As we wait for what seems like forever for all of Caroline’s bridesmaids to make the mile-long trek to the front of the cathedral, I try to catch Kennedy’s attention. Thursday night, I told her everything. After telling her about the sexy-as-fuck scene in the truck, I went on to tell her how much it annoyed me that Dominic and I parted on bad terms. She agreed with Dominic that there was no need to feel anything since we’d never see one another again. When Kennedy finally makes eye contact with me, I nod ever so slightly to my left and watch as her eyes threaten to bug out of her head. “Oh, my God. Is that him?” she mouths. I nod subtly. “Are you going to talk to him?” she asks. I shrug, and catch the attention of my older brother, who is standing directly behind me.
“Anthony, quit talking to your girlfriend,” he hisses. “Caroline needs you to make her the priority for the next hour, then you can run off and find a quiet corner to do whatever it is the two of you do.” I close my eyes tightly before glancing at Dominic, finally realizing that he probably thinks the same thing I’ve led most of my family to believe all these years. The urge to elbow Peter in the gut to show him exactly what I think of his comment is strong, but I’ve already made enough of a scene. If he noticed, I’m sure other people have as well. And sure enough, Dominic is now glaring at me. He looks across the aisle and his entire body stiffens when he notices Kennedy sitting with my family. I need this wedding to hurry the fuck up so I can get a drink.
The music changes and everyone stands and turns to see Caroline and our father walking down the aisle. I take the opportunity to admire the way Dominic’s suit jacket hangs off his shoulders. The subtle pinstripes act as beacons, drawing my eye down to his narrow hips, and suddenly I’m standing in the cathedral with a semi, thinking about the tight ass beneath those perfectly tailored pants.Go straight to Hell. Do not pass Go, do not collect two-hundred dollars.
Finally, the priest instructs everyone to sit as he begins the service. As he drones on about the sanctity of marriage, I begin rehearsing what I’m going to say to Dominic later. Given the fact that he’s sitting with Andrew’s family, it’s safe to assume he’s more than just a buddy from college. That means we’re probably going to be spending plenty of time together over the next couple of days because my mother has turned Caroline’s wedding into a multiple day affair.
My head whips around when I feel a hand make contact with the back of my skull. “Quit daydreaming and get up there,” Andrew’s father chastises. I look to the altar and see my sister trying to kill me with a single look while Andrew’s expression is a combination of amusement and confusion.
“Sorry,” I mutter to Mr. Rossi and stand, making my way to the lectern to give the reading. I hate public speaking, but Caroline insisted that I be the one to do this. I contemplate apologizing to everyone for holding up the ceremony, but figure telling them that I was too busy thinking about what it’d feel like to be inside Dominic’s ass to pay attention would be poor form.
By some miracle, I manage to make it through the assigned passage about the sanctity of marriage and what it means to truly love one another. Caroline is beaming when I finish and I swear there’s a tear in the corner of her eye. Dominic appears to be relaxing a bit, which could be good or bad. Hopefully, it means he’ll be receptive to hearing what I have to say. I just have to find a way to get him away from my family because there are certain things I’d prefer to not have overheard.
When the ceremony ends and my sister and her husband are presented to everyone, we stand and make our way to the receiving line. Yet another tradition I don’t understand. I get the bride and groom and the parents thanking their guests, but I can think of better things to do with the next hour of my life. I watch as Dominic and Andrew hug and then he moves down the line to kiss my sister’s cheek. They talk for a moment, and Dom looks directly at me before whispering something in Caroline’s ear. Something about the mischievous glint in his eye frightens me as he takes a moment to introduce himself to my parents, congratulating them on the marriage of their beloved daughter.
In the ultimate fuck-you move, I watch as Dominic says hello to each of Andrew’s siblings and then looks me square in the eye before turning to walk away. I take a step forward, only to be pulled back into line by my brother. “What’s your problem with that guy?” Peter asks.
“Nothing,” I respond curtly. Peter rolls his eyes, not believing me, but he doesn’t press the issue. More than likely, he thinks Dominic is someone I’ve had a run-in with because Peter is great at assuming the worst. This might be the first time I’m grateful for his high-and-mighty attitude. I’d much rather he think Dominic and I have fought over a girl than see the truth: that every time I close my eyes, I imagine what it would feel like to bury my cock inside Dominic’s ass and never come out.
I watch helplessly as Dominic disappears into the sea of family and friends trying to stay warm on a bitter, damp Saturday afternoon. I barely hear anything that’s being said to me as I crane my neck to find Kennedy. If I can’t leave this fucking line, maybe she can go find Dominic and at least begin to clear the air for me. It’s not how I want to handle the situation, but I’m quickly becoming desperate to get him to at least be willing to talk to me later.
Kennedy and I make eye contact and she rushes over to me. “Are you okay?” she whispers. Her face is buried in the crook of my neck and I hear Peter make some sarcastic comment about how we can’t keep our hands off one another. Let him think whatever he wants. Again, it’s better than the truth, and Kennedy and I have been playing this game for years.
