“Eddie?” I call, opening the front door to the apartment he shares with Claire. I made sure that she wouldn’t be here before I showed up.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“We have to talk. And I brought proof with me in case you don’t have faith in me and my word.” Faith was able to get old videos and text messages from Enzo to prove to Eddie that Claire has been cheating on him since day one. Even nasty messages to Enzo detailing how much Claire hates Faith and the nasty shit she says to her. Which pissed me right the fuck off.
Eddie narrows his eyes at me. “What’s going on?”
“Claire has been cheating on you, and everything Faith has said about her is true,” I blurt out quickly.
“What?”
“Man, you heard me. I wouldn’t bring this shit to your door if it wasn’t legit. See for yourself.” I hand over my phone, letting him scroll through all the evidence.
He scrubs his hand over his head and cups the back of his neck after he hands back my cell phone.
“I had my suspicions. But damn. What a cunt, huh?”
“You said it.” I grin. “Are we cool?”
“Indeed, I just don’t know how to call this shit off. The wedding is in two weeks.”
“Well whatever you need. I’m here for ya, bro.”
He nods and then he gets this weird twinkle in his eyes.
“Does Faith know you’re in town?”
“Nope, I was going to surprise her.”
“Think I could crash at your place for a bit? I have an idea.” He smirks.
“Do I even want to know?” When Eddie gets and idea it is either his greatest plan yet or the worst thing ever.
He punches me in the chest. “It’s for you, dickhead. I know how to get you and Faith together once and for all.”
“What are you up to, Eddie?”
“Do you trust me?”
I nod my head knowing this will somehow bite me in the ass. “Sure, I do.”
“Good. Don’t tell Faith you’re in town. We have work to do.”
Before we can make further plans, Claire comes home, and I take it as my cue to leave, but Eddie asks for me to stay. Fuck, this won’t be good. However, if he needs my support I got his back.
“What’s Darin doing here? Thought he was in Colorado?” She flips her hair and drops her purse on the kitchen counter.
“He’s here because I want him here. You know I let a lot slide, Claire, but I am sick of you being rude to the people I care about. Since we have been together the only time I see my best friend is at work.”
Her eyes widen but she drawls out a long, “Ooo-kay.”
“My own sister doesn’t want to be in my wedding and why do you think that is, Claire, huh?” He gets in her face spitting his words at her.
“What’s going on, Eddie? I get it. You need space. The wedding has put a lot of pressure on you, but if you need a breather. That’s fine.”
“What’s going on is I don’t want to marry you, Claire. We’re over.”
Damn he just really took it all the way there. I thought for sure he’d end up yelling at her, but then he’d find a way to forgive her, but he’s serious about this shit. Not that I can blame him. I might have kicked his ass if he gave in to her.
“What!? You don’t mean that. You’re upset. Talk some sense into your friend, Darin, before he throws away the greatest thing to ever happen to him.” She waves an arm down her body.
“Sure, you’re so great. So fucking great that you treat my sister like shit and talk to her the way that you do. But not only that you’ve been fucking your ex behind my back or was it the other way around? Was I the other man? You know what it doesn’t matter.”
“What are you talking about!”
“Here!” He shouts, red faced and tosses some pictures at her I didn’t know he had.
Her face pales and she slides down to the floor clutching the pictures with her hand over her mouth as she cries.
“Let’s get out of here,” Eddie says to me. We get into my car and head to a bar. The guy could use a drink or four.
——
TWO WEEKS LATER
“Do you think she will go for it?”
“Faith has always dreamed of a fairytale, man. I’m happy to make it happen.”
“You haven’t told her you’re leaving have you?”
Eddie shakes his head.
“Man, you need to tell her.”
“I will just not yet.” He grins and pats me on the back.
I can’t believe I let him talk me into this shit.
When I told Eddie about Enzo and Claire he wasn’t shocked. Even told me he had been having doubts for some time and he found some questioning photos on her phone. They weren’t of his dick, but they were of Enzo’s. He stole Faith’s phone when she was in the bathroom at work and compared the shots.
Now I am standing here at the church feeling like a fool waiting for a bride who doesn’t know she’s a bride. Yup, Eddie arranged all this for Faith and me. Said there was no sense in letting the decorations and food go to waste. He even somehow managed to get the marriage license. Something about a woman at city hall wanting one of our big treehouses for her grandkids.
I’m either a fool or a romantic. I’m not sure which yet. All I know is Eddie was right. Faith deserves the fairytale.
I look down at Beans, dressed in his doggy tuxedo with a pillow strapped to his back holding the rings.
I suck in a deep breath. I hope this doesn’t blow up in my face.
Eddie grins and tucks his phone in his pocket. “She’s here.” I watch as he casually strolls out the front of the church. This is it. The make or break moment. I look to the pews and see Jen and Linda giving me big smiles of encouragement among some of our other friends. I may have invited those two just to prove that Eddie and I aren’t together. I have a big ego, so sue me.
I can hear shouting coming from the front of the church. I can only guess Eddie has told Faith what is really happening or not here today.
The voices quieten and eventually the church doors open. Eddie is standing there alone and my heart sinks. I knew there was a possibility she’d hate this. He gives me a sad smile and I shrug, biting back my disappointment. I don’t know why I let Eddie talk me into this crazy shit. But just as Eddie starts to walk toward me, Faith steps up next to him and takes his arm.
My jaw drops. She is absolutely stunning. Dressed in a creamy colored wrap around dress that hugs those curves I love so much, I get a peek at her matching thigh high stocking trimmed in lace at the tops through the slit that comes up the side of her thigh. Her hair is pinned back, adorned with red roses. I swallow hard, knowing that if this goes according to plan in a few hours I will be the one peeling those sexy as sin stockings from her legs and worshiping her body like the goddess she is.