“Why? You having second thoughts?” My pal’s one of the only men I trust with my secrets.
“Not about her. I’ll never love another. It’s this wedding shit. You should hear what her family expects. If it were me, I’d tie the knot in Vegas, and spend the money on a honeymoon somewhere in the South Pacific.” I unbutton the cuffs of my starched white shirt and roll them up.
“I hear you, mate. I really do but what does she want?”
“I suppose the white dress down the aisle with all the trappings. Oh, and get this. She’s Catholic so I have to take classes.” Groaning, I park my ass down on the mattress, and rub my hand over the short growth on my chin.
“Oh, man. I wouldn’t want to be you. So glad my sheila’s a WASP.”
Lying back, I stare at the pristine white ceiling. “Right? Can’t you hear me and a priest discussing what faith my kids are gonna be?”
He laughs. “No way.”
“Neither can I. Oh, and another thing. Know what I’m doing tomorrow night?”
“Do tell.” He laughs and mutes his phone but I heard it.
‘Not funny. I’m dropping her off at a surprise engagement party.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s at a male stripper club.” When I picture some naked guy dancing on stage with his huge dick in her face, I want to punch something.
“Ouch. Sorry, mate. I’m not sure how to help you. But you love her, eh?”
“Fuck. So much it hurts like hell when we’re apart.” I throw a sock ball up in the air and catch it a few times.
“Well then, talk to her.”
“And say what? I don’t want a church wedding and ruin all her dreams? Have her family pissed at me forever?” I bounce up, study the parking lot, and satisfied, pace some more.
“What you want counts, too, mate. Marriage is all about compromise.”
“I usually want what she wants but not this time.” I sound more like a petulant kid than a grown ass man and it pisses me off even more.”
“This isn’t like your usual devil-take-it attitude. What has your panties all in a bunch?”
“While I was working in the city, she got hurt. Damn it all, Loch, I’m supposed to keep her safe but I need to take a few of Slate’s jobs to make ends meet. I also want to buy her a ring, a nice one. No matter what I do, it ain’t enough.”
My pal sighs heavily. “You really are a fuckin’ dweeb. I’ve met your woman. She doesn’t need a giant rock, she needs you. Now get off me bloody phone and call her. No. Better yet, go see her.”
“Copy that.”
“I’ll send ya mah bloody bill.”
“Fuck off.”
“Don’t need to. I got me a pretty wife who loves loving me. You should try it.”
“Workin’ on it. Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Checking the time, I rush down to the parking garage, and retrieve my SUV. Then, I drive downtown, through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and home.
Home. I sure like the sound of that word. I know it’s just an office space with a loft but we made it ours. Hell, we’ve fucked on top of every flat surface. With those thoughts in mind, I run another yellow light.
Before I left the city, her GPS indicated she left her cousin’s house which is fine with me because I am dying for private time. I park in the spot in front of our building, rush up the stairs, and open the door.
