If Only (25 page)

 “I couldn’t have
picked better myself.” Still taken aback, I can’t take my eyes off it. “Thank
you for asking my dad, that means so much to me.” I hug him, squeezing him as
tight as I can. I don’t let go.

“I knew it would. And it’s
only right, he is your dad.” He laughs. “It was funny, he was so surprised.”

“I can imagine. One minute
his daughter is single and the next she’s getting married. That’s just weird.
What would you have done if he said no?”

“Kept on
asking until he said yes.”
Though I heard
the smile in his voice, I know he meant it. I smile, too. I like that. “So what
do you think about getting married on Friday?” 

I pull out of our hug to
look at him.
“A Friday?”

“No, Callie,
on
Friday.” My mouth feels paralyzed. Joe chuckles at me.

“Are you trying to make me
die of shock or something? I may only be twenty-five, but I could so easily
have a heart attack, right this minute. It’d probably kill me.”

“Say yes to Friday and I’ll
shock you no more.” He’s dead serious. (I love his serious face, by the way)

“Say yes to
marrying
you in six days?” I giggle, hysterically, as the
words sink in. “I’m quite sure we need longer to plan a wedding. We actually
need a marriage license and everything.”

“Baby cake, I’ve done all my
research. What do you honestly think I’ve been doing for the past three hours?
We can go to Vegas, it’s easy and we can get a license in no time. The people
who count the most can be there, and if you want, we can have a big party when
we get back home. We don’t have to do it yet, not if it feels too quick, but if
we know we want it, why wait? Also, I know you don’t like all that wedding
fuss. I’m not so keen on it myself.”

Staggered into silence, yet
again, part of me wants to laugh, but the muscles needed won’t enable it. This
is the biggest surprise of all. Am I really having this conversation, or am I
asleep and dreaming? I turn my attention away from him, briefly, taking it in.

Married
to Joe.

In Vegas.

In six days.

I look at him and this time
I can’t stop the fat grin that forms. “I love the idea. Let’s do it, but it has
to be the drive-thru, on your Harley.” Of all his bikes, that’s my favorite.

This is definitely insane,
but I’m not taking any of it lightly. I know this is right.

Giving Callie time with Su and saffron, and a chance
to talk to her parents, I sit with the guys at the dining table. It goes
without saying that everyone is surprised. I’m shocked myself. I never intended
on things moving so fast, but, I don’t really feel like settling for anything
less.

“Hold up!” Gerard says,
smiling with the suggestion of scheming in his eyes. With the look on his face,
I probably won’t like where this is going. “You know what this means, right? I
get to organize your bachelor party.” Nope, I don’t like it – I know this
motherfucker too damn well.

Dane and Adam cackle. It’s
probably at my expression, which is no doubt one of dread. “I don’t even wanna
know, just remember how easy it would be for me to kick your ass,” I say,
meeting his untrustworthy stare.

He places his hand on my
shoulder. “Brother, you’ll be fine, just leave it to me.” I shake my head. If
necessary, I will kick his ass. “You’re having two. One at home and one in
Vegas, baby.”

Fuck him.
Subject
change.
“Where are those chicks you had here?”

“Gone to get ready,” Dane
answers. “Tonight’s all about celebration, we’re headed back to Blaze. Johnny’s
hooking us up with free celebratory champagne. There’s a hella alcohol on the
agenda tonight.”

“Damn, you’re just as bad as
he is,” I tell him, pointing at Gerard.

“We’re losing you,” Gerard
says. “It’s devastating, there’s got to be a pay-off somewhere. I’m gonna miss
you once that ball and chain is on.” I probably shouldn’t tell him that I like
the sound of that.

Shit, I feel totally lame. I’m running on two nights
of very little sleep. All I want to do is get lost in my woman and then sleep.
I probably shouldn’t tell these guys that, either.

****

When we got back home on Sunday night, Callie decided
she had enough to do that we wouldn’t see each other until Wednesday. With the time
we had before leaving for Vegas, we agreed that she’ll move in with me after we
return.

