Page 5 of Cherish

“What’s the rush?” I ask. “Why are you so frazzled? I thought you’d be more relaxed for the only bachelor party you’re ever going to have.”

He takes a deep breath and sits back down on the bed.

“Best bachelor party ever, but I miss my girl. She’s been helping Tracy with the kids all weekend for fuck’s sake. What if she decides she can’t deal with this for the rest of her life?”

“Deal with what? All that shit is in the past. Leave it there. Sandy knows you love her, and she loves your crazy ass despite all the shit you did when you guys met. And she’s helping Tracy because that’s what you do in a family. Let that shit go.”

“I do two little minor things and you never let me forget it. I’m going to shower and then I’ll need to eat. I’m hungover and I feel like shit. Grab my phone from Luke whenever he’s done arguing with Vivienne about nothing,” he says as he walks out the door.

“Remember, whatever happened in Miami, stays in Miami, boys,” Jake’s dad, Joshua Clark says. “I don’t want to have to write anyone out of the will,” he says, looking directly at Luke.

“I won’t tell Mom about all the alcohol you drank, the cigars you smoked, or all the red meat you ate,” Luke says.

The bachelor party was for Jake, but it was the perfect excuse for me to get out of town for a few days. The life of a medical resident is filled with long days, sleepless nights, and stress.

Add that to fighting parents, relocating a sister who wanted nothing to do with me for a decade into my house, and the final nail in the coffin of a relationship that ended years ago, this trip could not have come at a better time.

I knew Jacob Clark and I were going to get along fine the moment I walked into our dorm room, but I never would have guessed that his family would make me their surrogate son. From the moment I met his parents, his older brother Troy, and younger brother, Luke, they took me in. When they figured my parents had dropped me off on campus and promptly left, they insisted I join them for dinner.

Now, I should be at home helping Melanie get settled, but Josh Clark insisted I come over for dinner first. I hold back and watch as our entourage is accosted by their women.

Sandy is first as she jumps into Jake’s arms and wraps her legs around him. Feeling like a voyeur at the intimacy of their kiss, I look away only to find Lilian Clark hugging Josh.

Troy picks his wife up off the ground and spins her around before giving her a chaste kiss on the lips, and Chris throws Tash over his shoulder, spins her around and kisses her on the forehead.

I look at the other two single people in the group, Luke and Vivienne, who are trying to make it look like they are not looking at each other and sigh. I drop my backpack on the ground and grab a water from the cooler.

“These people act like they just got back from war and not a long weekend in Miami,” Luke says as he watches Vivienne, who is sticking her foot in the pool. He gets a crazed look in his eye, pulls his polo shirt over his head, tosses it on the grass, runs across the yard, and does a cannonball into the pool, drenching Vivienne in the process.

“Jerk!” Vivienne hisses as she walks away, water dripping off her body.

And that’s how the next couple of hours go. Lots of PDA from the couples, one-upmanship from Vivienne and Luke. At one point, I watch as she puts her entire hand in his food. Without missing a beat, he looks around to make sure his parents and brother aren’t looking, fills his spoon with pasta salad, and does something obscene with his tongue. When Vivienne stomps away, he laughs so hard, he cries.

“It’s time for me to go,” I say soon after, looking around the room at all the lovers.

I catch Luke’s eye and he says, “We’re the only ones smart enough to remain single.”

I don’t respond. I say my goodbyes and about half an hour later, walk into my new home. The place was bare when I left. Now there are a few boxes in the middle of the living room, but my sister is nowhere in sight.

“Mellie Smellie!” I yell, using the childhood nickname I know she hates. She comes running out of her room, like a burst of energy. She reaches me and I pull her into a hug, lifting her off the ground.

One look at her and you’d know we’re siblings. She has the same light-brown skin as I do, which is now tanned from the June heat. She even inherited the height from our mother’s side of the family, standing just shy of five feet ten inches.

She reaches up and pinches my cheeks, her retaliation for calling her by her dreaded childhood name.

“I still tower over you,” I remind her. “Don’t make me put you in a headlock or body slam you.”

She hooks her arm through mine and lays her head on my shoulder.

“It’s so weird not hating you anymore.” She laughs. “How was Miami? Oh!” she says before I can form a response. “I’m totally your plus one to your rich friend’s wedding. It’s not like you have a date. If you get one, too bad because I’m still going.”

“You can come,” I say as I plop myself on the sofa. “Miami was fucking fantastic. In the history of the world, no one has planned a better bachelor party than your brother.”

“Well, this Jacob Clark better be ready to return the favor when it’s your turn, or he’ll have to deal with me.”

“My turn? Fuck, no.” I shake my head.

“Yes, your turn. We agreed to new beginnings and that doesn’t just mean our bond. You’ve held back for twelve years because of Natalie. She made her choice, Jase. She could have come to Boston for college with you, but she chose to stay and take care of her sick father. We weren’t speaking when her father died, but I know you probably thought that freed her to be with you, but she still didn’t choose you. She’s with someone else now, so fuck her. You’re a good guy and you deserve happiness.”

---