They’re Just Friends
BLAINE
Camila hired a team to make the bride-to-be looked stunning. It was led by Antoine. He was humming in the enormous bridal suite to Bianca’s favorite song. The entire room smelled roses—her favorite flower, plus there were roses everywhere in different colors and sizes— I could see Cam pampered her so much.
She raised the Champagne flute in her reflection through the mirror with the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen from her, then gushed, “I’m getting married, sissy!”
Normally, when talking about marriage, it made my stomach twist and shoot a searing pain in my heart, but today it was my sister’s day, and I couldn’t be any happier for her than anyone in this world.
Unlike me, it was like bringing disgrace to my family for having a kid out of wedlock, but my family was supportive, accepted Ben, and loved him unconditionally.
I took the Champagne flute from her hand, smiling back. “You’re getting married, future Mrs. Wright.” I sipped and placed it down. “You’re not drinking that.”
“I know, but I still have to sip at the reception.” Bianca rubbed her baby bumped beneath her silk robe.
In two hours, she will be marrying the man who worshiped her and not just to be her husband but to be the father of her baby in her womb.
“I noticed Xandry was gawking at you like you were the last truffle on the planet.” She smiled genuinely. This was the first time we talked alone after they flew back last week.
I took another sip of the Champagne that was supposed to be hers. I needed a little of this on my system when discussing Xandry. “I’m sure you know him better and warn me to stay away from him, B.”
“I know, Blaine. Kyland and Pyke were just like him before they have me and Cam. My point is, you’re missing something big–just to live in the past. Remember when I got home because of my ex? That was humiliating, and I hated guys over the years, but that old me changed when I met Kyland. I was supposed to stay away from him because he screamed bad news, and he’s my best friend’s cousin, but I couldn’t just control the pull when he was in front of me.”
I held her hands and smiled at her. “I’ve never seen this coming that you’re marrying a hot tattooed and a pierced guy, but I’m so happy for you, B.”
“I know, right. But we are not talking about me right now.”
I rolled my eyes. “This is your wedding day, aren’t we suppose to talk about you?”
“Blaine, it’s okay to learn from your mistakes, but you should try and explore other things out of your comfort zone. You’re a young mom and did a good job on that part, so it’s about time to look after yourself. Talk to guys, go out on a date, fool around, and enjoy hot sex.”
“Oh, my God! What happened to my sister?” I burst into laughter. The hairstylist shrugged and smiled at me like he just confirmed my sister was right.
“You’re hot, Blaine. Yesterday Xandry came to me before we left to pick you all at the airport. I knew he was about to ask something about you, so I cut him off to back off and say my sister is not his sex toy. When it stops working, he can throw and buy a new one.”
My mouth gaped at what Bianca just announced, and I couldn’t help but listen to her intently.
“He said, I know you’re gonna say that, but I’m not asking permission from you. I just come here to tell you if Kyland and Pyke have the right to fucking live, happily ever after, I do have to. Quote and unquote.” Bianca grinned from ear to ear.
“To be honest, he’s not the type of guy that I want to bring to our parents. He’s kinda lewd, forward, pushy—”
“But hot as hell?”
“Okay, he’s handsome—”
“You mean gorgeous? Do you know he—”
“Had a bet over Cam and had a lot of sex, in short, a man-whore? Yeah, he told me.”
“Oh, good. You don’t have to bring him to Mom and Dad, Blaine and if he will invite you over a cup of coffee, a dinner, or a drink, just say yes.” She looked at me in the eyes. “When was the last time you had sex? I mean a hot kind of sex.”
“B!” Everyone in the room gave me an innocent shrugged as if they didn’t hear anything kind of looked, and it made my face heat of embarrassment.
“That’s what I thought. You need serious lube to your dry vagina,” she said like it was okay to talk like this with all these people around.
“B, did Kyland do this to you?” I laughed at the absurdity.
“Maybe and maybe not.” She just shrugged it off.
“It’s just, there is something about him that I can’t pinpoint.”
“Like he’s giving you butterflies in your stomach? And he’s sex on a stick?”
“He didn’t, and no.”
“Liar!”
“He’s too cocky and—”
“You like cocky. In fact, your asshole ex is cocky.”
“That’s the problem.”