Gerard’s picked tonight for
the first bachelor party. I don’t know anyone who does this thing on a Tuesday,
but we are. In two days, we’re doing it all again in Vegas. Neither is going to
be what I want, I know exactly what kind of shit he’ll come up with. Callie
thought it was funny and encouraged it, and so did Adam and Dane. Before we’d
even left Hillsborough I started plotting my way out, at least, from tonight.

I know, for his benefit, the
occasion will include scantily clad ladies and lots of them. Naked women and
fuckloads of alcohol would once have been my kind of action, too, but there’s
only one female I want to see unclothed and I can’t get enough of her. I’m not
willing to wait until tomorrow to see her, either.

Gerard’s plans involve the
penthouse his father owns, so based around that, I’ve schemed against him. He’s
too predictable for me to fail. I’m going ready to play along, even dressed for
the occasion in a gray dress shirt and black dress slacks.

When I arrive, Gerard is at
the bar doing his best, but a lousy impersonation of
Tom Cruise
in
Cocktail
.
Almost every guy I know is here and the atmosphere is set. I probably would’ve
loved this if it was for someone else.

“Whatcha
drinking, buddy?”
Gerard asks,
flipping over a bottle of vodka in his right hand.

I chuckle at the seriousness
he’s putting into it.
“Jack and coke.”
I’ll keep it
light by diluting the whisky. He’s so caught up in his juggling exhibition he
didn’t even catch on to that. That’s the first part of my plan in place; stay
sober. I glance at the glass next to me on the bar. “What in the hell is in
this purple stuff?” I’m sure he’s forgotten, he seems more interested in the
number of different liquors he can get into the shaker he’s holding, rather
than what they actually are.

“Vodka, tequila, white rum,
a touch of cognac, a dash of vanilla essence I found in the kitchen, and some
purple food coloring. The final ingredient is lemonade. No harm in a little
experimentation, right? That right there is the first of its kind. Go ahead,
give it a shot.”

“Dude, it sounds like shit.
You better drink that yourself before you give it to anyone else.”

“How can I stay focused on
my creations if I drink them? I’ve got all night, anyway. I’m gonna knock up
somethin’ special, soon, Just for you, brother.” Staring into his eyes, I’m
reminded why my escape is necessary. He is out to cause trouble. I can only
imagine the kind of potion he’d have me drinking, no-fucking-way. I take my
watered down alcohol and decide I should at least go and talk to some of the
guys that came.

After an hour, Gerard comes
out from behind the bar and declares, “We need some women up in here. All these
men are no fun!” 

“It’s supposed to be guys,
it’s a fuckin’ bachelor party,” I reply. The music’s gotten louder, so we’re
shouting in each other’s faces.

He puts his hand on my
shoulder and squeezes it. “A party without women is no party at all, man.” He
slowly shakes his head and speaks through hungry, gritted teeth. “Tonight is
gonna rock, brother.” His smile tells me to get the fuck out of this place
ASA-fucking-P! Bachelor parties were made for men like him and if he ever has
one he’ll be planning it himself. 

I hold up my empty glass. “I
need another drink.”

After I create some
distance, and he’s occupied with chatter, unnoticed, I walk the outer edge of
the room, all the way to the other side where the
front door
is. And the
restroom, too, so it’s not a suspicious move on my part. It’s easier than I
thought it would be to slip from under the radar, my planning wasn’t even
necessary.

I sneak out the door,
closing it behind me. A line of women stand in the hall, against the wall.
They’re obviously waiting for their arrival time, which I guess to be at nine.
It’s approaching the hour now.

Ten chicks, a mix of
blondes, brunettes and red-heads, all dressed in police officer outfits. Gerard
has a thing for female police officers. My bachelor party and he’s organized
strippers dressed according to his own taste. I’m not surprised by that aspect,
but I didn’t expect this many. Yes, I was right to leave and my timing couldn’t
have been more perfect. I know this is only the start. God only knows what kind
of condition I’d wake up in, or
where
I’d wake up.

