It’s mostly curiosity that has me asking. What reason does my bloodthirsty brother have to drive such a humiliating vehicle?
“Dom, my wife is pregnant.With triplets. Three girls.” He sighs and runs his hand over his face. The worry of his situation is taking its toll on him. “We need a car that can hold all of us. I had it custom made, fully bullet-proof. Nothing’s ever touching them.”
It still throws me off hearing him say ‘wife.’ We’ve known Cecilia for a while, but with theirunconventionaleloping, I forget they’re married. And now that she’s pregnant… I don’t know how he’s going to do it. It’d be my personal hell.
“Hmm… Why are you guys here?” I want to settle whatever needs to be done, then kick them out.
I planned on drinking and despairing tonight. The wedding is tomorrow. Doomsday is here. I’ll have a wife, someone invading my space. That porcelain doll.
Sneering at the reality of my situation, I turn around and make my way back to my den, needing another sip of whiskey.
“Bachelor party!” Bash says excitedly lifting a poker set.
Mattias holds up a bottle of liquor, and Roman grips a piece of paper. They’re all wearing matching grins.
I can’t stop the curse that escapes my lips.
“Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but no. I’m not in the mood to celebrate.” My even voice conceals my annoyance. There’s nothing I want to do less than have a party. This is commiseration, not commemoration.
“Don’t care. We’re here anyway,” Matthias says as he follows me into the den.
“We knew you’d say no, that’s why we didn’t ask.” Roman looks around then frowns in disappointment. “Do you have any snacks?”
“Oh yeah. I could do a pizza!” Matthias suggests.
“I’m down for that. Want me to place an order?” Bash adds, his phone already in his hand.
“STOP! No pizza! No poker! It’s time for you to go! All of you!” I raise my voice, desperate for some alone time. I need to fully process tomorrow. Make sure I’ve planned for everything that could occur, not just tomorrow, but also in this marriage.
But instead of listening, all three of my godforsaken brothers make themselves at home in my den. In my house. Where they’ve shown up, uninvited.
“I’ve got four large pizzas coming. They’ll be here in thirty,” Bash says with a grin.
“Perfect! Let’s grab the table,” Roman fetches my poker table.
Matthias gathers four tumblers for the whiskey and starts pouring drinks.
“None for me. I’m not drinking during the pregnancy.” Roman stops Matthias before he pours the fourth drink.
I stare at him incredulously. Is he fucking serious? He doesn’t even have the baby in him. I’m astounded, but Matthias just nods understandingly.
“What the fuck?” I blurt out, unable to hold back.
“I want to support Cecilia. Also, triplets make the pregnancy high risk. I need to always be coherent in case she needs me.” He smiles softly at the mention of his wife.
With three of the four chairs filled and whiskey poured, I succumb to my fate. I guess I won’t be spending the evening alone.
After an hour of losing my money to my brothers, I sigh and lay my cards down. It’s not that Bash is beating us, he always does, it’s tomorrow’s events that have me upset.
“What am I going to do with a wife? How can I have the enemy in my own home?” I sneer and take another sip. The burn doesn’t calm me in the slightest, and I know I need to slow down; I refuse to be hungover in the morning.
“Here’s some advice from a married man: happy wife, happy life.” Matthias grins proudly, as if he came up with the ridiculous motto.
I just snort in derision. There’s no fucking chance my happiness is dependent on the doll’s.
“No, no. He’s right,” Roman cuts in. He pulls out the piece of paper he was holding earlier and waves it in my face. “I made a list of suggestions for a good marriage. Or really any relationship since you’ve never had one.”
At the mentions of a relationship, Bash perks up.
