Josh set his beer down and looked out to Lynda on the dance floor. “Okay, if Lynda asks where I am.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it,” Ellie said as she pushed Josh toward the door where Heather would be leaving.
Josh took off and never looked back.
“You sneaky little thing you,” Gunner said as he looked at Ari.
“What? I don’t want Heather walking all alone,” Ari said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Come, Ells, dance with my pregnant ass.” She grabbed Ellie’s hand and off they went. Ari walked up to the DJ and must have asked him to play a song.
“Ah shit, it ain’t good when your wife requests a song. She has a history,” Gunner said.
I had to laugh. I loved how he called her my wife.
Just then, the DJ stopped the song that was playing. “When the bride asks for a song, it gets played right away,” he announced.
Christina Aguilera’s “Desnudate” started to play, and Ellie and Ari began dancing.
Damn, the way that girl moves kills me. I just stood there for a few seconds, watching her dance. My girl sure as shit loves her Christina. I smiled while I watched her seduce me from the dance floor.
“Heather needs to hurry the fuck up,” I said.
Gunner laughed.
“Dude, I never thought I would say this, but when Ellie gets pregnant, be ready. It’s like they’re horny all the time,” I said.
“I’ll remember that. Get out there and dance with your bride. Hey, I called the hotel, and you’re all set.”
I turned to Gunner and smiled. “You really are like a brother to me. Thank you for taking care of that.”
Gunner and I gave each other a quick bro hug before I headed out to the dance floor.
It didn’t take long for Gunner to join Ellie.
I ended up taking Ari by the hand, and leading her back to the main house to go up to the room the girls had booked.
“Jeff, really, we can’t just disappear from our own reception!” Ari said, laughing the whole time I dragged her away.
“The fuck we can’t.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
JOSH
When Heather came walking down the steps with her purse and keys in hand, I jumped up from the chair I’d been sitting on.
“Hey.”
Heather jumped and let out a small scream.
“Jesus, Josh, you scared the shit out of me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was going to tag along with you to McDonald’s.”
“Why?”
“I need a cheeseburger.”
“What, are you pregnant, too?”
I laughed as Heather just started walking toward the door. We got to her car, and as we got in, I took a deep breath. Shit, it smells like Heather. I wanted to let out a curse word because I realized I was in a damn rented tux, so I wouldn’t be able to keep her smell on my clothes. I put my head back and closed my eyes. Motherfucker. I wanted to cry. Maybe I am pregnant. Emotional stupid ass.
“Josh, are you feeling okay? Are you sick?”
I almost said no but then I decided to see where this would take me.
“You know, I am feeling a little bit sick. I think the fresh air and ride will do me good.”
“Are you sure? I mean, maybe you shouldn’t eat a cheeseburger if you’re feeling sick.”
Shit, that went south. “Nah, really, I’m fine.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes before she started to talk.
“So, how have you been?”
“Good. I’m pretty much taking over my dad’s business. I just made this really cool desk for Ari’s dad’s home office.”
“Really? I bet he’ll love it.”
“I hope so. If he does and recommends me, that could be huge for the business. I even have a client in Fredericksburg who ordered a few things.”
Heather looked over at me and gave me that drop dead gorgeous smile of hers. My heart broke all over again as I thought back that morning at her apartment. Her blue eyes captured mine, and then she looked away.
“Lynda, I’m sure, must be very proud of you.”
I let out a small laugh. “Hardly. She hates that I make furniture for a living. She wants me to go back to school.”
“For what?”
“Law.”
“Oh no, don’t do that, Josh. Don’t give up your dream because that’s what she wants. You have to do what makes you happy.”
I nodded my head and looked out the window. I knew Lynda would never make me happy. Only Heather would.
“So, how’s school? Ellie told me that you’re going to graduate this summer. Wow, you must have doubled up on classes,” I said.
“Well, I didn’t really have anything else to do with Ellie and Ari living in Mason now. So I took more classes at UT and on-line. I have an interview with the Mason Independent School District next week.”
I snapped my head up and looked at her.
“For teaching?” I asked.
Heather smiled. “Yeah, I just have to finish some classes this summer and take the state test, but they’re looking for three elementary teachers for next year. That’s why I doubled up on the classes. It’s killing me, but it’s worth it.”
“Wow, Heather I’m really impressed. I always thought you would make a wonderful teacher, prin…umm, yeah. I always could see you doing that.”
She smiled but didn’t say anything else. Fuck, I almost called her princess.
She pulled up to the drive-through and ordered ten cheeseburgers.
“Ten? I said I only wanted one, Heather.”
She threw her head back and laughed.
“I know, but as soon as I hand one to Ari, Jeff and Gunner will wish they had one, too.”
I let out a laugh. “Smart and beautiful.”
She smiled as she drove up to the window to pay. I handed her a twenty, and she pushed my hand away.
“I’ve got it Josh.”
“Please, I insist.” She took the twenty and paid while killing the rude girl in the drive-through with kindness. Only Heather would be extra nice to some rude bitch.
***
By the time we got back to the wedding reception, Heather and I were laughing so hard that we both had tears rolling down our faces. When I told her about Garrett walking in on Jeff and Ari one too many, she laughed even more.
Heather parked the car and was laughing so hard she had to take a couple minutes to settle down before getting out.
“Only Ari would suggest walking out naked to scare Garrett from ever doing it again,” Heather said.
“I know, right?”
We sat there for a few seconds, and neither one of us moving or speaking.
“Well, I guess we better get Ari her cheeseburger,” she said.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
I got out of the car and started to walk next to Heather. Right before we got to the door, I took her arm and stopped her. She turned around and looked me right in the eye.
“Heather, I’m me utterly and completely.”
“There you are!”
I wanted to cringe when I heard Lynda’s voice. Fuck me.
Heather closed her eyes for two seconds before they snapped back open to look right into mine.
“Thanks for keeping me company. I need to get these to Ari. Excuse me, Lynda.”
Lynda turned and watched Heather walk inside. I wanted to shout to the top of my lungs right now. Instead, I looked at Lynda and tried to give her my best smile.
“So, you went to McDonald’s with Heather, huh?. Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
“You were a little busy dancing with Heather’s date. Since you were both occupied with each other, I decided to get some fresh air, and Ari didn’t want Heather walking out here alone.”
“Really? Well next time, do a girl a favor and let me know. I was freaking out, and I had to ask Ellie. She said she had no idea where you were. Finally, Ari just told me.”
I almost wanted to laugh, thinking about those two devils playing with Lynda like that.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you, Lynda. Really, I wasn’t even gone twenty minutes.”