Together we topple down onto half of the old beds that’ve been turned into one.
Squeak.
The springs screech from the weight of our bodies. We pause to reposition ourselves on the old bed.
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
It doesn’t matter how soft or gently we move, the old bed is like an alarm sounding with every move we make.
“Matthew, this bed is so noisy. We can’t do this.”
My bed never squeaked before. It must be Kent’s bed.
“Come, we’ll move over to my bed.” I slide over to my old twin and there isn’t much room so Holly climbs on top of me, straddling my thighs. Oh, yeah. That works.
Her hair topples forward over her shoulders as she swoops down for more kissing. Squeak. That slight movement is still causing my brother’s old bed to squeak. I raise my hips, shuffling us both over a bit further away from the old bed.
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
Okay, something isn’t right here. Holly gets up from the bed and I hop off, too. The springs boing and squeak in rapid succession at the movement. I bend down and lift up the bedding. Rope. Thick rope has been used to tie the two beds together and make them one, therefore, every move we make on one bed will cause the other to move and squeak along with it. I pull at the tightly knotted rope and it doesn’t budge. Fuck.
“I guess this means no sex while we’re here.” Holly swallows and fumbles, pulling away from me.
No. Nuh-uh. I already have a raging hard-on, and there is no way in hell I am going to let a squeaky bed stop us.
I scratch a hand over my head and start thinking. We will figure out a way. Whatever it takes. We will find a way.