Glancing along the line, I
offer a smile to be friendly. “Hello, ladies.” I make a point of not adding the
shake of my head that I’m tempted to.

“Are you leaving already?” A
blue-eyed brunette asks.

“Uh, no, I’ll be back. I have
to go get something. The man you want is in there, though.”

“Yes, Joe, right?”

“No, no, someone’s gotten
the communication wrong there. His name’s Gerard.” I hold back my
chuckle,
the fucker’s going to love this. He’ll thank me for
it, I’m sure.

“Oh,” she says, with a small
furrow of confusion settling between her brows. “Okay. Gerard it is.” She puts
the sparkly grin right back on her face.

“He’ll adore you, every last
one of you,” I say, scanning them all. I already know the blue-eyed brunette
that spoke will be his favorite. “I’ll see you all soon.” I walk to the
elevators.

As I get out of a cab, Su is
exiting the door to her apartment building. She shakes her head in disapproval,
as I approach. “Joe, why aren’t you with the guys?” Sometimes she has a
motherly vibe about her, like right now. It’s in her tone, unimpressed gaze,
and the way she’s got her hands propped on her hips.

“Gerard,” is all I need to
say, and she pushes the door open.
“Where you going?”

“To
Elena’s.
Saff’s meeting with us,
too. I decided we should since Zack and Adam are at
your
bachelor party
and Callie is otherwise occupied. She said she was tired and wanted an early night,
but she only went to bed about ten minutes ago. She’s probably still awake.”

Su lets me into their
apartment and leaves. Once I’m inside, I turn left and walk to the end of the
short hallway. The place is in complete darkness and it’s silent. Even if she
isn’t awake I’ll stay, all I wanted to do is lie with her, anyway.

I leave my shoes outside
Callie’s room and, as quietly as I can, turn the knob and push the door open,
wide enough for me to fit through. Once I’m inside, I close it carefully. The moonlight
is barely penetrating her curtains, but the shapes of the furniture are visible
enough, and I know the layout, so I don’t need to be concerned about walking
into anything. I can vaguely make out Callie’s small figure under the covers.

I approach, lift the
comforter and climb in beside her, sliding my arm over her waist.

“Joe?” she whispers, in
surprise.

“Yeah,” I whisper back,
pulling her closer to me and breathing her in.
Citrus fruits
.

“You scared the shit out of
me.”

“You heard me?”

“I heard the front door, I
thought Su forgot something and came back. Then I heard my door, but nothing
after that. I knew someone was in here, but Su wouldn’t do that, I thought it
was a fucking pervert. I was totally plotting my defense, you’re lucky I smelt you.”

I snicker at her serious,
but relieved murmur. “I’m sorry, I didn’t wanna wake you. Did I?”

“No, I was just thinking
about you.” I heard the smile in her hushed voice.

“What were you thinking?”

“I’ll show you, but only
after you tell me why you’re here.” Fuck, I’m already half-hard.  “And I
want you out of those clothes before you start.” Good thing I didn’t stay long.

Faster than ever, I strip
naked. As I detail the non-eventful night, right up to and including the ten
strippers dressed as police officers, I remove Callie’s clothes, noting the
nice camisole and panties made from a satin feeling material.

“It sounds like fun.” She’s
now face-to-face with me and drapes her leg over my hip. I pull her pelvis
closer to mine. “I don’t think Gerard will be disappointed with you if he gets
to act out man of the hour.”

“That’s exactly why I did it
... why are we whispering?”

“I guess it just feels
appropriate in the dark.”

Pushing my hard cock against
her pubic bone, still in a whisper, I ask, “So what were you thinking?”

She presses a single kiss to
my lips and then tugs on my bottom lip with her teeth. Her gentle moan makes me
want to ravish her right now, but I’ll wait and let her show me.