《The Artist & The Q.B.》Ch. 24
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My mouth drops as he walks away. "You're not in love with me." I argue to his retreating back. When he doesn't turn around I follow him.
"I am." He states, openly as he walks to the dresser.
"You can't just say words and expect me to believe them." I reply, flustered by his admission.
"You don't believe it?" He questions, opening his dresser drawer and taking out clean underwear.
"No! Sex doesn't equal love."
He stands up straight, scowling at me. "Careful." He warns, his eyes serious.
"Well, it makes no sense. We're barely together." I explain.
He drops his towel and put on his black Calvin Klein's. "We're dating. You're my girlfriend, I'm crazy about you. Its that simple." When I open my mouth to refute his claim. He holds up his hands and shakes his head. "I don't want to hear another word, unless it you admitting your feelings for me." I cross my arms and close my mouth. He's not going to hear it. He nods, knowingly. "Then don't say it, but don't talk about us to other people like it wasn't something more. If you wanted just sex, you would've done it already. You were waiting, and its not something that I'm taking lightly."
I put my hands up in surrender. "Okay, I can't do this serious talk. I really can't. I need a minute to think."
He whistles. "You're actually going to try it?" He asks, impressed.
I roll my eyes at his sarcasm. "I hope you're happy."
He nods. "Just don't hurt yourself." I glare at him and he walks towards me. He uncrosses my arms and tugs me against him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He chuckles when I let them fall and lifts my face towards him. "I'm not going to force you to say it. I was angry before, I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry." He states, shocking me. Did he just apologize? To me? What kind of trap is this?
"You're sorry?" I ask, stating the word as if I never heard it before.
He nods. "I was trying to use sex against you, to get you to say it. It wasn't right." He explains.
I push at his chest, not even moving him an inch. "You really think that would've worked?"
He smirks. "It was worth a try."
"I literally feel like it's still up there." I complain, shifting. I don't think I could've handled a second time so soon.
"Are you trying to tease me?" He growls.
"No, it really does." I tell him.
He steps back and pecks my lips lightly. "You better hope it feels better by tonight." He states, huskily.
I narrow my eyes at him, its not that I don't want him tonight. I fully intend on sleeping with him again. Its not painful, I can just feel that its been used, thats the only way I can describe it. "I think its you who better hope." I point out. He thinks about it for a second and nods. "What do we do now?" I ask, curiously wondering if we're putting this issue to bed...figuratively speaking.
He glances at the bed longingly.
"So, needy. See, this is why I avoided guys so long." I state, walking to the closet. "Text your sister, see where they're at and we'll meet them."
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After getting dressed and redoing my hair and makeup we meet most of the wedding party at a bar. Mya and her bridesmaids are at one end of a long table and the boys are at the other. I sit at the very end next to Becca and Mya.
"Well, aren't we lucky you could spare time for us." Mya, says sarcastically.
"You really think I wanted to be carted off like that?" I question.
"What was that about anyway?" Mya asks, puzzled.
I shrug, not really eager to talk about it. "He wanted to talk."
"About what? He was pissed." Mya recalls.
I groan. "Apparently, I'm not taking our relationship serious enough." I explain.
I can tell she's thinking hard about what I said. "You were really nonchalant about the whole sex thing." She nods, in understanding.
"Oh, of course you take his side." I reply, not surprised.
"I'm not taking sides. I'm commenting on what happened at lunch." She says, defensively.
"Well, we already talked about it. Lets move on to something else." I respond.
"No, I want to know what happened." Mya, states. I know she'll keep asking questions until she determines I've told her enough information, but I still don't want to drag her into it.
"I told you. We argued about our relationship." I tell her honestly.
"Okay, and who won?" She questions, smirking.
I scowl. "Truex, but he played the high card. So, its not exactly fair." I point out, in frustration.
She laughs. "What's the high card."
I shift in my seat uncomfortably. "He told me he loves me." I mutter under my breath.
"He what?" Becca asks, listening in on the conversation.
I look at Mya who's jaw is on the floor. "Did you tell him you love him too?" I shake my head, 'no' and she glares at me. "Why not?" She asks, looking offended on his behalf.
"Because, its too soon." I admit.
She gives me an are you kidding look. "Briar, you would've never slept with him if you didn't have feelings for him."
"Can we please talk about something else?" I beg. "I know I have to come to terms with things, but I don't have to do it today. When I'm ready to say it, I'll say it."
Mya sits back looking smug. "I knew it."
"Mya!" I yell, wanting her to move on, already.
"Fine! Easton, is getting wasted by the way. His voice is all I can hear above all this noise." Mya, comments looking down the table to a rowdy Easton.
"If he's having fun, so is everyone else." I point out.
She holds up her drink. "I don't think anyone is going to remember tonight."
"I need to catch up. So far I'm remembering too much." I comment, as a waitress brings me a beer. "Oh, thanks." Knowing the beer came from either Easton or Truex.
"What's the plan for tonight?" I question Becca and Mya simultaneously.
"I'm getting kind of tired." Mya, complains.
"You can't bail on your own party!" I reply, outraged.