“Blaine, he can blow your mind and make you forget about his cockiness. I’m five months pregnant, but we still have hot sex.”
“Stop it. I need to go and check our parents.” I jerked to stand up and made my way toward the door before she could change my mind. I blew a kiss for her. I didn’t want to ruin her makeup that those people worked hard for it.
“I love you, Blaine.”
“I love you too, B.”
***
Kyland and Bianca got married in the huge garden in front of the beautiful Victorian mansion of late Cameron King. B was wearing a straight-cut maternity wedding gown with an intricately beaded waistband emphasizing her baby bump. I, on the other hand, chose a dusty pink gown. An A-line lace back and an illusion cut on the front. The bridesmaids were wearing elegant sheath pink dresses, and the groomsmen wore dark grey tuxes except for the groom and his best man, Levi, who both wore black tuxedos.
I shed tears when they exchanged vows. No matter how bitter I was about marriage, I was still so happy for both of them.
Xandry caught me checking him out a couple of times. He was gorgeous as hell in a tux and dark blonde slicked-back hair. I tried to avoid him throughout the ceremony and at the reception, until it was my turned to slow dance with Daddy.
“Can I cut in, Bob?” Xandry tapped Daddy’s shoulder.
“It’s about time.” Daddy kissed my cheek, tapping Xandry’s shoulder, then left us alone. Then I was in Xandry’s arms, and the music suddenly changed into slow.
He took my hand with his and slid down the other on my back, making his fingers touch my exposed skin. Damn, it feels good.
“You’re holding me tight,” I said in a shaky voice.
“I’m making sure you won’t run and avoid me again.”
I pulled my head back and scowled. “I’m not avoiding you.”
“What do you call in avoiding my gaze? Every time I walked closer to you, you walked away. Every time our gazes met, you looked away, huh? Ben talked to me and hugged me, said he missed me and you on the other hand?”
“I was not avoiding you,” I mumbled.
“Call it whatever you want, Blaine, but you look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you. Not bad yourself either.”
“I know. You kept gawking at me.”
“Aren’t you too—”
“Just shush. I missed you. Why didn’t you call me?” He pulled me closer, making my breasts press against his broad chest and not giving me a chance to pull away, then he dipped down to whisper in my ear. “Can’t wait to kiss you again.”
His words were like a promise—it made me shiver, and my body hummed in anticipation. “There will be no again.”
I pulled myself when I felt him loosen his grip. I could feel his disappointment, but that didn’t stop me from walking away.
I found my son dancing with Camila. “Hey, guys! It seems that you both enjoy dancing together.”
“Hey, Mommy. I’m dancing with Cam.” Camila let him turn around, making him laugh.
“Looks like you are, big guy.” I looked at Cam, who looked beautiful than ever. “God, your home is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. The caretaker did an excellent job of maintaining the house for two decades.” We took a seat in front of the bar counter. Ben was already with Mom.
“So, when is the wedding?” The bartender placed down our drinks. I grabbed mine and took a sip of the sweet and bitter taste of the Phoenix’s princess.
“We don’t have an official date yet, but Pyke wants it even next month, or at the end of this year.”
“Wow, he’s that eager for you to be a Mrs. Hughes, huh? I’m so happy for you, Cam.” I genuinely said, squeezing her hand, and she squeezed it back.
“You’ll find your Mr. Right, Blaine, and I’m glad you loosen up a bit.”
I chuckled. “I did miss a lot of my life, didn’t I?”
“Not really, you’re still young, and you have a lot of life ahead of you. Let’s say, you just open another page of your life right now.” Her eyes shifted to my side.
I followed her gaze. That was when I saw their friend, Megan was laughing at whatever Xandry was whispering in her ear. It made me scowl a little bit in annoyance like a jealous girlfriend. He just said he missed me not long ago, and now, he was already flirting with someone else.
“Don’t mind them. They’re just friends, and I know Megan won’t sleep with Xandry when his brain is fuzzy with someone else.”
I returned to Camila whose already smiling mischievously at me. “What?”
“Something really changed with Xandry lately.”
Before I could answer Cam, a woman’s voice made us look over to our left in unison.
“Cam!” A gorgeous blonde was wearing a white slicked dress walked towards us with a huge smile on her face. Her features and blue eyes lit up, and she looked so familiar as soon as she got closer.