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She ruefully looks down at the miles of ruffles, “No, my aunt and cousin planned the wedding. They picked out the church, my dress, the shoes, and, I think, maybe my groom.”
“Come on. We’ll go to my place. First, I want to pull my bike around back so no one can see it.”
I get back on my bike and drive it around to the backyard. Our duplex is in the San Marco area of Jacksonville, Florida. We share the front and backyard. While the flower beds are all Val, I put in a fire pit and places to sit in our backyard. We have a place to entertain, and I purchased a huge grill and smoker.
I pull my bike into the backyard behind the house, near the grill.
I check to make sure the motorcycle is completely hidden from view from anyone who might drive by.
When I walk into my apartment, I see Val standing near my table, still in her white wedding dress, and I hate that she still has that same sad look in her eyes.
“Why don’t you sit down and tell me all about it?”
She looks at me with her big puppy dog brown eyes, “Okay.”
She sits at the table while I walk to the kitchen, “I figure we need something to drink while we talk. I’ll get you a diet coke, and I’ll be right back.”
I wanted to demand she tell me what the hell is going on, but one look at her face, and here I am, getting her a drink and being patient.
She gives a ghost of a smile as I pour her favorite drink over ice and hand it to her; then, I sit down with my drink.
“Okay, now tell me why your groom was banging your bridesmaid and why the hell you were getting married in the first place. Especially without telling me.”
Two
Val
I blink as Chase sounds almost angry. His gorgeous blue eyes look intense, and he has a heavy frown. With his dark hair and those eyes, Chase is the sexiest man I know. He’s big, easily over six feet, and has a body that looks like he spends all of his time in a gym.
When I moved in about two years ago and heard the loud rumble of his motorcycle, I thought he would be an arrogant jerk. Instead, he helps with all the repairs and never complains about my many plants. He loves my cooking. He’s a good friend, but only a friend. No matter how many wet dreams I’ve had about him.
I avoid his accusing eyes and look down at my failure of a wedding dress.
I hate it! The dress my aunt and cousin picked out for me has a full skirt with layers of ruffles that go from my waist to the floor. The ruffles over-emphasize my full hips, and the cut and style of the dress look horrible on me. The top is not made for a full-figured girl, and you can’t tell I have a waist in this awkwardly designed dress.
I shrug because the marriage wasn’t something I wanted, anyway. I look up at Chase, who sits there waiting with his arms crossed in front of his chest for me to tell him this crazy story.
“There’s a stipulation in my parent’s will. To inherit fifty-one percent interest in Carlucci Software stock, I must marry by my twenty-fifth birthday.”
I glance over at Chase, but he says nothing, and his face shows no emotion, so I continue.
“I’m twenty-four. My aunt and uncle introduced me to Anthony Bernardi about six months ago. My aunt and uncle favored the relationship, and Cristina said he was a friend. Ha! Why would she introduce me to someone she was interested in?”
I stop to sip my diet soda as my throat is bone dry before I continue my story.
“When Tony originally asked me to marry him, I said no. But... Well, I want my inheritance, so when he asked me again last month. I said, yes.”
“Keep going with this story, Val. Tell me more about this guy Tony that would screw someone in a church with his bride in the very next room.”
“I was fine with the um... engagement until I decided to talk to Tony about an hour before the wedding. When I knocked, the door opened. I caught Tony and my cousin Cristina having sex.”
“Bastard, and it tells me a lot about your cousin, too.”
“Yeah, I... I shut the door. I don’t even know if either Tony or Christina saw me; they were... you know... busy. I don’t care if I lose my inheritance. I will not be married to a man like that. No matter what.”
“Damn right. I can’t believe you never told me any of this.”
“I don’t understand why my aunt and uncle encouraged me to get married. I always thought they resented that I would get a controlling interest in the company. My Uncle Victor is acting CEO there.”
