Chapter Eleven

Chrissy

“What if I told you sometimes I lose my faith?

I wonder why someone like you would even talk to me

What if I told you there's no fixing me

Cause everybody's already tried” - Darius Rucker

My phone rings and I grab it clearing my throat ready to give the best performance of my life. “Hello.”

“Be there in ten, babe.” Rock’s voice sounds.

“I can’t go. I think I’m coming down with something.” I cough a few times to really hammer the point home.

“Get your ass up and get your shit ready.” He laughs and then hangs up.

It was worth a try. I walk downstairs with my suitcase and dress bag almost like I’m walking to a funeral.

Rock pulls up in his truck because there is no way we could take the bike. He gets out taking my bags and giving me a kiss. “Where’s your jacket?”

“Oh no, there is no way I can wear that there. We are heading straight to the country club.” I think for a minute considering how far crazy I want to drive my mother and decide against it. “I can’t bring that this weekend. Trust me when I say you will be enough of a surprise.”

He looks like he’s about to fight me on it but he doesn’t and just walks me to my door. Once were on the road he turns the music down. “What’s the deal with your family? I have never seen you let anyone get to you.”

“Yea well, they’re professionals at that. I really just want to turn around and pretend like this weekend doesn’t exist.” I groan and slide down in the seat.

“Maybe it will be fun. The hotel looks nice and you and I have never gone anywhere.” He lays his hand on my thigh.

“Fun and my family don’t mix. We are doing bare minimum as far as this circus is concerned.” I shake my head knowing he’ll get it once we’re there.

“Whatever you say, babe.”

“Now you’re learning.” I laugh and lean over closer to him.

The hotel is about an hour outside of town. After we check in we have to head to the country club for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding is tomorrow and then after that I’m free. I’m a bridesmaid, unfortunately, so I have to be way more involved than I would have liked to be.

As we pull up to the country club old memories of forced parties and dinners come rushing back. Poofy dresses, uncomfortable hairdos, and stuck up pricks are all that I have ever had here. I see Carl, the groomsman I’m paired with, standing outside as we walk toward the door.

“Christina? I haven’t seen you in years.” His slimy eyes trail over my body. Does he not see the tree trunk of a man standing beside me?

“Hi, Carl. This is…” I pause for a minute realizing I can’t introduce him as Rock.

“Mike, her boyfriend.” Rock says, his voice hard and strong. I’m taken back for a minute as I realize I didn’t even know his real name.

“Right, well everyone is inside. Your mother has been looking for you.” He turns and walks in.

Of course she has, because it’s rude to show up on time instead of early. “Come on, Mike,” I say with a laugh and Rock smacks my ass.

The room is decorated with the clique Paris theme that all these trust fund brats think is original.

“Christina!” I cringe at her voice. “There you are. I was starting to worry that you would be late.”

Heaven forbid.

“And who would this be?” Her eyes study Rock, disapproval and disdain evident.

“This is Mike, my boyfriend. The date that you knew I would be bringing.”

“Right, well you and…Mike are right over there.” She points to the other side of the table. Great, I get to sit next to creepy Carl because being here isn’t enough of a punishment.

Rock takes my hand and leads me to our seats. A part of me is thankful that he insisted on coming. At least I have one ally here.

“So…” Carl turns to me. “You still working at the welfare office?” I almost choke on the sip of water I was taking.

“Excuse me?”

“Where you work, it’s like poor people right?” He takes a bite of his food as if he doesn’t deserve the spike of my heel through his eye socket right now.

I hear Rock chuckle next to me, glad that he thinks this is amusing. “I am a social worker. I help children who were abused. It has nothing to do with welfare.” The amount of effort it takes to keep my voice at a normal tone is incredible.

“I don’t see why you waste your time there. You can’t advance working for the city and God knows what you might catch doing that job.” He shakes his head as his mouth turns down in disgust.

My hand moves because I’m ready to bury my fist in his face. Rock catches it under the table before anyone can see. I’m half grateful to him for keeping me from making a scene and half pissed off because I wanted to see this asshole bleed.

The rest of dinner is a lot of the same questions.

Why do I work where I do?

Why did I move away from home?

Why don’t I visit?

Because of all you fuckers.

When dessert is served I say a silent thank you. This shit is almost done.

“So, Michael,” my mother says and for a minute Rock and I forget that’s him. “What do you do for a living?”

This should be good.

Christina brought home a biker who could kill you or have you killed at the drop of a dime.

“I’m part owner in an auto shop.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder as I watch my mother try to keep her face from showing the disgust she’s feeling.

“Well this had been an interesting night. See all of you tomorrow.” I get up pulling Rock with me, needing to be out of there. I just about pulled his arm off until we were finally out of the club. I finally feel like I can breathe again.

“Your family is really great.” Rock takes my hand laughing as we walk to his car.

“Tomorrow is going to be even worse.” I groan.

He presses me against his truck. “How about I take you back to the hotel and make you come so many times you can’t even remember your name much less that fucking dinner.”

“Now that’s an offer I’d be an idiot to refuse.”