Page 24 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
Chapter 11
Max
Afewminuteslater,when I’m no longer painfully hard—a long reflection on load-bearing walls did the trick, once I got over the word “load”—I head back into the tent.
My eyes search out Kim; I can’t seem to help it.But she’s nowhere to be found.
“Your lady friend…she left.”Jon comes up to me.
“Thanks for the update.”
He gives me a mock salute and disappears.
My parents are dancing to a slow song.Mom has never been much of a dancer, but Dad is, and he usually gets her to dance to one or two songs.More if she’s trying to avoid Auntie Gladys.
But since it’s her daughter’s wedding, Gladys is in high demand.She’s currently talking to Mirabel’s new mother-in-law.Mirabel is the first of the cousins to get married, even though most of us are in our thirties.I’m the oldest, but given how I’ve been performing lately, I suppose it’s not surprising that I’m still single.
Jesus.I can’t believe I said those words to Kim.Dirty talk isn’t the sort of thing I do, well, ever.But when she asked what I’d do if given the chance, I couldn’t seem to help myself.And I was watching her out of the corner of my eye.She was clearly turned on.I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t been into it.
Though now that it’s over, I feel weird about it.We were alone, but not far from the rest of the wedding guests.My cousin’s wedding.
I head to the bar.
“What can I get you?”the bartender asks.
“Whiskey,” I tell her.“On the rocks.”
As soon as she hands me the glass, I dump half the alcohol into my mouth.Unfortunately, I also get an ice cube in the process, and I start hacking away.
“What’s wrong with Max?”a child’s voice asks.
Why is Nolan still up?It must be way past his bedtime.
Daisy ushers him away so I can consume my alcohol and have my coughing fit in peace.
“I’m going to head out and—hey, you okay?”Evan places a hand on my back.
“Yeah, just swallowed an ice cube.”I hold up my glass.
My brother frowns.“Are you drinking whiskey?Does this have to do with Kim?You know, everyone has their off nights.It’s okay.”
Since I can’t tell Evan about the conversation I just had, I simply nod.Then I down the rest of the whiskey, careful not to get any ice cubes, and ask for more.Neat, this time.
Evan, who rarely drinks, looks on with concern.“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”I know I haven’t convinced anyone, not even myself.
“Look, I’m driving Mom and Dad home—you know Mom doesn’t like being out too late—so I should get going.But you and Leo are sharing a hotel room, right?”
“Yep.”
I’m dimly aware of Evan going over to Leo, who’s nursing a glass of liquor and looking at something on his phone.When Evan points in my direction, Leo scowls.
“I’m okay,” I say, even though I’m on my way to drunk.
I stumble, but there was a napkin on the floor, I swear.I didn’t just trip on my own two feet.Really, I didn’t.
“Yo, Max,” Aaron says, coming over with a beer in hand.“What’s up?”He slaps me on the shoulder and gives me an easy smile.
