Elly & Kent - The Complete Story: Includes Books 1-3 (35 page)

I nodded as I sipped my coffee. I didn't understand why this was something he needed to talk to me about. Unless he was getting to a different point. "Uh-huh," I said, hoping he would continue.

"...I still want you to be my best man. But I don't want to upset her. I want to support her. I don't really give two craps about the wedding so long as my mom and my friends are there."

"New Year's Eve, that's like less than a week away."
Way to state the obvious, Elly.
I cleared my throat as I looked down at my coffee, hoping it would magically get me out of there. "Just get some men for your side and I'll be your secret best man. Woman. Whatever."

When I dared to look back up at him I found him grinning again. "Really?"

I shrugged, "Yeah, it's not a big deal." I gasped in surprise as he hugged me, his long, warm, strong arms around my body made me feel so small, safe. My heart warmed itself up a few notches.

"It's a huge deal to me. Let me buy you some beers."
 

God he felt so good, and he smelled so good. Did he say something about beer? Or did he call me dear? I opened my mouth to ask but he pulled away. Stacy was standing there, smiling expectantly.

"So?" she asked. "Did he tell you?"

"Uh-um..." My brain was drawing a blank, still busy playing Kent's hug in a loop.

He laughed beside me, "Yeah, I told her. And I'm buying you both some beers to celebrate Elly's acceptance as my best man."

Her eyebrows shot up as she looked at me. I shrugged. What could I say to her, really? That I wasn't really a best man, just a best man in secret? Everything really good between us since Jen had come along had been a secret.

"Well, you two have fun, I should probably get home and get some rest."

I felt my eyes about pop out of my head and I made a little motion with my head to try to get her to take it back. How was she supposed to get the signal when she wasn't even looking at me?

"Kent, we'll meet you outside in a minute." I handed Kent my guitar and then pushed him towards the exit.

He laughed as he stumbled, "Alright, Elly, geez."

I turned back to Stacy who wore a look of confusion. "What's the matter?"

"Are you kidding?" I glanced over my shoulder to be sure that he was gone. He was. Thank god. I turned back to Stacy and frowned, "If you leave me and Kent alone while under the influence of alcohol bad things are going to happen! Remember last Christmas? He kissed me!"
 

Stacy looked around and so I did too. People were staring so I guessed I was being a little too loud. I softened it down and put my hand on her shoulder, "Please? Please don't go yet," I begged.

She sighed and shrugged my hand off. "Fine. But if you two start making out I'm leaving."

I held my hand up in defense. No way was that happening. He was getting married in less than a week. I felt my stomach clench. In less than a week he was going to be married.
 

Chapter Forty-Seven

After the beers arrived Stacy wasted no time in starting the conversation, "You were so awesome. What was that second song though? Did you write that? I've never heard it before."

I sipped my beer to give myself a moment to breathe. I was having beers with Kent, like we were actual adult friends. He was sitting across from me and he looked delicious in a dark blue sweater. I couldn't get overexcited though because he'd just asked me to be in his wedding. Or a part of his wedding. He was getting married.
Remember that, Elly! He is getting married!

"It's a song from Kent's favorite band, A Perfect Circle. He's in looooooove with them right now."

He had talked about them so much in Art History class last year. He would hum their songs anytime he walked from one place to another. It was cute for him to be so into a band. Normally he would hum the theme song to whatever video game he was currently into. At least that's what I remember from high school anyway.

"Yeah, yeah," Kent smiled, "That's the best rendition I've heard. It gave me tingles."

I rolled my eyes, not accepting his compliment. He was just being nice. He probably hated that I'd taken the song and molded into something else. I didn't want anyone else gushing about me. What could we talk about that would change the subject? Sex? No. God, no. What was wrong with me?
 

"So...you need to find your best men. Did Jen throw suggestions at you?"

I jumped in my seat as Stacy's shouted and pointed at me. "
That
guy! She probably picked that guy we saw her with that time we were walking to the campus pool. Remember him?" she started to laugh and I laughed briefly along with her, my eyes looking over at Kent. Did he understand that we saw something uncool going on? He just sipped his beer. No, apparently he didn't.

