“Who needs Tylenol?” I said, stepping inside and wondering who was going to be up first to take me to get my car.
“WHERE THE FUCK DID he put the ring?” I grumbled as I patted down Camden’s tuxedo jacket. I swear that kid would have lost his brain had it not been encased in his skull.
“What are you doing, man?” Camden stepped up beside me. “I said it was in my pant’s pocket. They’re over there.” He pointed at a pair of jeans strung haphazardly over the side of a chair. I walked over to them and plucked out the dainty, diamond wedding band that I was supposed to hold until the preacher asked me for it.
“Really, Cam? This could have fallen out. Ever heard of a ring box?”
“Relax, I’ve got this.” My little brother tipped his head back and took a shot of straight Jack from a flask. I could see the nerves settling in.
Instead of giving him a hard time on his day, I gripped his shoulder and asked, “You good?”
Despite the whiskey on his breath, the smile he gave me let me know he was good. “Yeah. I get to marry my girl today. I don’t think life gets much better than this.”
I gave him a slight squeeze and let go. I wouldn’t know. Truthfully, I’d never felt the way that he was feeling right now. Unless being in love felt the same as driving a race car, sky diving, or resetting a bone that has popped out of place, I had no clue what it felt like. Not sure I ever cared to feel that way either. But I did care that Cam seemed ridiculously happy, and for today, that’s all that mattered.
“Hey, asshole, you sure you want to do this?” Wrigley asked as he tried to snatch the flask out of Camden’s hand.
I slapped the back of his head, causing his perfectly combed hair to shift out of place. “Knock it off. He doesn’t need all the guys in here yanking his chain when he’s about to get hitched. And quit trying to drink, you’re not old enough.”
Camden shook his head and grinned. He definitely had a little buzz going, but I was certain he’d sober up the moment he laid eyes on Keegan. “Couldn’t be more sure about anything in my life.”
“You’re such a sap. At least my soon to be sister in law is nice to look at.” Wrigley wagged his eyebrows.
Camden scowled. I stepped in front of him and patted his cheek. “Ignore the baby of the family. He was the last born and got the shit end of the stick with looks and brains.” I heard grumbling but ignored it.
“Oh, hey, man, could you do me a favor?” Camden asked.
“Anything.”
Reaching forward he grabbed a small gift bag that had been perched on the end of the bar. He held it out to me and I took it from him. “Would you mind giving this to Keegan? The girl’s room is just down the hall. I had a little something made for her.”
My brother, the sap. “Sure, no problem. Want me to tell her anything?”
“Nah. There’s a note in there.”
Stepping out of the room, I made my way down a long hallway. Passing several doors that were marked Men, Women, and the pastoral office, my nose tickled from all the floral scents in the air. We were a few miles outside of Athens, in the country, in a chapel that apparently had been named one of the top venues to get married in Georgia in 2015. My mother and Keegan worked like a well oiled machine ensuring that every single detail of this wedding was covered. My mother had impatiently been waiting for one of her boys to get hitched. Granted, none of us ever suspected Camden would have been the first, but Keegan was a good match for him. She was nothing like the other girls he used to chase after, thank God, and she fit in our family as if she’d always been a part of it.
Getting to the end of the hall I saw a door that had a small plaque reading, “bridal suite.” I heard female voices on the other side. This must be it. Reaching my hand up, I knocked loudly. The door was cracked open and an eye appeared on the other side. It looked around then opened the rest of the way. Macie stood front and center in a short black dress looking stunning.
“He’s not out there, is he?” Keegan called from a back room.
“No, it’s just Turner,” Macie replied.
I snickered. “Gee thanks.”
She winked at me and shifted out of the way so I could move past her. “Welcome, cupcake. Boy, you clean up nice.”
Stepping forward, I came inside and looked around. There were clothes, make-up, hair pins, brushes, and any other female product you could imagine strung all over the counters that lined the far wall. Two girls that I vaguely remember from the bar were dressed the same. Must be bridesmaids. To the right, my mother was opening a door and out stepped Keegan. She was decked out head to toe in white and looked beautiful. If she wasn’t marrying my brother, I’d probably consider dating her. But she was his match, and he deserved happiness.
“Ladies,” I said in greeting.
They all smiled at me as I made my way further into the room. Approaching the bride, I leaned forward and kissed Keegan on the cheek.
“If all you boys look like this, I’m in for a treat,” she cooed sweetly.
“Careful, I’ll steal you away from my brother. And speaking of, he sent me down here to give you something.” I lifted my hand, the gift bag dangling on my index finger.
A sweet little gasp came from her mouth, and she tentatively took it from me. “That sneaky little . . . I told him no gifts.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off her face right now even if I tried. She was beaming.
“I raised my boy’s right,” my mom replied.
Keegan leaned into her and kissed her cheek. “Yes, ma’am, you did.”
“Don’t speak too soon, momma, Camden is the only one putting a ring on it today,” I taunted her.
She beamed at me and slapped at my chest. “Oh you, hush.”
Keegan, set the bag atop a sofa and started pulling out pieces of tissue paper. Every female in the room, took a step forward to try and get a better look at the prize inside, while I took a step back. This was their moment. Girls lived for this stuff. When she got to the bottom, she pulled out a little black box. Lifting the lid, she immediately brought her hand to her mouth and tears welled in her eyes. My mother pulled out the item and held it so everyone could see.
“Awe.” Was the collective sound throughout the room.
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even realize that he knew . . .” Keegan’s stunned words trailed off.
It was a delicate silver bracelet that had two pearls on either side of a small charm. The charm was an infinity symbol. My mom wrapped it around Keegan’s small wrist and clasped it. The girls started asking questions about the meaning.
“Every night when we go to sleep, I rub Camden’s back.” She paused to wipe at a tear on her cheek. “I always thought he was already passed out when I’d start drawing infinity symbols on him. It was just a thing I did, I guess. He never even indicated that he knew what I was doing, or that he was still awake.” She was staring at the piece of jewelry with wonder.
I’d have to let my brother know he hit it out of the park with this one. I have to admit, it was pretty clever. Who knew I might be asking for notes from my little brother’s play book? I was considering this my cue to leave, but before I could the door flew open.
“Okay, I was able to track down double sided tape, but you may be SOL with the vinegar.” The girls all stopped their little chatter and every eye was on a very frazzled looking Annabelle. She blew her bangs out of her face and then asked, “What? What I miss?”
It was in that moment that she locked eyes with mine, and even if someone was answering her question, neither one of us was listening. Oh this girl, there was something so very intriguing about her. I had to admit, I wasn’t one to keep after someone that would turn me down, but Annabelle made the game of chase a little more interesting. The day of the graduation when she’d said no, I could see it written all over her. She was curious but wouldn’t budge. That next week when I’d gone into work, I’d casually asked around about her to see if someone knew if she was dating anyone, but people either didn’t know who she was, or they said she kept to herself. Since then, I’d run across her in the hospital, but I got the impression she was avoiding me. I let her. ‘Til the other night of course.