“Not too bad, for the most part,” Kennedy replies. “But Tony’s got himself in trouble and begged me to bail his ass out. Again.”
The bartender laughs, shaking her head. “Why does that not surprise me? I’m impressed though, took him almost forty-eight hours this trip.”
It’s both settling and disconcerting to hear that screwing up isn’t exactly new for Tony. I’m not sure who the other woman is, but it’s obvious it’s not surprising to her that Kennedy is playing middle-man.
“Technically, I’m pretty sure he started digging his hole before he even got to New York this time,” I chime in, more because I’m sick of feeling like the third wheel than anything else. Rather than stick my foot any further down my throat, I tip back the first shot.Damn. Tequila, warm and straight.Without hesitation, I take the second shot and chase it with a long swallow of cheap beer.
“Oh. My. God. Is this him?” the bartender asks and I feel my cheeks flush. She stares at me long enough that I squirm uncomfortably on my seat. “At least Tony’s taste seems to be improving.” The two women share a good laugh over that and I’m left even more confused. I push away from the bar, tired of waiting to be brought into the loop.
“Look, it’s been real. But I have a friend who’s going to be livid when he realizes I took off,” I bite out. I leave the bartender a ten-dollar bill and turn to walk away.
“Dominic, wait,” Kennedy calls after me. For the second time in three days, my feet refuse to listen to my brain and I stop. “I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. This is my girlfriend, Dahlia.”
“Your girlfriend?” I ask without turning back to face the women, both of whom I’m sure are finding this entire situation hilarious. Somehow, learning that Kennedy is into chicks raises my blood pressure to near-stroke levels. IheardTony on the phone. He called her babe and told her that he loved her, talking about her keeping him warm at night. I saw them together in the parking lot. She was practically climbing his body before I even had the truck in gear. These people are a big ball of screwed up and I need to get away from it.
“Yeah,my girlfriend,” she says very slowly, making sure my feeble mind processes the meaning of her words. “And I did warn you that you were going to want a drink. Now, will you sit the fuck down and listen instead of acting like a butt-hurt little bitch?”
I tap out a quick message to Andrew, letting him know that something came up and I’ll get to the reception as soon as I can. “Fine. Dahlia, another round.” I motion to the empty glasses on the scarred bar. “But only one. I’d like to be able to walk into the reception without help. Kennedy, you have about ten minutes and you’d do well to not waste them calling me names. It’s not something I respond to very well.”
“Hey, you’re the one that ran away like a jealous girl, not me,” she points out and her girlfriend snorts from the other side of the bar.
“Good point, but put yourself in my shoes for a minute and think about what you’d think then,” I respond, tossing back the first shot.
“You thought exactly what Tonywantsmost people to think. The problem is, you’re not most people to him,” Dahlia interjects, making herself comfortable on the beer coolers behind the bar. “Don’t worry, Kennedy won’t admit it, but she made the same mistake shortly after we met. These two have been playing house for so long, they sometimes forget there’s times they would be better off coming clean right at the beginning. It’s not until it bites them in the ass that either of them realize what a fucked up, delusional life they live. And in your situation, Tony didn’t think he’d ever be seeing you again, so he probably wouldn’t have mentioned it even if he wasn’t such a tool.”
I lean in, more willing to listen to Dahlia than Kennedy. She seems to understand why I freaked out. She goes on to tell me how Kennedy and Tony have spent over ten years letting their families think they’re a couple. The way her eyes narrow when she tells me how much the families wish Tony and Kennedy would settle down and get married, I don’t think she’s any more comfortable with the ruse than I am at this point. But unlike me, she has a reason to be upset. She and Kennedy are in a relationship, where I’m not even a one-night stand to Tony, simply a quick trick on the highway.
“Well, ladies, it’s been a blast, but I have to get back before Andrew’s dad has my balls in a vice,” I say, excusing myself. “Kennedy, you heading over or is your work here done?”
I’m assuming that she’s attending the reception if she’s supposed to be Tony’s girlfriend. Then again, assumptions are the reason we’re sitting in this dark bar instead of enjoying drinks paid for by Cara’s family in a swank hotel lounge.
“Sure, let me say bye to Dahlia and I’ll be right out.” Kennedy makes her way around the bar and I head outside. The sun, which offered a false sense of warmth earlier is gone and huge flakes are falling from the sky.
Chapter Five
Tony
If I don’t getmy shit together and head inside soon, Caroline is going to send out a search party for me, but I need just a few more minutes to get my head out of my ass. Everyone’s been inside mingling for almost an hour, but here I sit, waiting for Kennedy to show up. I’m hoping she’ll turn the corner with Dominic next to her, but that’s a stretch at this point.
Peter was right when he told me I’m being a selfish little shit today. This isn’t the first time I’ve fucked around with someone I shouldn’t have, but itisthe first time it’s bothered me to have the guy pissed off after the fact. And that’s the part that has me knotted up.
“Thought you quit that shit.” I look down at the cigarette in my hands before looking up at my new brother-in-law looming over me. I thought for sure no one would find me crouched against the side of the building, but apparently I was wrong. Crushing the cigarette into the sidewalk, I reach down to pick it up before standing.
“I did. But it’s been a shit day and this is better than getting into a fight with Peter before the night is over.” I follow Andrew into the lobby of the hotel, expecting him to race to the ballroom where his bride is waiting for both of us. Instead, he detours into the bar, waving over the bartender and ordering two glasses of scotch.
“That’s because Peter’s an arrogant prick who needs to be knocked on his ass from time to time. But thanks for not doing it today.” We finish our drinks faster than I’d like and Andrew checks his watch. “Damn, we have to get in there. Oh, and don’t think you’re off the hook for that shit you pulled during the wedding. Iwillget you to tell me why you went all space cadet on us.”
“Ask me again tomorrow,” I say quietly. No fucking way do we have time for this conversation and I’d prefer to talk to Dominic before I tell Andrew that his friend has me tied up in knots.
“Sounds good. But you’re not going to push it off further than that.” Andrew’s a good man, one I’m glad to have as part of the family. He’s the one who helped me figure out how to share my secret with Caroline, insisting that she wouldn’t be upset with me or judge me because of how I live my life.
We round the corner to see the entire wedding party waiting for us outside the ballroom. “Nice to see you could join the party,” Peter hisses as I file into the line behind him. I’ll never understand why Caroline thought it was a good idea to put the two of us next to one another. We’re like oil and water, and it’s almost too much to ask that we manage to get through a full day together without a verbal sparring match, at the very least.
“Fuck you,” I snarl, turning to face him. “Andrew and I were down having a drink and lost track of time. It’s not my fault that I’m the brother-in-law he likes. And honestly, you can’t blame him for needing a drink before dealing with Mom pulling him every which way in there.” Andrew pats my back as he passes me and I square my shoulders. He takes his place at the back of the line next to my sister and the music begins as the DJ introduces the wedding party.
Once again, I stumble as I make my way up the steps to the head table, this time because I’m looking for Dominic. My father is glaring at me and my mother is shaking her head as I take my seat. The two empty chairs at the family table tell me everything I need to know. Dominic isn’t here and neither is Kennedy. This can’t be a good thing.
Halfway through the best man’s speech, I see the two of them not-so-quietly making their way to the front of the room. Heads turn as they bump into people. “Guess that explains your issue with him,” Peter whispers. When I turn to tell him to shut up, his expression is one of pity. “I never expected something like that from Kennedy. And today, of all days, damn. Then again, I suppose we couldn’t expect her to wait around forever for you to get your head out of your ass.”