"Yeah, I remember."

"God, I wanted to bang that guy. He was so hot," Stacy continued, lost in the her memory of 'that guy.'

 
I shifted in my seat, if she kept talking she'd get the the unsavory part. I smiled at Kent, "They guy must be in Jen's circle of friends. They were all hanging out together on the quad playing Frisbee."

Kent nodded and shrugged his shoulders as he moved back to the original line of questioning, "Well, there's Mike."

His old roommate, I nodded, waiting for him to continue but Stacy moaned beside me. I glanced at her, her eyes staring at the ceiling. I didn't want her doing something crazy so I nudged her with my shoulder, "Hey! Snap out of it!"

She grinned at me. "Sorry. He was some Latino goodness. Unforgettable."

I shook my head and looked back at Kent. "Mike and who else?"

Kent shrugged. "Paul, I guess? He was the jackass who beat me in the gaming competition last year. He's also a friend of Mike's."

"And why would you want the jackass to be one of your groomsmen?" Stacy asked, finally coming back to reality.

"While Kent may call him a jackass he has a deep respect for any man or
woman
who can beat him in a fair gaming competition." I wondered if that was why he'd picked Jen. Aside from being pretty and popular she had somehow managed to kick his ass at any video game she'd played with him. She'd played to bond with him and get his attention but she wasn't really into them. Her plan had worked. Too well. I swallowed my jealousy down with my beer as Kent nodded his agreement to my statement.

Stacy turned to me, "So, are you going to Jen's bachelorette party?"

I looked at Kent, wondering what he'd want me to say. "Ummm..."

"Elly is taking care of something. She'll be busy with it until the wedding." Well that made me sound like I was going to be sewing her dress by hand. That was not the impression I wanted to leave with Stacy. I was no one's bitch. Mostly.

"What he means is that I wasn't invited. So, no, I won't be going."
 

"I see," Stacy laughed as Kent kept his head down, eating pretzels. He couldn't have respond without spitting them everywhere. Her attention was quickly drawn to a tall rocker-looking-dude who had entered the bar. "Hellooooo, stranger."

I grinned as I quickly looked him over. He had long dark hair, a tattoo peeking from under his collar and his ass looked extremely nice in his dark jeans. "He's doable," I said.

Kent looked too as I pushed Stacy away. She was rubbing up on me like I was that rock god she was drooling over, "Oh my god! I'm not him. You're so gross," I laughed.
 

"I'm sorry," she said, "I just..."

"Go get his number."

She shook her head, "No way. Guys like to chase the girl, don't they, Kent? Come on back me up here. Every guy loves a little mystery, don't they?"

I rolled my eyes, "Seriously?? He's never had to chase a girl. He's getting married in a week and he didn't have to chase her anywhere. She chased him. So obviously that's what guys want. Get your hot ass off the stool and go over there."

"She's right. I've never had to chase." I nodded and looked back to Stacy who was biting her lower lip as she stared at the mystery man. After a few moments she pushed herself away from the table, "Alright, I'll do it."

Kent stood up too, "Want another beer, Els?"

"Yeah, sure." I watched as Stacy flirted and then turned my attention to Kent who came back with the beers.
 

"So..." he tried to liven the conversation again.
 

"Mrs. Jennifer Lytle..."

"Sounds different, that's for sure." He nodded.

"It...does." I nodded back. It sounded wrong. It should be Mrs. Elly Lytle. Forever. Til death do us part. I looked away guilty. How could I stare at him and share a beer with him in his happiness at my acceptance of secretly standing by his marriage when my thoughts were solely on possessing him. It wasn't too late. He wasn't married yet. He would be within a week and then I'd miss my chance. What was I talking about? He knew how I felt about him, didn't he? He knew that I wanted nothing more than for him to dump her and proclaim his undying love for me. Kent cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts.
 

"Thanks for doing this, Elly."

"Doing what? Staring at you like an idiot? Sure, no sweat."

"No. For being my best woman."

