Seasons (20 page)

“I have missed the shit out of you,” Trevor says.

“I know, you big jerk, you left me all alone in Maine! Where is Adam? I can’t wait to squeeze the stuffing out of him, too!”

“He’s taking care of some last minute wedding details. We will see him in a few, but it gives us an hour to catch up.” He winks me. “Let’s grab your bag. We can drop it at the loft and chat over lunch while we wait for Adam.”

Trevor takes my garment bag that has my dress for the wedding in it out of my hands and rolls my small bag out to the car. We drop my things at his and Adam’s loft. This is my first time in New York, and I’m in awe of everything I see. The city is huge and gorgeous. We walk into their new home and my jaw hits the floor. “Oh, my God, Trev. This is amazing! You live here?”

He grins wide at me. “Yep.”

The whole place is one big open room in almost all white with clean lines and a very modern feel. The ceilings are vaulted at an angle, giving the room an airy feel. There is a silvery grey couch and two navy chairs in the center of the room. Two huge floor-to-ceiling windows make up one wall and a giant fireplace adorns the opposite one. There are artistic sculptures throughout. The loft has two bedrooms, each with a door connecting it to a bathroom set between the two.

“Well, would you look at you all grown up in your amazing New York loft with your hot, successful, soon-to-be husband. I’m seriously so happy for you, boo.”

“I’m pretty happy for me, too.” He beams. “Come on, let’s grab some food. There is an amazing deli down the street.”

After lunch, and filling Trevor in on my new possible love interest, we meet Adam back at the loft. We engage in a hug it out session, and then we all get ready for the rehearsal and dinner. We pull up to a tall building for the ceremony rehearsal and Trevor tosses his keys to the valet. I get out of the car confused, “I thought the ceremony was in a garden?” I ask them both.

They both just look at me and smile. “It is,” is the only explanation Adam gives me before we all walk into the building and take the elevator to the top floor. The doors open to the roof of the building and quite possibly the most beautiful garden I have ever seen.

They smile back at me once more when they hear the gasp that escapes my mouth as I take in my surroundings. “This is perfect. It’s beautiful.” I gush. There is an arch near the end of one side of the rooftop with flowers growing around it like vines. There are rows of chairs set up already for the next day. Exotic looking flowers and plants are growing all around the edges of the garden. A gorgeous sculpture that looks like two hands embracing is in one corner of the garden amongst the flowers. When I ask Trevor about the sculpture, he explains that it’s because this garden is connected to the art gallery where the reception will be held downstairs.

“Wow, just wow. I love New York! This is amazing, guys, truly.”

“Move here!” Trevor says, clapping his hands together.

“Maybe one day,” I say thoughtful. Since I have taken summer courses, I will graduate a semester early. I have one more semester after break this year and then one next year. If I get into graduate school in New York like I plan, I would love to move here and work the semester before to save money. I haven’t told anyone that I plan to apply at Columbia yet, simply because I don’t want to be embarrassed if I don’t end up getting in. I have worked my ass off, so fingers crossed.

Trevor and Adam’s families and other bridal party members begin to arrive. Unfortunately, Adam’s father is absent. His parents are divorced and his father disowned him when he came out. His mom is a gem though and is extremely supportive of the couple. Trevor is lucky to have two amazing parents who are both just happy as long as he’s happy. The rehearsal is lovely, and I know the wedding tomorrow will be amazing. How could it not be in such a gorgeous place?

We dine at a little Italian place after the rehearsal. The food is easily the best Italian food I have ever had. The entire party drinks a ton of wine and the families’ battle with embarrassing stories of Trevor and Adam growing up. It’s simply a merry evening. The three of us stagger into the loft, and Trevor and I say goodnight to Adam. I make Trev spend the night with me in the spare room where we giggle and chat until we both fall asleep.

The first morning light falling across my face wakes me up. I grab my cell off the nightstand to check the time and see a missed text message.

Aden: Hey, beautiful. I’m at the hotel. I got in early this morning. I’m going to crash and I’ll meet you at the ceremony.

Me: Good, I’m glad you got in all right. Can’t wait to see you at the ceremony! Let me know if you need anything!

I message him back quick before I reach over and poke Trevor with a huge grin on my face. “Wake up, handsome, you’re getting married today!” I whisper yell. Trevor shoots upright, startling me. He turns and looks at me and a giant smile spreads across his face. “Get in the shower. I’ll go start the coffee.” I giggle.

I go out to the kitchen and notice a note on the counter for Trevor next to a wrapped box and a rose. I leave it where it is and go start the coffee. After getting a load of the amazing kitchen, I decide to make a full breakfast for the groom-to-be. When Trevor emerges from the bathroom, I have made omelets, pancakes, and have coffee ready. “Whoa, girl, look at you go.”

I smile up at him. “There is something on the counter for you. Adam must have left it this morning.”

He has a seat at the breakfast bar and reads the note aloud.

Trevor,

Today is sure to be the best day of my entire life. Today, I marry my best friend. I could not imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone other than you by my side. Thank you for making me the luckiest man alive.

Love,

Adam

I’m awed listening to him read the note as I pour us each coffee and then fill our plates. I have a seat on the stool next to him, and he opens the package on the counter. When he removes the wrapping, there is a red box inside. He pulls out a watch and flips it looking inside.

Deux Corps Ung Cuer

He reads the inscription. “What does it mean?” I ask.

“Two bodies, one heart,” he says, batting at a tear in his eye.

“Awww, you guys a so mushy. I love it!”

We eat breakfast, and I get a text from Mitch while we’re getting ready.

Mitch: Hope you are having a great weekend in New York. I’m sure you’ll be a beautiful bridesmaid. Can’t wait to see you when you get back.

