“Fuck that. She doesn’t need to learn how to cook. It’s not why I love her.”
“We all fucking know that,” Anthony said, rolling his eyes as he rolled the beer bottle between his hands.
“Shut your fucking mouth. You’re talking about my fiancée.”
“Uh huh,” Anthony muttered, wiping the drops of beer from his mouth.
Moments like this I loved. Sitting around, shooting the shit, and just laughing made me happy. I loved my brothers and their women, but I liked having them all to myself.
“I couldn’t give a shit about Thanksgiving dinner, Joe. I’m waiting for the bachelorette party,” I said, smiling as I walked toward my station. Then I kicked my feet up, leaned back, and took a sip.
“Izzy,” Joe warned, glaring at me from his chair.
“Oh, shove it, mister. It’s a girls’ night and we’re going to have fun. Don’t tell me you boys are just going to sit around and watch sports all night. I know what the fuck happens at bachelor parties. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“What the fuck does that shit even mean?” Mike snorted.
“Dumb fuck,” I mumbled against the rim of my Corona.
“What the hell did you just say?” His voice boomed as he turned to stare at me.
I gave him an innocent smile. “Love you.”
“Dude, I can’t believe you’re getting married in a week. What the fuck? I never thought you’d be the first to be tied down,” Anthony said, getting up from his chair. “I’m grabbing a beer. Anyone else want one while I’m up?”
I picked up my phone to scroll through my Facebook newsfeed. “Nope,” I said.
To my delight, there was a message from Flash. We grew up together and I think I’ve known him forever. We used to play doctor when we were alone. It was the first time I ever saw a penis. As we grew up, the quick peeks turned into touching—then fucking when we hit high school.
Flash and I had an understanding. Neither of us wanted to be tied down, and we weren’t exclusive. He was my booty call when I had an itch that needed scratched. He moved away a couple of years ago, and since then, every time he was in town, I would get the call offering a quick fuck and an even quicker goodbye. It was a match made in heaven.
Flash: Whatcha doin’ baby?
He was the only person in the world I let call me baby. It was patronizing and I fucking hated it. Typically, it would earn a man a punch to his junk, but when Flash said it, I let it slide.
Me: Getting ready to head home. U?
“Izzy, are you listening to me?” Joe asked, casting a shadow on me as his big body blocked out the light.
I shook my head as I looked up at him. “What?”
“Do not have naked men at the bachelorette party.”
“What’s a little peen between friends?” I asked, laughing in his face.
“You know I love you, Izzy. I never judge you, but do not havepeenat my soon-to-be wife’s party.” He put his hands on his hips and tapped his foot.
“Pfft,” I said, standing up. “You having pussy at yours?” I asked.
“No.”
“Fucking liar!” I shouted, hitting him in the chest with my finger.
He looked down, watching me as I poked him. “I mean it, sister. I don’t want any nasty-ass stripper touching my woman.”
I kept poking him. “Do you hear yourself?”
“I ain’t fuckin’ deaf and neither are you. I never ask for much, but this is non-negotiable. I believe Suzy told you she didn’t want one.”