“Fuck no. Can you see if you can find him? Tell him to meet me in the lobby at six. Beg him if you have to, tell him the truth if it’ll help.” She nods and I feel the tension easing out of my body. “I didn’t even think about how it might have looked to him the other night. God, I’m so fucking dense.”
Small, icy fingers cup my cheeks, holding firm when I try to pull away from Kennedy. “No, you’re just used to everyone assuming the same thing he did, to the point youdon’tthink about it anymore. Besides, it was supposed to be a one-night stand, nothing more. Hell, it probably still is, but I get why you can’t leave shit the way it is now. Don’t worry, I’ll do some damage control,” she promises me before delivering a chaste kiss to my lips. As she walks away, I realize that sending her to find him when he thinks she’s part of the problem isn’t one of the best ideas I’ve had. Then again, if it’s simply a matter of clearing up any confusion so we can act civil around one another, who gives a shit if it’s Kennedy or me who talks to him?
Kennedy has been one of my best friends since high school. Somehow, she knew the truth about me when no one else did and still asked me to the school dance. When I leaned in to kiss her during the first slow dance because that’s what the other couples were doing, she gently pushed me away, whispering in my ear that I was her perfect man because I liked guys. That confused me until she admitted to me that she needed me as much as I needed her so her parents didn’t figure out she liked girls. That was the night we started covering for one another. As long as we looked like a couple to the rest of the world, neither of us was pressed to find a significant other. It’s a damn shame we’re not attracted to one another because part of me feels like she’s still the only person in the world who understands me.
* * *
Dom
I’m almostto the crosswalk when I hear a woman calling my name. Not in the mood to deal with anyone right now, I will the light to change so I can make my escape and find the nearest bar until it’s time for the wedding reception. Unfortunately, today is a day when nothing can go my way and small hands land on my shoulders.
“Didn’t you hear me calling for you?” she asks, leaning against my back, gasping to catch her breath. Even though I’ve never heard her voice, I don’t have to turn to see who’s chasing me. It’s Tony’s girl. The second to last thing I want to do today is get into it with her about me getting off with her man. I shrug her off, trying to put some distance between us.
“Heard you, and now I’m trying to ignore you,” I say bluntly without turning to face her. Dealing with uncomfortable situations and people I’d rather not have breathing my air is something I’m good at, but this entire situation with Tony has stretched my patience and kindness past the breaking point.
“Hey, you don’t have to be a dick. All I want is for you to listen to me.” She’s a spitfire, I’ll give her that much. And from the very little I know about her, she’s probably not going to give up easily. I turn around warily, figuring this is a bad idea, but it’s bound to happen sooner or later today and I’d prefer Gus and Mama aren’t around for it.
“Look, I don’t know what your deal is or what you and Tony have going on, but I don’t fool around with guys who aren’t single,” I say in a single breath. I hold my hand up when she tries to respond. “And Ireallydon’t want to get in some sort of pissing contest with you. So, if you’re worried that I’m going to cause problems for the two of you, you can just head back to Tony and tell him that there’s nothing to worry about. I love the Rossi family and Cara too much to cause drama on her special day.”
The girl cocks her head to the side, amused by my rant. So are the other people who decided this show was better than whatever was waiting for them on the other side of the street. “Damn, I can see why he’s so into you. You’re just like him; criminally gorgeous with a big mouth that doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up.” She laughs when I finally stop talking.
“You’re not mad at him?” I ask incredulously. Maybe they have some sort of open relationship and he’s allowed to screw whomever his dick gets hard for. Unfortunately for him, that’s not my scene. This girl is cute, but I don’t share with anyone. I haven’t thought about romance and flowers and shit for a long time, but my one rule has always been not hooking up with anyone who’s in a relationship.
“Fuck no.” She giggles, slapping me on the arm. “Come on, I think you’re going to want a drink before we go any further. I’m Kennedy, by the way.”
“Dominic,” I inform her, neglecting to say that it’s nice to meet her because it’s not. “I need a drink, regardless. And I get the feeling you’re not going to leave me alone until you tell me whatever you feel I need to hear. Might as well let you get it out of your system now so you don’t corner me at the reception.”
I motion for her to lead the way since she probably knows the area better than I do. As she leads me down a side street, she’s busy sending messages on her phone. Probably letting Tony know that she tracked me down. I look behind me, realizing how far away we’re getting from where we need to be. This can’t possibly be a good thing. God, if this is what I get for being a nice guy, next time I’ll let everyone else figure out how to get where they’re going without me.
We walk into a small pub off the beaten path and she heads straight for the bar. The bartender, a young woman who has tattoos covering both arms and at least four visible piercings in places other than her ears rushes over to serve us. “You two look beyond out of place in here,” she observes, placing cocktail napkins in front of each of us. “What’s your poison today?” she asks.
Without waiting for Kennedy to reply, she sets down a shot of some amber liquid and a draft beer. Apparently, Kennedy is a regular in this dive. “I’ll have whatever she’s having, but double it up.” I place a fifty on the bar, hoping I’ll get some change back.
“Having a rough day?” the bartender asks, quirking her eyebrow as she stares at Kennedy.