I send him a quick, slightly guilty, text back.

Me: Aw, that’s so sweet! Wish you were here. See you soon!

A limo picks us up in the afternoon to take us to the ceremony. The service is a tearjerker. It’s obvious how head over heels in love the grooms are, and I can’t help the waterworks when I see them both with happy tears in their eyes and the beautiful vows they have each written. Aden winks at me from the seats when I notice him. I smile back with tears continuing to stream down my face.

After the vows have been exchanged, I meet up with Aden in the crowd.

“Hi.” I wipe my eyes before hugging him. “I’m glad you could come.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it. You look beautiful, by the way. Even crying.” He smiles down at me as we release each other from the friendly hug.

“I’m a mess.” I laugh. “They’re just so sweet, aren’t they? I think we’re supposed to follow the masses down a floor to where the reception is.” I take his hand and tell him to follow me.

We walk inside the building and follow everyone down a spiral staircase. “Wow.” I gasp. “I thought the garden was breathtaking. But this, this is simply stunning!”

“Yeah, they really went all out.”

An art gallery is housing the reception. The room is vast and has wood beams going across and down the expanse of the room. There are all different shaped tables around the edges of the room leaving the middle open for a dance floor. There are silver Chiavari chairs around the tables with navy tablecloths and lavender flower petals spread across them. The back far wall has white curtains hanging down as a backdrop behind the sweetheart table. However, the most amazing part is hanging from the high ceilings are easily a thousand tiny, glass encased candles making it look like a starry sky.

“The bar is open. I’ll grab us drinks,” Aden offers.

“Okay, I’m going to find where we’re supposed to sit.”

It truly is an amazing wedding. Aden and I chat through dinner. Many laughs and far too many cocktails later, we hit the dance floor together. Just as I remember, he’s a great dancer. I fall into step with him and we dance until Trevor cuts in.

“Can I borrow my girl for a slow dance?” he asks Aden who retreats to get us another round of drinks.

“Hi, lover. Congratulations, Mr. Adam.” I giggle obviously drunk at this point.

“I see you’re having fun.” He laughs.

“Oh, my God, Trev. Most. Amazing. Wedding. Ever!”

The song ends and Trevor hands me back over to Aden, who has our drinks. We continue dancing, grinding on each other now. We are both getting hot and sweaty after all the dancing, so we grab another round of drinks and head up to the roof to get some fresh air. The garden is dark now and even more beautiful, lit only by the city lights. We stand near the walled edge of the building taking in the remarkable view of the city below.

Aden has his hand on my lower back one moment, and the next thing I know, both our drinks are falling to the ground, glass shattering everywhere, as we kiss each other passionately. He pushes me up against the wall of the building, hiking up my navy dress and hurriedly moving into my panties. He drives two fingers into me and I moan out in pure unadulterated, drunken ecstasy.

For a moment, I feel the warmth of something wonderfully familiar. But like a burst of warm Indian summer weather in the fall, it only lasts for a brief moment before it’s gone.

Something in my mind snaps my thoughts to Mitch, and I push Aden back. “I’m sorry. Aden, we can’t do this.”

“Okay…I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?”

“No!” I say as I pull my dress down. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. Aden, I adore you. I love you as a friend, but it can’t be like this anymore.”

“Oh.”

“It’s nothing you did. It’s just…I met someone. It isn’t serious yet, but I think it could be.”

“It’s okay,” he says brushing his hand down my cheek. “I understand. Come on, let’s go dance until they kick us out.”

“Thank you,” I shoot him a shy smile, “for understanding.”

We dance the rest of the wedding away. I thank Aden for coming all this way and for the amazing time I had with him. We say goodbye with a promise to talk soon when I get back to school.

*   *   *

I can’t wait to see Mitch at work Tuesday. I’m getting my towels from the back storage room when the door closes behind me, and I see Mitch standing there smiling at me.

“Hi.” I smile.

“How was the wedding?” he asks.

My face falls because I know I have to tell him the truth. “It was fun. I have to tell you something.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“The wedding. I went with a date. Not really a date, just a friend. But we used to date, and I just thought I should be honest about it,” I ramble nervously.

“I see. He’s just a friend now, though?”

“Yeah, I made it clear to him that we can only be friends now.”

Mitch walks up to me and my breath hitches at his closeness. He puts his arms up on the wall behind me, one on either side of my head. “Just make sure he knows you’re mine now,” he whispers in my ear. “I don’t want any other men touching you.” He takes his right hand and touches my chin turning it up to him. “I have missed this beautiful face so much. This is my face.” He moves his hand down my body sending a shiver through my spine. “This is my body. You are mine now, Brynn. You. Belong. To. Me.”

He kisses me harshly on the lips before he turns and leaves me alone in the storage room. I let out the breath I was holding when he disappears. What the hell was that? I’m both completely turned on and completely confused by the change I just saw in Mitch. If I had been older, wiser, more experienced, I might have seen this display as a warning sign, a red flag. But as it was, I saw his possessiveness as caring and passion. Stupid.

*   *   *

I went back to work and the rest of the evening, Mitch was back to his normal flirty self, the earlier encounter seemingly forgotten.

The next week, Mitch picks me up for a date. He takes me to a romantic dinner at a little seafood place in an old lighthouse looking out over the water. When he drops me off at my door and kisses me goodnight, all of the sexual tension we have shared over the past couple months explodes. We essentially rip each other’s clothes off, leaving a trail from the door to the bedroom. Mitch is animalistic at first, but just before he enters me, I can see him physically restrain himself. He makes love to me, gently, all night. We fall asleep in each other’s arms as the birds chirping signal that morning is near.