"Were here until Saturday, we don't have to go crazy the first night." She points out.
"Yes, we absolutely do." I argue.
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Mya shakes her head in disagreement and two hours later as we decide to play the slot machines, she vanishes. Becca texts her and she replies that she's staying in for the rest of the night. The girls are fun to be around. Especially, Becca when she's been drinking. Walking the floor of the casino together we find Eason at a craps table and stand next to him. "Easton, hurry up. We need to find something to do." I pout, bored.
"Truex is looking for you." He responds, tossing the dice to the end of the table.
"Why?" I inquire.
"Because, he's a man in love." He sings, teasingly.
"He told you that?" I ask, wondering if he told Easton about out disagreement.
Eason laughs. "I know what we're doing tonight. Lets go." He orders, picking up his chips and throwing his arms around us. He steers us to another bar.
"Seriously?" I ask.
"We're meeting Truex here. I just texted him and we need some shots."
Three shots I think I've had enough, my belly can't take much more abuse. Truex walks in looking frustrated. "I've been looking for you all night." He tells me.
"I left my phone in the room." I explain.
"I called, Mya. She didn't answer."
"She's done. She's tired." I mock, in my best baby voice. "We need to do something to piss Mya off." I say, mischievously. Thinking of what I could get away with charging to her hotel room, but I'm sure Truex is the one footing the bill.
Easton nods, enthusiastically. "You two are getting married. We go all out. Make it look perfect. Dress, tux, flowers everything and slide the pictures under her door."
I laugh. "Lets do it!" I yell, all in. Its not like it'd be a legal marriage anyway, just for kicks. "Come on! It'd be so funny!" I say, to Truex.
"You won't tell me you love me, but you'll marry me?" He questions, amused.
I roll my eyes. "Are you in or what?" I ask, not wanting to get into a argument.
He nods, "I'm in."
We look for a dress shop. I buy the first one that fits, a simple white dress with thin straps and a low back. Truex gets a black suit, that with an hour of expensive rushed tailoring it fits perfectly. Easton is already wearing a sports jacket so he buys a dress shirt and calls himself the best man. Before leaving I insist on a bowtie instead of a tie for both guys. I laugh at us looking so formal. Easton runs ahead when he sees a florist shop and I run after him, knowing he's going to order before I can get there. I don't make it on time as I see Easton picking out white and pink roses. The woman makes a bouquet for me and two flowers to pin on the lapels of the men's jackets. Easton pins his on right away and I look behind me for Truex, who I just now realize must be waiting outside. Easton pays for the flowers as Truex and Becca come through the doors.
"Where have you guys been?" I question.
"I got the rings." He answers, simply.
I nod. "Now, all we have to do it find Elvis to marry us."
Walking out into the brisk night air, Easton hails a cab, telling the man to drive to a chapel he just googled. Becca and I giggle as we all get in, the boys literally have to sit crouched over in the small car. When the car pulls into a parking lot, Easton pays and we all climb out. In the chapel an older woman sits bored behind the counter, she looks up from her People magazine and smiles at us.
"Please, tell me Elvis is here." I beg, leaning against the counter like I just ran a marathon. There's noway I'm doing this with out him officiating.
She winks. "He is. You two getting married?" She asks, smiling wide.
"Yep." I reply.
"Here's the paperwork." She says, handing me things to fill out.
"There's paperwork?" I ask, shocked. Who wants to do paper work? I just want a picture of us at the alter with Elvis presiding. I hand the clipboard to Truex, he sits to take care of it. I answer the questions he asks, surprised at how detailed they are. Why the heck would they need all this information for anyway?
I notice Becca sit next to Truex, whispering to him. Whatever she is saying, he seems unconcerned. I shrug and Easton and I take selfies in front of a fake beach scene.
"Why is there so much paperwork?" I question out loud to Easton, watching Truex still hard at work.
Easton looks at me confused then smiles. Leaning down he whispers, "You want it to look real don't you? You get a marriage certificate and everything."
I laugh. "Really? Mya, is going to die." I reply, excitedly.
"I need your ID." Treux, says. I dig it out of my purse, handing it to him and he walks the paperwork and my ID to the woman. Minutes later I am walking down the aisle on Easton's arm to Truex and Elvis. "Remember, get tons of pictures." I remind, Easton.
He nods, happily. "Oh, I've been taking pictures."
At the end of the aisle Truex takes my hand and we say our "vows". When its time to put the rings on my eyes nearly pop out. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I ask, quietly, looking at the ring he just slid on my finger. Its huge and I have a suspicion its real. "You couldn't find a smaller one at least? I could ice skate on this." I say, surprised.
He scowls and Elvis continues talking, I slide his plain silver looking band onto his hand and Elvis announces us husband and wife and to kiss the bride. Still preoccupied with the ring on my finger my head snaps back as he kisses me thoroughly. We step out of the room and receive a folder with a complementary photo of the kiss. I giggle, "Give it to, Easton. He knows what to do with it." I tell, Truex.
"I'm not giving it to him." He replies, shaking his head.
"Fine, just send Mya the photos." I tell, Easton.
"Already have." He responds, happily.
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