Two
Graham
“Graham! Why don’t you try another color? You’re always wearing black,” Jake said.
“There’s no other suit color to wear to a wedding as a groomsman unless you wish to look tacky,” I said. “Plus, these are the suits Logan picked out for us to wear.”
“Oh, come on. We could really do a number on him. Show up in some bright pink suits with daisy-colored bowties.”
“What color is ‘daisy-colored’ exactly?” I asked.
“You know, white and yellow.”
“Then why didn’t you simply say ‘white and yellow’?”
“Because I’m difficult.”
“Which is why you’re still single,” I said.
“No, I’m still single because I’m not a big, badass billionaire like you are. Which is why you have no excuse for still being single.”
“Besides my crazy-ass ex,” I said.
“We all have that crazy-ass ex. That doesn’t mean you stop messing around with women. I think you don’t have enough excitement in your life.”
“Your complaint is duly noted.”
I held out my hands as the tailor continued to measure the suit to my body. I was happy for our friend Logan. He had been looking all his life for the perfect woman for him. And even though he was getting married for the first time at forty-two years of age, I could tell he was happy. In love. Envisioning a future with his very beautiful bride at his side. Marianne was the only woman I’d ever seen him date that seemed interested in more than his money, so that was enough for me.
Because it was more than I could say for my ex.
“How’s that suit comin’ along?” Jake asked.
“A suit fitting doesn’t take this much conversation,” I said.
“Oh, come on. Quit being a stick in the mud. Did you roll off a cliff this morning after you got out of bed?”
“What’s that even supposed to mean?”
“It means you got up on the wrong side of the bed then went cliff-diving towards your death. You're in a mood. Cheer up! Our friend’s getting married.”
“You know how I feel about the ‘sanctity of marriage’.”
“Yeah, which is why I think it’s funny that Logan actually asked you to be a groomsman,” he said.
“I’m happy for him. Really.”
“Because she doesn’t want him for his money.”
“Doesn’t seem that way, no,” I said.
“You’re not happy for him because he’s in love.”
“You know how I feel about love, too.”
“Dude, you really let that woman get under your skin,” he said.
“I made a life with her. So yes, you could say she got under my skin,” I said.
“Just because your engagement tanked-”
“My engagement didn’t tank. She blew a damn hole in the ship, Jake. She intentionally sunk what we had. That’s it,” I said.
“So now you don’t believe in love or marriage or soulmates or anything of that shit?”
“Because it’s exactly how you described it. Shit,” I said.
“You really gotta let go of all that,” he said.
“So long as I have to deal with her, I’ll never really be able to.”
“I told you not to get into all that shit so early into the relationship.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you keep reminding me. But that ‘shit’ as you so wonderfully put it are the best things that have ever happened to me when I was dealing with her. I just hate it all had to come from that woman.”
“Whoa, dude. The hell happened with her? She called you, didn’t she?”
“This morning, yes,” I said with a sigh.
“What happened?”
“She called wanting to create a mess like she always does and I shot her down. She got upset and threatened to come to the house, so I had to put my security team on high alert before I left to come here.”
“But everything’s okay, right?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“And they’re all on high alert until you get back so she doesn’t do anything stupid?”
“They are,” I said.
“Then don’t sweat it. Try to relax. If she’s still got all those issues, she probably isn’t coherent enough to get to you anyway,” he said.
“Can we change the topic now?”
“Well, you don’t like marriage, so we can’t talk about Logan’s wedding. You aren’t dating, so we can’t talk about who you’re banging. I’m not dating, so we can’t talk about who I’m banging. What’s there to talk about if we can’t talk about banging?”
I chuckled and shook my head as I put my hands back down. Jake was still having his measurements taken as a glass of bourbon was handed to me. I was happy for Logan, I really was. And I didn’t want anyone to get me wrong on that front. But I would be keeping a close eye on that woman he was marrying. Logan was a good guy, but sometimes that good guy persona could cloud his vision. The moment she started taking advantage of him, I was going to try and intervene.
If anything, to save him from all I had to endure.
“Wanna go get some cigars after this?” Jake asked.
“Only if there’s alcohol involved,” I said.
“Logan just texted me. Says tonight won’t work for the bachelor party because Marianne isn’t feeling well.”
“Then tell him to join us for drinks and cigars. I’ll buy us all a nice lunch, sneak in a stripper somewhere, then he can get back to taking care of Marianne.”
“I’ll let him know,” he said.
I threw back the rest of my drink before I checked my phone, everything was good at the house, for now.