Tragic Love (29 page)

“First of all, let’s get something straight. Delilah and I are NOT in a relationship like you two sorry fuckers.” Jake animatedly gestures as he points to us. “Second, we are just friends. That’s all we will ever be is friends.” Reggie eyes Jake, waiting for him to enlighten us by actually answering the question. “When you say it like that, yeah, she’s worth the trouble. I mean, I guess. Fuck that girl can piss me off like no one I’ve ever met, but I would rather she be in my life, even when she’s acting like a fucking lunatic.”

Reggie merely smirks at Jake as if to say,
“Right, when you’re thirty we’ll see how you feel.”

We all finish our food in peace then head back upstairs for a quick nap before we have to start getting in our suits. I’ve never worn a suit before. In fact, I don’t think any of us have ever worn a suit or tuxedo. The thought makes me laugh. Four white trash rejects from Sulfur Heights wearing suits. Look out Vegas, here comes the Evans brothers, and for the next sixteen hours, we are going to own you.

Presley

The Penthouse suite is even more incredible than Drake’s and my room. The view from their window is stunning, and once the desert sun goes down, the bright lights of Vegas will illuminate the room. Three extra people are in the room, standing next to a weird shaped padded table. The lights have been turned down and soft music is playing in the background.

Darcie walks from the bathroom in a fluffy white robe, shuffling across the plush carpet with a smug smile on her face. In her hand, she holds her empty Champaign glass, filling it with the bottle in her other hand until the golden liquid flows over the sides. Delilah and I walk back to the bathroom, shedding our clothes and putting on the same type of robe as Darcie. Then we saddle up to have a massage.

I was a little leery about a strange person rubbing their hands all over me, but soon forgot my fear one minute after it began. Delilah’s wedding present to Darcie is our afternoon of beauty. I was fully prepared to style hair and now we can just sit in the room and get pampered by strangers. This is a lot of fun and any anxiety I had when I woke up this morning slowly melts away.

We’ve officially been pampered, nails and toes polished, hair styled and makeup done. The three of us sit in the suite, around the table, eating a light lunch before we have to get dressed and down to the limo. “I can’t believe you wanted a black wedding dress.” I look to Delilah and study her puzzled face. “I understand you not wanting white, considering you no longer have your virtue, but why not go with ivory or cream?” Delilah pops a grape in her mouth.

“Why not? I could care less about the you-can’t-wear-white-on-your-wedding-day-because-you’ve-had-your-cherry-popped shit. I thought you’ve noticed by now that Reggie and I aren’t the most conventional people. We like to do things our own way and screw what everyone else says.” Darcie stabs her fork into a crisp leaf of lettuce then points her utensil at Delilah. “Besides, who do you know that’s a virgin on their wedding night?”

“I will be,” Delilah says while running her finger over her engagement ring. It’s a large princess cut stone surround by a million tiny diamonds. It looks heavy and very expensive.

“What!” Darcie releases a huge laugh, so much so, she is shooting food out of her mouth. Delilah just glares and I grab her hand to let her know its okay. “You’re trying to tell me you and this Emerson dude haven ever had sex? Haven’t you been together forever?”

“No, we have not had sex. I was raised knowing a woman should respect the sanctity of marriage and preserve herself for the man she spends the rest of her life with. Emerson has grown up with the same values and we are both waiting to be with one another on our wedding night.” Delilah’s accent gets more southern sounding, which is a sure sign she’s getting uncomfortable with the conversation. She’s twisting her napkin into a tight, coiled piece of fabric.

“Hey, I’m not trying to piss you off, it just baffles me. I mean, if it were me, I would want to know if the man I marry is a train wreck in bed because I don’t know if I would want to spend the rest of my life having sex with a stiff board.” Darcie refills her water glass and then takes another piece of chicken, shoving it in her mouth. She looks absolutely stunning as she eats like a pig. The sight is quite entertaining. Actually, this conversation is rather entertaining. I remain quiet, soaking it all in.

“Isn’t Reggie the only guy you’ve been with? It’s not like you slept around and knew without a doubt Reggie is the best you’ve ever had. You have nothing to compare it to, it’s kind of the same situation,” she rebukes and Darcie glares.

