I don’t blink, but a tear spills and runs down my cheek.
“Fuck,” my cousin breathes. I have made you cry. I have made you cry. I had to let it go.
“I love you, Violet. I’m not sure I’ve ever told you that. But to you? Your family? Those weeks at the ranch each summer are some of the best days of my life.
His eyes water and he blinks frantically, taking my hands in his.
-But today is better, right?
His eyes search mine so seriously, blue on blue. I can only smile a sad smile. Today should be the happiest day of my life, but it’s not, and I don’t want to lie to you.
My lips part before I even know what I’m going to say, but my phone turns on and rings loudly on the vanity counter in front of us. Saved by the bell.
I stop looking at her and reach for my phone, relieved to have an outlet. It’s a ‘Private Number’ text message, and when I press it, the only message attached is: I thought you should see this.
Below is a video. With a previous image that looks surprisingly familiar to me. I press the play button.
-What the hell? Violet’s hand rests on my knee as she presses forward to get a good look at the screen.
The screen lights up with grainy video. Loud music plays. And what’s happening front and center should upset me. After all, what looks familiar to me is my fiance dressed in the same polo shirt he wore on the night of his bachelor party.
“Violet, can you go find Sterling for me, please?”
I should be destroyed. But all I can think as I watch a naked woman bounce on Sterling’s cock is that I won’t have to chew on my own limb after all.
3
jasper
Jasper: Vi, do you know anything about Harvey? I haven’t seen him or Beau yet.
Violet: No. But things went to hell here.
Jasper: What’s wrong?
Violet: Sterling Woodcock is a piece of shit. That is.
Jasper: What the fuck did he do to her?
-Who invented ties? -Cade bites next to me-. They’re fucking uncomfortable.
He’s the oldest Eaton, the grumpiest, and one of my biggest supporters.
“You look ridiculous with one too.” Rhett laughs shaking his head, always harassing his older brother.
But it’s the middle brother, Beau – the one I’m closest with – that I’m really looking for.
The fact that he’s not here yet makes me anxious.
He tried to request his time to align himself with the wedding. He’s supposed to have a few weeks off at home before boarding again. But he hasn’t shown up yet and neither has our father, Harvey.
“Fuck you, Fabio,” is Cade’s agitated reply as he fiddles with the tie around his neck. Making fun of Rhett’s long hair is nothing new. I’ve been watching this exchange for years.
-Where are the girls? I ask, trying to get them both on track. The harpist is playing. People mingle in front of the imposing church. It’s grey, cold and depressing outside. And all I want is to run away.
“If you call Willa a girl , she’ll castrate you,” Cade grumbles, yanking off his tie and stuffing it in his suit pocket.
“She’s going to castrate you for not wearing the tie she chose.” Rhett laughs.
“She’ll get over it when I tie her up with her later. Cade inspects the front doors of the church – his radar is that tuned – while Willa pushes the door, her hand shielded over the small bulge it shows off. His eyes search for Cade among the sea of people. He smiles softly when they land on it, but it quickly slips away.
Then Summer, her best friend and Rhett’s fiancee, is there too. They advance towards us and both seem a little upset.
“That was a good bathroom break,” Rhett announces when they get close enough to hear us. Summer snuggles under his arm while Willa looks at us with a wary expression.
-What’s happening? I ask, my gaze bouncing between the women. Because I realize that something is happening and they don’t say it.
“Willa is a nosy snooper,” Summer says. That is what happens.
“Shut up, Sum. It’s not eavesdropping when you can hear a person screaming from the other side of a closed door.
“I guess that could still technically be called eavesdropping,” Cade says as he pulls Willa towards him.
My brain gets stuck on a word again.
-Sorry. Who is screaming?
Summer purses her lips, her dark eyes wide and concerned.
It seems that the bride and groom are having a disagreement. And the boyfriend doesn’t control the volume.
“He’s a slimy idiot,” Willa simply adds. I can tell just by looking at it.
Before anyone says anything, I go through the heavy door, look left and right to get my bearings, and choose a hallway from which several doors appear to lead. I take long strides in that direction until I hear the raised voice.
Violet stands in front of the door, imitating a deer in the headlights, while her huge husband, Cole, towers behind her like he’s ready to kill someone. Although it always looks like that.
“You’ll embarrass yourself more than me,” Sterling’s scolding tone assaults my ears from the other side of the door.
I glance at Violet and her husband. His lips are flat and he tilts his head towards me as if to say: Are you going in or am I going in?
I’d gladly let him put Sterling in his place. But I’d be even happier to do it myself.
“Are you kidding me?” Disbelief resonates in Sloane’s voice. You fuck a stripper nights before our wedding and I’m the embarrassing one?
Other people in the church seem to be watching-listening-so I open the door to whatever maelstrom is taking place. Sloane needs backup. And you need to know that everyone is up to date with your dirty laundry right now.
At least I tell myself that’s why I walk into this room unannounced. It has nothing to do with the fact that Sterling has me seeing red.
-It was my bachelor party! One last hurray! I see Sterling’s back, arms outstretched, as Sloane sits on an antique stool, looking impossibly small, while he stands over her, yelling at her.
Protection passes through me.
“Get out and shut up!” I bark, closing the door behind me. Everyone out there can hear you.
Sterling spins on top of me, eyes narrowed, spitting venom.
“Fuck you, Gervais. I don’t need advice from a dumb jock. This is between my wife and me.
I cross my arms and stand firm. I’m officially done being nice to Sterling Woodcock.
“She’s not your wife.” And I’m not going anywhere.