I raised my eyebrows, "I mean... it's not like I'll be standing up there with you, holding your hand. But I'll make sure those guys are where they are supposed to be, if Jen or her mother or the wedding planner don't do it first. I'm assuming she has one, because, well, it's Jen. Oh my god, she's going to be such a Bridezilla. I'm so glad I won't be around her before the wedding."

"Yeah," Kent interrupted my verbal diarrhea, "I just want to get the tux on and fitted and then not have to deal with it. She wants everything to be perfect."

"I mean, obviously. She picked you." Before I knew that I had said it out loud Kent was speaking and I didn't have a chance to take it back.
 

"You're making me blush, Els." Damage control time. Avert the conversation. Redirect it, quick! Stacy came to the rescue.
 

"So, his name is Rio. And I totally just gave him your number." I was mid-gulp on my beer and was not prepared for the news. I turned away and started to cough as I felt the burning of beer in my throat. I frowned at her but she kept grinning, "He's looking for a new singer for his band. And I said you were awesome and I gave him your number." She wiggled into her seat, "And he gave me his. And we're going to chill sometime."

I glanced at Kent. He was just watching and drinking his beer. I didn't want to be the only one feeling embarrassment or discomfort at the table. I liked to share the wealth. "Damn," I said as I turned my attention back to Rio, "He is hot.
And
in a band. Are you sure you're interested?"
 

Stacy smacked my arm and glared at me. "Yes!" She recovered quickly and continued to verbally drool, "His voice is like...oh my god. So deep and gravelly. It's so sexy."
 

"It's not fair that you always call dibs on the boys first."

"It's not my fault that you're too shy to talk to the boys."

She had a point but I wasn't going to admit to it. "I am not."

"Pft," She looked at Kent, "Have you ever seen her go up to a strange guy and just start talking to him?"

"She never has when she's been out with me."

"Well, I mean that's because--" I nudged Stacy with my elbow to shut her up.

Kent looked uncomfortable. Half my mission was accomplished. "Yeah, so..."

"Because Elly used to be fat and shy," Stacy blurted out. Although everyone at the table already knew I'd been fat and shy. I put my hand on my forehead as I ducked my head.

"Elly, prove her wrong. Walk over to..." I glanced up in time to see him scanning the bar and point to an attractive guy with long hair, "that guy."

Seriously? Kent wanted me to go hit on a guy in front of him. I felt the familiar squeeze of disappointment in my chest. "No. I don't need to prove anything to either of you."

"Good. Then dance with me before we call it a night," he finished off his beer and stood up, looking at me expectantly, his hand held out.
 

I shook my head. "No one else is dancing." I wasn't going to dance with him while everyone was staring at me, especially not Stacy. She'd probably record it on her phone and taunt me with it.

"Because no one fed the jukebox any money. No music equals no dancing," he said.

"Only one way to rectify that then, huh?"

"You promise to dance if other people are out there dancing too?"

"Sure," I retorted.

He grinned as he moved over to the jukebox. He stood there for a moment, mulling over the music. Stacy was watching him too as she finished up her beer. He stuffed some money into it and soon a few songs started to play. He stopped to talk to some people at the bar before coming back to the table. Just before he reached us a few couples moved onto the dance floor.

"He really wants to dance with you," Stacy chuckled.

"I don't know why," I grumbled softly just as Kent approached the table and sat back down. I waited and waited for him to ask me again. He just stared at the bodies on the tiny dance floor while the song played through. I sighed softly and finished off my beer. It figured that Kent would make a big fuss out of wanting to dance with me and then chicken out. It was the story of our lives.

Stacy giggled beside me, her eyes turned down to her phone as she busily texted. Just before the song ended Kent reached over the table and took my hand. It freaked me out a little bit, his touch was so warm and soft. And unexpected.
 

"Can I have that dance now?" he asked with a warm smile. There was something else there. Something that scared me and made my insides joyful.
 

He held my hand as he pulled me to the outer edge of the dancers. As soon as we stopped the song ended. I felt his hand slipping from mine, felt the disappointment in my gut. "Dammit..." His fingertips were on mine when he grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me against his chest. "Oh, wait a second. I wonder who played this song."