“You mean like in front of the stage being dusted in glitter?”
Before he can respond, someone wraps their arms around him from behind. He rests his hand on the other guys arm, trying to pull from his grasp. That’s when I notice a black bird tattoo on the outside of his hand, and it only makes me more drawn to him. Hand tattoos are one of my many weaknesses. Something about the way they look when they touch my body, the way the inked skin stands out against my blank canvas. The other Stranger is slightly taller with a bigger build and has similar features as the man he’s nearly squeezing the life out of. “There you are, mister man of the hour. We were going to get you a lap dance with one of the sexy dancers, but it looks like you already found yourself one.”
The flirty gleam in the sexy older stranger's eyes is now gone and replaced with a look of hesitance, and I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted that he doesn't want a lap dance from me.
3
Jamie
I’mthankful when my brother sneaks up behind me, interrupting my conversation with the beautiful muscular dancer that almost had me choking on my own words. Just when I think I’ve recovered my tongue, Johnathan suggests the guy dusted in gold give me a lap dance. As hard as I try to stop it, my gaze falls from his muscular pecs covered in glitter, down to his form fitting gold shorts. I shouldn't be checking this guy out when I'm getting married tomorrow, but there’s no harm in looking, is there? The guy is undeniably gorgeous with dirty blond hair and mesmerizing blue eyes, but my attention never rests too long on anyone who isn’t Rhys, and I can't stop the guilt from prickling at the back of my neck. “I think we should go find the other guys and do another round of shots.” My gaze shifts to my brother and, based on his glossy eyes, it's probably too soon for more shots.
Johnathan nudges me forward. “Oh, come on, it's your last night as a single man. It's a rule that every man must get a lap dance at their bachelor party, is it?” My brother gives the dancer his best toothy smile.
The guy laughs, running a hand through his hair, and I'm worried my brother has made him uncomfortable. “That is typically what happens, but the rules aren’t set in stone. I should probably get backstage since it's my turn to go on next but if you change your mind about that lap dance, I'll be around.” His hand is warm when he rests it on my shoulder and my skin feels like it's melting off my body from the sudden heat.
After he walks away, my brother punches me in the shoulder, laughing. “Man, I don't think I've seen you look at someone like that since the day you first met Rhys on our run at that park we used to go to.” My eyes widen and there's a sinking feeling in my gut at the thought of someone else catching my attention the way Rhys always has. It makes it harder for me to keep ignoring the struggles of our relationship I've been trying hard to avoid, hoping the love between us is enough. I’m also hoping that once we’re married, Rhys will kiss me the way he used to or touch me without me having to seek it out first.
My thoughts are interrupted by someone chanting, “Shots,” in the background and when I turn around, my friend, Jack, is holding four shot glasses in his hands.
“I don't know about you assholes, but I came here to drink until I pass out.”
“Don't forget I need to be able to walk down that aisle tomorrow.”
“That's for future Jamie to worry about. Tonight is present Jamie, and I say present Jamie needs to drink this shot. Tomorrow you will be officially off the market and tied down to the same person for the rest of your life.”
“You guys act like that's a bad thing.”
“All I'm going to say is better you than me,” Johnathan shouts from behind me.
I grab the glass from Jack's hand, hoping drinking this shot with them will get them off my case. I'm wrong though. It takes four shots and me falling all over the place, trying to make it into the car that comes to pick us up. When my brother gets me inside my house, we don't make it past the couch. It's a good thing Rhys is staying with Molly. He would kill me right now and I know exactly what he would say too.I swear if you embarrass me during my big day tomorrow, you will be staying at home alone while I enjoy our honeymoon in Hawaii, downing fruity drinks on the beach.
I stare up at my brother as he drapes a brown throw blanket over me. “I never did get that lap dance,” I randomly blurt out in slurred words.
He laughs. “Don't worry little brother, you won't even remember what that dancer looks like tomorrow. Probably won't even remember the name of the club we went to.”
I shut my eyes, letting myself drift off and trying not to worry about what could go wrong tomorrow. Nothing can when you're marrying the man of your dreams.
* * *
I wakeup with a mouth as dry as the Sahara Desert and my bladder on the verge of bursting. The first thing I remember is the dancer from the club and the words I said to him: “Everyone ends up where they're meant to be.”
My brother was wrong because I remember every damn thing that happened last night, including getting lost in the eyes of someone who wasn’t my fiancé. My chest squeezes tight with guilt. Even though I didn't do anything with the guy, it still feels wrong waking up with someone else on my mind. I shouldn't be thinking about some random dancer on my wedding day.
My own words sink in further and my eyes widen. I toss the knitted blanket off my legs and search for my phone, only to find out my alarm is going off for the third time and I can't afford to hit the snooze button again. Today is my wedding day. I grab a pillow and toss it at my brother, who is occupying the leather recliner Rhys got me for my last birthday. He knew how uncomfortable I got grading papers for long hours at my desk. He’s always been thoughtful like that. He loves me, I know he does, and whatever has been happening between us is nothing more than a rough patch we’ll get over.
I check my phone for any of the sweet morning messages Rhys sends me whenever we’re apart, but nothing is there.
“Get up Johnathan, we’re going to be late, and if we are, Rhys won't just kill me.” I grab another pillow from behind me and toss it, hitting Johnathan on the head.
He rubs the sleep from his eyes and grabs his glasses from the coffee table. “Okay, okay I'm up, but can you please stop yelling, you're making my head hurt. Why are there two of you? Wait, are these even my glasses?” He stands up, holding his hands in the air. “Relax, I’m only kidding. Don’t worry, we’ll be there in time. Everything is going to be okay. Breathe brother, breathe.”
“You telling me to breathe is not going to help me breathe. I need to get in the shower, you need to get in the shower, and we need to be dressed and at the chapel in an hour. I also need to call the guys and make sure they’re up and ready to go.”
“Relax man, really. How about you go get in the shower and I’ll call the guys.”
I release a long sigh, wishing I hadn’t drunk so damn much last night. “All right, thanks, Johnny. I know I can count on you.” I ignore my throbbing headache and the dry mouth that tastes like I swallowed sand.
I hurry to my room, where I pause to stare at the picture of Rhys and me smiling in each other's arms. I wonder if our pictures still look that way.
