Chapter Twenty
Jacket
The little old girl clings to my rib-cage as we roll through town. She refused to put on a helmet saying she wanted to feel the wind rushing through her hair one more time.
She’s pulsating with energy when I help her off the bike outside the inn.
“What is it you want me to do or was that a ruse to get me to run off with you?” she says with a twinkle.
I laugh out loud because this girl is so funny and so full of life. Even though she seems to have no qualms talking about death. She’s already told me that all her friends are dead so she’s grateful to have so many sisters. She said it matter of factly, which it is I guess except we who faced it every day have developed a more tenuous hold on reality.
“I have some friends here I need you to take care of for me,” I tell her, offering her my arm to walk in to the inn.
“Are they anything like you?” she quips
“Actually they are but I haven't seen them for a while and we’ve all probably gotten older.”
She cackles at that.
“Friends will always be friends even though years pass.”
“I don't know that I'm a real good friend,” I admit. “I’m always moving around, on the run you might say. I’m not really close to anyone.”
Shit, that was almost a slip.
“All it takes is one,” she says. “You only need one really good friend you can always count on in life.”
She says it so full of meaning, I think she must be talking about Bella. And I’d definitely want Bella for a friend for the rest of my life. Except I could never be around her without needing her naked and entwined around my body.
Dottie’s looking up at me with a naughty, knowing smile like she knows what I’m thinking. This feisty old girl can almost make me blush.
“Warning,” I tell her. “This bunch can be rowdy when they get together. But you did say you had experience controlling military men.”
“Bring them on,” she quips eagerly.
I throw open the door to the back room and a roar goes up. Suddenly I'm surrounded by my old buds and wonder why I ever resisted the idea of seeing them again. After going here and there, never settling long enough to even make a phone call, man it’s great to see them again.
“Is this the girl you were telling me about?” Chucko asks.
He takes Dottie’s hand and puts his arm around her. I want to tell him to be careful. She looks fragile enough to shatter under his grip. But she’s loving every moment so I leave it.
“No, but I am her great aunt and I’ve been around three times longer, so no monkey business – that goes for all of you.”
The guys roar out a laugh.
“Where’s Stick, Dude?”
“Yah where is he, We’re dying to see him.”
“Yeah you will but listen here’s my idea,” I say.
They lean in and so does Dottie, eager to be in on the plan. Shit, I hope this doesn't backfire in my face.
Once I’ve gone over it twice, a couple of the guys still have questions. Dottie shoos me off to go make sure the groom’s awake.
“You can leave these boys in my capable hands,” she beams. “I’ll make sure they get to the church on time, so to speak.”
I head up to Stick’s room and find him a bag of nerves. Maybe I ought to bring the guys up here now, crack a few beers, help him chill out. But if he’s pissed about them being here or it sends him flying back to shit better left unremembered, then no. I decide to pull open a couple of cold ones and a shot of the rye I brought over in my hipflask.
“It’s gonna be great, Dude. You’re about to tie yourself to the best girl ever.” As I say that, I can’t help picturing Bella. She’s the best girl ever as far as I’m concerned.
“Have you slept with her yet?” Stick asks in a low growl.
“What?” I gnarl, jerked back to the now by his query.
“Bella. Have you slept with her yet?” he repeats.
“We’re engaged,” I quip, “Of course we've slept together.”
“Don’t screw around with me, man.”
He’s not pissed but he’s not exactly joking either. He’s acting kinda protective, seeing as she’s about to be his sister-in-law. But he doesn't need to. I can take care of Bella.
“Yeah,” I admit. Hoping that some guy to guy talk will loosen him up. “It’s out of control between us.”
“I’m sure,” he says.
“No, I mean it.”
“It’s always out of control with you.”
What the fuck does that mean? If this wasn’t his day I’d have that out with him. But it’s my job to keep him calm and I’m stepping up for this.
“This is different,” I tell him straight.
“This is my wife’s sister, dude.”
“I know that.”
I grit my teeth trying not to let this hurt my fucking feelings. You think he’d want his buddy for a brother. Instead he’s acting like I’m a girl’s worst nightmare.
“You will when you do that running off into the sunset act you always pull,” he says. I’m shaking my head but he adds; “You can’t help it.”
“I’m not gonna hurt her. I think I could really fall for this one. Maybe she and I can work something out.”
This fiance stuff is a breeze with Bella. I reckon I could continue with the game, but then I remember she doesn't live around here and I have no clue what to do in a city like LA. And Stick, my only real friend isn’t looking convinced. He takes another swig from the flask.
“Have you told her?” he suddenly blurts out.
“Told her what?” He gives me the look. “Shit, no. Not yet. Do you think I should?”
“Fuck no,” he barks.
Okay then. I consider this for a minute. What it means for me and Bella.
“I don’t want secrets between us,” I tell him. “I won’t ever lie to her.”
“You won’t be doing her any favors by pulling that I’m gonna be honest crap. Bella and Scherri were brought up to be competitive with each other. In turn, one was always favored and the other was black sheeped.”
“I know how that goes,” I mutter, meaning the black sheep part my dad laid on me.
“Right, so you know it sucks. And Lyndsey always put herself in the middle, so the two girls could never get closer to each other than they were to her.”
“Jeezus, man.”
It’s starting to make sense that Bella is wary around intimacy. It’s weird how I can see it in her but it’s harder recognizing it in myself. I guess Stick intends to enlighten me here. Seems like he’s been building up for this. Maybe hashed it out with Scherri before.
“So then you come along and the bond they’ve finally developed could easily blow.”
“Okay, Dude, I get it. I wont say anything. But that... you know what happened before, that wasn't like regular sex.”
“I know. You know. But I don’t know that Bella’s gonna see it like that,” he says.
“Okay, okay I’ll shut the fuck up. Dude, this is your day. And I wanna do everything I can to make it a blast. So can we please get it together?”
“I’m together,” Stick says, his hand shaking as he lifts the flask. We both crack a laugh, releasing the tension.
“Scherri really will murder me if I bring you to your wedding bombed.”
We get into our outfits – matching zoot suits similar to the style from last night.
Stick has a few lined up to choose from so it’s easy for me to snag one. I take the ring from him and drop it in my pocket, then pin on his miniature spray of wild flowers. We stand shoulder to shoulder to look in the mirror.
“We look like a couple of Al Capone’s fucking gangsters,” Stick says.
“More hobo than boho,” I agree. “Let’s hope that’s the vintage look she wants for her special princess day.”
I manage to get him out of the Inn after Dottie’s organized the men to leave before us. What a trooper that old lady is – just like her great niece.
When we get to the field by the lake, there’s a bit of a crush. People are greeting each other before moving to the seats in the open area where the ceremony will be held.
I only get to look at Bella across the sea of heads and then I can’t stop looking at her.
Two of the aunties, Gracie and Eloise I think, take charge of rounding everyone up. Then Bella walks toward me. I almost collapse she’s so stunning.
I don't know what I want to do more, fuck her or marry her. She looks amazing in a mini dress with droopy sleeves. Her legs are incredible in heeled sandals, her hair tied back simply and twined with white flowers.
My god, she looks like an angel I want to defile every day for the rest of my life.