Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“Thinking with your dick, I see,” Dan chimes in.
“I don’t need to marry her to fuck her. The way she looked at me? She would have been on board with a coat room quickie.”
“You wanna marry the girl who’ll have a coat room quickie?”
“What’s wrong with a coat room quickie? Sometimes you and your love need to get off and there aren’t always a lot of options.”
Dan cracks a beer, choosing to pregame a bit before the ceremony. “Fair enough.”
“I just don’t see a whole lot of reason to get hitched, and now, of all times.” Chuck joins Dan in acquiring a beverage. “We’re at the top of the fucking world, man. We can have any woman on the planet. We got something more powerful than good looks – we got money. There isn’t any reason to get off this train of joy we’re on until we get brow beaten into being respectable. Then we throw some money at some hot young thing and play that game for a bit. While still getting everything we want on the side.”
Dan and Chuck laugh their asses off, clinking their beers together. I’m not amused.
“What? Are you still feeling bad for the hot young thing in this scenario? She knows what she’s getting into, man. It’s a tale as old as time.”
And to think, they’re the best of the people at my firm. They may be crass and ruled by their impulses, but they are harmless. They’d never force anyone into any situation they don’t want to be in.
“It’s different for me. Call me old-fashioned. Call me a romantic.”
“Isn’t anything old-fashioned or romantic about marrying a chick you just met. It’s just sort of weird.”
“It’s old-fashioned and romantic in some ways. And I feel with my heart this is the right thing to do. Besides, don’t pretend you’ve never done anything impulsive. Like that time you drank that gin-merlot-malort-vodka blend, blacked out, and disappeared into Mexico for three months. How’s Maria been, anyway, Chuck?”
He snorts, shaking his head. “Guess you got me there. She’s been fine. Nice girl. Can see why I married her for a month, but the whole ‘I don’t speak Spanish and she doesn’t speak English’ thing meant it wasn’t going to work out.”
“At worst? This’ll be my Maria, boys. At best? I’ll be the happiest man on the planet.”
“He isn’t even drunk or high,” Dan chimes in. “And you know he’s been talking about this florist on and off. Must be crazy about her. Especially after dealing with that crazy bitch Ophelia for months on end.”
“God damn, yeah, her. Fuck, marrying that woman would have been an even bigger mistake,” Chuck shakes his head. “We’re behind ya, Luke. Just don’t want you to do anything stupid that’ll permanently hurt your wallet or your heart.”
People begin to file into the church. There are a bunch of people about Piper’s age, mostly women, but a lot of men with them as well, and some children too. None of them I recognize, so I assume they have to be here for the bride.
Some of my friends come in too. I have to admit some of them I invited just so the place wouldn’t feel empty, but we’re friendly enough and they’re not here for business. That’s enough for me.
“Luke, my boy.” Coming up to me is my dear old dad. He looks defeated. “I thought you were about to marry Ophelia?”
“It didn’t work out, Dad. It was never going to work out. We’re two very different people. I know you’re disappointed this doesn’t bring you closer to the McPhersons...”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “That would have been nice, but really? I was just worried about you being alone, boy. You went out on your own and I’m proud of you for that, but your mother wouldn’t want you to be without family. So even if you don’t keep up with me, you should have your own to build on.”
I smile his way. We’ve had our differences, and a lot of them, but he had enough of a heart to take me in when I was young. And he’s always been there for me, no matter what decisions I make. “You’re not going to have to worry about all that, Dad. I think this Piper thing is going to work out just wonderfully for me.”
“I hope so, with how you’re rushing into this. You barely know this woman.”
“There’s something there. Something I can’t deny. And besides, you know how much I dislike letting a good thing go.”
He grumbles. “You remember enough of growing up poor to have that instinct in you. And I’ve never been a fan of pointless waste, either.”
“Everyone’s here. There’s a beautiful display of flowers, there’s a band playing music, and the caters have prepared something wonderful. Even if this all goes to shit? I’m sure we’ll all have a wonderful time.”