“Point well made, however, if I felt nothing when Reggie and I had sex, which I’m saying I’m not—”

“I know. I’ve heard you many times,” I chime in and Darcie slaps me on the shoulder.

“You can really hear me?” I nod and she continues, “Good to know. Anyway, back to my point. If I didn’t feel the most incredible feeling when I’m with him, I know I wouldn’t marry him. If I know anything, it is when you’re with someone you’re truly meant to be with, the electricity between your bodies is unmistakable. I don’t think you can have that with just anyone. It needs to be the person you’re meant to be with.” Darcie smiles, knowing just how much she and Reggie love each other.

Darcie has never been more right in her life because I’m familiar with that electricity; it lives between Drake and I. “I agree with Darcie. But you know what I find funny; we sit here and discuss sex like we’re the most knowledgeable women on the plant. Yet, we’ve only been with one guy in our life, and you none,” I say, pointing to Delilah. “Then look who you’re about to marry and the rest of the guys for that matter. Between the four of them they’ve probably slept with the entire town of Sulfur Heights and two out of the four of them have snagged virgins as the partner in the ever after. And Jake, well, Delilah, you’re probably the closest thing he will ever have to a girlfriend.” I raise my hands like a minister does during his sermon to emphasize his point. “Virgin!” I shout. Both of the girls stare at me as if they are really processing what I just said. Like it never occurred to them we’ve snagged our ying to their yang. Then, we all erupt in fits of laughter as we finish our lunch. God, I love these girls. I’m really happy and loving life right now. Man, it really feels good to think that and truly mean it.

***

Delilah and my dresses are beautiful. They’re strapless with a sweetheart neckline and satin material that cling to our bodies perfectly. The color is a deep eggplant purple—Darcie’s favorite color—accompanied with a black satin ribbon tied underneath our breasts. Our makeup is simple and our hair is down, styled in light waves and pinned back around the face. I’ve never felt so beautiful in my entire life and so terrified to walk at the same time. The five inch black heels will be interesting to walk in.

We put Darcie in her gown and she looks very much like the angel Reggie calls her. The dress is strapless and has the same sweetheart neckline like Delilah and my dress. The bodice fits snuggly to her chest and waist, but the bottom billows out and gathers until it hits the floor. The small train follows behind her, which Delilah pins up to avoid the bottom of the dress getting dirty. Half her hair is gathered on top of her head, secured in rhinestone clips while the rest falls in waves down her back. She is breathtaking.

“I was so wrong,” Delilah says while completely mesmerized by Darcie. “You look amazing. In fact, you look perfect in black. I don’t think another wedding gown would have suited you.” We all share a big hug, grab our purple multi-flower bouquets and head downstairs for the limo.

Drake

The ceremony was only twenty minutes and I know everyone was secretly thanking God for that because I was dying to take off this tie. How the hell do guys wear these things every single day? According to Reggie, Delilah and Darcie coordinated everything in record time. From the service, travel, hotel and clothing, every detail was done by them and over the phone. All Reggie had to do is turn over his credit card, leaving the girls in charge of everything else.

They started planning the wedding when Presley was still in rehab and in their sneaky girl ways got sizes for all of us then had the clothing shipped to Las Vegas in time for the wedding. We didn’t have to wear the full suit, only the black pants and dress shirt with a dark purple tie.

When we were getting dressed, we all stood there, trying to figure out how to tie a tie. Jake even YouTubed it and we still couldn’t figure it out. There has never been an occasion where we needed to wear a tie. It’s not something guys just automatically know how to do. When we arrived at the chapel, Reggie caught Delilah in the hallway and she went around to each of us securely tying the knot around our necks.

Even though the ceremony is short, it’s exactly how Reggie and Darcie envisioned it. When Presley walks down the aisle, it is nearly impossible not to tackle her and fuck her right there on the floor, minister present and all. I can’t wait for all this to be over so I can have her alone with me in the room and finish what we started earlier today.

