He looked to me and snarled as he reached in the cooler, popped the top of a Yuengling, and placed it in front of me. Grabbing the cool bottle, I let my fingers slide over the wetness. Then I wished I could squelch the internal burning I felt for Izzy.
“You sound like a woman who came from a broken home. Thomas speaks very highly of your parents and the love they feel for each other. What turned you off love?” Bringing the bottle to my lips, I watched her as she swallowed hard and played with the glass in her hand.
“It’s not love that I have an issue with. It’s the battle that ensues because of it.”
After pulling the beer from my mouth, I shook my head, trying to make sense of her statement. “What battle?”
“The one every girl I’ve ever known has gone through. They have to decide how much of themselves they’re willing to lose to be with the man they love.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“There isn’t a female I know who didn’t change after being in ‘love,’” she said, making air quotes and rolling her eyes.
“Maybe they brought out the real woman who was always lurking at the surface and too scared to show.”
“You can have your opinion, James, but I know what I see.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a man called through the microphone. “If we could have the bride and groom on the dance floor and all the single ladies and gentlemen join them.”
“You going?” I asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“It’s stupid,” she said before taking a sip of Jack.
“You’re such a party pooper. Get your fine ass to the dance floor.”
“Or what?”
I smiled, shaking my head slowly. “Let’s place a bet.”
“Whatcha got in mind, Jimmy?” Izzy cooed, rubbing the lapels on my suit jacket with her fingers.
“If I catch the garter, then we ditch this place and head to my room. No questions asked and no lip from you.” I’d knock every motherfucker on the dance floor over to get the garter and have Izzy underneath me within an hour.
“Okay, and if I catch the bouquet, then I don’t have to go anywhere with you. You leave and I get to spend the rest of the night in peace.” She tilted her head, waiting for me to accept that challenge.
“Fuck yeah. I’m game,” I said. Then I gulped the last bit of beer as she downed her drink and placed it on the bar. Setting my hand on the small of her back, I guided her away from the bar.
She stood stiff next to me as we watched her brother use his teeth to remove the garter from underneath the dress of his new bride. The crowd cheered when he appeared from the dress victorious. Twirling the small scrap of material in his hands, he raised his arms in victory.
“You ready to lose?” I asked, looking down at Izzy.
“One thing I’m never good at is losing, Jimmy.”
“Single gentlemen first. All others please clear the floor,” the DJ said as everyone moved away, leaving about fifteen of us to jockey for the garter.
I looked around, sizing up the competition. I was the biggest besides Michael, Izzy’s brother. I took my spot to the side, knowing I could move quickly in front of the crowd and snatch the material before it turned into a free-for-all.
As the DJ started the countdown, Joe turned his back, practicing his throw, and the men moved with his motion. I readied myself as my heart hammered in my chest louder than a drum at a Metallica concert. I kept my eyes locked to his hand as he moved, waiting to see it fly through the air.
As his hand jerked back, the material flew through the air only feet to my right. I moved quickly, stepping in front of everyone else, and snatched it easily. The wedding attendees cheered as I turned to Izzy with a sinful smile, and nothing but seeing her ass in the air, waiting for my dick filled my mind.
“Fucker,” she mouthed at me as I walked toward her.
“It’s all on you now. Better catch that bouquet,” I said, running my index finger down her cheek.
She closed her eyes, swallowing hard before opening them. Inside her baby blues was a fire burning so hot that I could see her pupils dilate as she looked at me. She nodded before making her way toward the crowd of women now standing at the ready.
She whispered to Mia, and their eyes flickered to me. A giant smile spread across Mia’s face as Izzy glared at me. Winking, Mia tipped her chin in my direction as her smile grew wider. I said a silent prayer as Suzy readied herself with her bouquet and turned her back on the crowd. Mia bent at the knees like an athlete waiting for the gunshot to sound.
