“Enjoy every moment,” Hudson said quietly, capturing the attention of everyone. He shook his head and pressed his lips together before continuing. “There will be times when she makes you crazy, and not in a good way. When she frustrates the shit out of you. Enjoy the good and the bad. Not just because you don’t know when you’re going to run out of moments, but because those arguments, fights, disagreements… those are going to lead to a new depth in your relationship. They’ll make it better because you both know you can say anything you need to say and it won’t destroy what you have.”
I swallowed the thickness in my throat, fighting my emotions with his declaration. Judging by the silence around me, I wasn’t the only one feeling the impact of his words.
“Thanks, man,” Omar said, hugging Hudson and slapping his back. “You’re right.”
Hudson nodded, hugging Omar back. They shared a smile as they pulled back, all of us echoing the same thoughts with quiet nods and smiles of our own.
I didn’t share any advice since I wasn’t in a relationship and no one wants to hear from the single guy at a bachelor party, but I took in all their words. One day I’d need them.
The drinking resumed, and the mood lightened after the advice was shared. James talked Ramsey into a game of darts, then complained when Ramsey won. Andre asked Knox about his new baby, which brought out the phone.
I looked over Andre’s shoulder at Knox and Haley’s baby girl, Amanda. The pink bundle was small and squishy and made me jealous as fuck.
I wanted that. Not Knox’s baby, but a family of my own. Someone to share my life with. Kids and a future and a life that wasn’t on hold until I found someone who wanted the same thing.
I excused myself as the two of them talked and left the party area, needing a break from all the happiness and joy I was on the outside of. I was happy for all of them. They all deserved the happiness they’d found, but where the hell was my happiness? Where was my joy? Where was my happy ending?
I asked the bartender for a beer and sat on a stool on the far side of the bar. Two women sat next to me. One of them smiled at me. They weren’t familiar, but the other one whispered something to her friend. Something that sounded suspiciously like Reegan’s name.
I wanted to yell at them that I was single. That Reegan was old news. That we weren’t getting back together. Now or ever. But I didn’t have the energy.
The women were both beautiful, but neither of them stirred any desire in me. They weren’t curvy single moms with too many jobs and no desire to get involved with me, or anyone.
I laughed to myself without any humor in it. I spent three years with a woman who didn’t want the same things I did and ended my relationship with her because of it, and a year later, I was in the same situation, wanting a woman who had no interest in the things I wanted.
What was wrong with me?
“What are you doing over here?” Andre asked, taking the vacated seat next to me.
“Getting a beer.”
“There’s beer back there with everyone else.”
I nodded and sipped my drink.
“What’s going on?”
I leveled him with a look.
“Reegan?”
“Fucking hell. No. I thought I made it clear things are over with Reegan. I swear to fuck if you blame my mood on Reegan again, I’m not talking to you.”
“Promise?” Andre smirked.
“Fuck you.”
“Casey?”
I shrugged. “She doesn’t want to get married again. Or have more kids.”
“Whoa, seriously? You’re moving fast if you’ve already proposed to her.”
“I haven’t proposed. Fucking hell. We talk.”
Andre narrowed his eyes. “You talk? Like on dates or online?”
I avoided his knowing gaze. “Both?”