Jeremy walks Darcie down the aisle and then Reggie grabs a hold of Darcie’s hands and kisses her scarred shoulder before they go into saying their vows. This is the only time I’ve ever seen Reggie close to crying. Even after everything he’s been through in his life, he’s never shown any emotion that would come close to shedding tears, yet here he stands with the love of his life in his hands, tears of joy running down his face.

Just after Reggie and Darcie say
I do,
the sixty second countdown to midnight starts and we’re all ready to bring in a New Year. Standing in the lobby outside the sanctuary, the seven of us wait for the clock to roll to midnight. I grab Presley’s cheeks in my hands and take in everything I love about her. We have both been through so much this year, filled with happiness, obstacles and pain, but as we stand here waiting with the New Year upon us, I can’t help but think there is a reason we’ve met so many challenges. Everything we do has a purpose in life and I’m glad mine is staring back at me.

As the others are counting down the last seconds of the year, I take the opportunity tell her exactly what I’m feeling. “I love you so much and I can’t wait to see what this New Year will bring. You and Mia are my life and make everything I do have meaning. Thank you for being in my life, Presley, and I look forward to spending every New Year with you in my arms.”

The confetti is thrown by the chapel staff just as everyone shouts Happy New Year. I lean down and press my lips to hers. They are soft and taste sweat like cherries. Perfect.

***

The lights of the Vegas strip shine into our window as we stand in our suite, wrapped in each other’s arms. It’s been months since we’ve made love and we both decided it’s time to come back to each other. We conquered so much the last few months, now it’s time to relish in those victories. After we left the church, Jake, Jeremy and Delilah hit the town, as the rest of us ran off to our rooms. I’ve been dying to get her out of this dress and naked in my arms.

We face each other as we stand in the middle of the room. Presley looks beautiful and nervous, more so than she did the first time we were together. I think this time is more significant because this is how she coped with her terrors of Robert until she discovered heroin and I know she’s thinking she will tie thoughts of him with sex.

I’m confident in what we have, though. I know she can feel the love I have for her, and I will do everything in my power to make sure it’s me who’s flooding her mind. I start by kissing her shoulders. Ever so slightly, I plant delicate kisses to her soft skin, lightly brushing it with my tongue.

Presley runs her hands up the back of my shirt, pulling it from the waistband and sneaks her small fingers underneath. The pads of her fingers slowly move up my back, causing me to harden instantly.

I move to the back of her dress and then slowly pull the zipper down her back. Her breath hitches as the satin material glides down her body and billows around her feet. When I take a step back to look at her, it’s easy for me to see that Presley is the most incredible woman I’ve ever seen as she stands in her black lace strapless bra, lace thong and high heels. I don’t think I can hold off another second, but I don’t want to rush this moment. We’ve been waiting so long for this reconnection and I won’t waste a single second.

Presley’s hands move to my tie, pulling the knot down until it’s undone. Then her fingers unbutton my black shirt and slowly she slides it off my shoulders and onto the floor. We stand there, saying nothing, not kissing, simply staring into each other’s eyes, absorbing every detail of each other.

As her hands finally move to my waistband, my pants fall from my hips and onto the floor. It’s impossible to hide how much my body reacts to hers. I kick off my shoes and socks then sweep her up in my arms, carrying her over to the bed. She is lying under me, brown hair splayed across the pillows, a look of passion igniting her eyes.

God, I love this woman.

Presley

Drake is lying on top of me, lightly kissing his way down my body. When he reaches my legs, he lifts each one, sliding both his hands down my thighs, over my knees and to my ankles where he pulls off my stiletto and then repeats with the other leg. I am dying to feel him against my naked skin. It prickles with delight and my core is heating with anticipation. I’ve been with Drake many times since the first, but this time feels like it’s the most important time because we’re saying good bye to our pasts and welcoming our future.

The soft pucker of his lips leaves charges of electricity when he makes his way up my body. Each kiss is delicate, erotic and purposeful.

I slightly sit up so he can unclasp my bra then lie back down when his lips assault my nipples, making them hard pebbles with every lick, suck and taste. I need to feel his body against mine so I grab his face and meet his lips with mine. Our kiss turns from yearning to ravenous within seconds as the inner passion erupts from us both.