15. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

My cousin Reese is a good guy. He's never done anything wrong to me. Hell, the guy isn't even all that annoying in the grand scheme of things. He definitely talks too much. Is way too happy. But don't let that fool you. He's one of the most ruthless guys I know. He's loyal as fuck, but he's so obnoxious. He takes too much energy from me, and that's not something I have an abundance of.

Every time I'm with him, I try to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes me not want to be around him but realize more and more it isn't just him I don't want to be around. It's everyone. People in general. I wish I could explain why I dislike it so much. I don't want to be alone all the time, but I can't handle being around people. It's like they take from me even if they aren't doing anything. It's hard to explain, hard to even comprehend, but it's how I feel. It's tiring as hell.

Last minute, I almost backed out of coming here. Even called Reese to tell him I wasn't sure I could make it. Then he dropped the bomb that I was in the wedding, and apologized saying he wanted to tell me sooner but knew if he did he'd freak me out and I wouldn't go. He's right. That would have been too much of a commitment to handle. Telling me once I got here would have been the smart thing to do. Finding out beforehand only confused me. It made me really not want to come, but also made me feel bad because there's no way he was finding someone to take my spot. Least he deserves for pulling this shit. But I'm supposed to be walking down the aisle, with Ori, Ezra's wife, and none of this is her fault. I don't want to let her down. She's one of the only people in the world who takes nothing from me when we're together.

The fucker got me. I don't want to screw him over, and I really don't want to disappoint Ori, who is supposedly excited to see me.

Do I want to be in this wedding? No, absolutely not. But Reese is the closest family I have and family does mean something to me, regardless of what I said to him. Maybe I don't hold family as high as he does, but the word isn't meaningless. Two people adopted me and my brother and made us their family. Of course it means something to me. I just prefer it when it's from a distance and not in the form of hugs, constant visits, and expectations.

So why the fuck am I planning to move here?

"It's crooked," Ezra, Reese's best friend and best man, teases.

He's a pretty big guy, lots of tattoos, long hair with a close-cropped undercut. His hair is French braided neatly down the top of his head, his beard neatly trimmed. He's an inch or two shorter than me, but beefier.

Reese growls, tears his emerald, green tie off and starts again. We're dressed in matching suits, all with green ties. Reese's has a paisley pattern, while Ezra's and mine are plain.

I focus on the article on my phone, hardly listening to their bickering. It's all they do. They're worse than an old married couple.

The Piano Man Slashes Another Note

These writers need to lay off the cheese. This is the stupidest shit I've ever read. I can picture Sev laughing over it though. Sitting there on his phone with his long hair falling out of his messy bun, a big smirk on his face as he reads the embarrassing headlines.

Yet here I am reading it too. Only, I'm not laughing about it.

And why the fuck can I imagine him doing something so vividly when I hardly know the guy?

A well-known cartel leader, Antonio Rubio, was found dead in his Colorado vacation home. The scene left no doubts as to who could have accomplished this heinous crime. True to the Piano Man's MO, Mr. Rubio suffered a horrific death. The Piano Man's signature note was carved into the man's left palm. There are no witnesses or—

"Earth to Justin!"

I quickly click my phone off and look up. Reese is glaring at me with his light blue eyes, his cheeks flushed out of frustration. His dark hair is longer than I remember it from last time, but not by much. It's styled back neatly with enough product to withstand a nuclear bomb, and slightly darker than mine.

"What?" I ask. Ezra is smirking behind him, bringing his whiskey glass to his lips.

"I asked you where the rings are."

My brow furrows. "Rings are the best man's job."

Reese goes ghostly white.

"Ezra said he asked you to handle them." I don't think I've ever heard him sound so serious before. It's possible he actually shit his pants.

I glance at Ezra who is biting his cheek to stop from laughing.

"Ezra is a fucking liar," I say with a smile and flip him off.

Reese turns around just as Ezra bursts out laughing.

"You fucking stupid ape!" Reese bellows. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack on my wedding day? What is actually wrong with you?"

Ezra laughs even harder, and it makes me smile.

"My wife will—"

"She's not your wife!" Ezra and I shout at the same time.

Reese lifts both hands, aiming one at each of us and giving us the middle finger. "Fuck both of you."

"Wish you could," Ezra says.

"That would be weird," I add.

"Fine, fuck each other then," Reese says as he crosses his arms, gesturing back and forth between Ezra and I, still with the middle finger. He goes to the table to grab the bottle of whiskey and doesn't bother getting a glass. He drinks straight from the bottle.

I look at Ezra. "No offense, but no thanks. You're not my type."

"None taken. You're not my type either."

Considering he's straight, I already knew that.

After a moment, Reese goes back to Ezra. "Show me the rings, prick." Ezra pulls them from inside jacket pocket. Reese sighs heavily, his shoulders relaxing as he takes them. "I fucking hate you."

"No you don't. You love me."

"Not today." Reese hands the rings back hesitantly. Ezra shoves them back into his pocket.

"You say that until you see that beautiful wife-to-be of yours and get on your knees to thank me for hooking you two up."

"You didn't do shit to hook us up!" Reese shouts, throwing his hands in the air.

"If it wasn't for my wife hiring her as our nanny, you wouldn't be with her right now."

"Bull shit. I knew her before that."

Ezra rolls his eyes. "Checking out her ass in a bar one time is not ‘knowing her.'"

"Five minutes!" comes from the hallway. We all glance that way and spot the event planner, Maria. She smiles quickly and then dashes off. Reese wipes his hands on his jacket and goes back to the mirror to adjust his tie. It was straight, but he just made it crooked. I am not telling him that though.

"Why are you so nervous anyway? You've been wanting this forever," Ezra says.

"I wish I knew," Reese answers, now fiddling with his watch. "I think I'm more nervous about being left up there alone. I'm not nervous about doing this, just about it not happening. What if she doesn't show up?"

Reese is such a fucking sap.

"She wouldn't do that," Ezra says firmly. "She loves the fuck out of you. Don't know why, but she does."

Reese punches him in the shoulder and Ezra laughs. We spend the next five minutes drinking until it's time to go out. They're getting married in a small venue by the ocean. Beyond the large wedding arch is a full wall of glass windows that looks over the Pacific. Reese walks down confidently and stands near the arch while Ezra and I wait in the back.

There are less than twenty people sitting on the white benches. Reese and Josie didn't want a big wedding because they don't have a lot of people they trust. Just a few family members they're close with. A few friends. The only person I recognize is our Uncle Charles and his two kids, who are younger than me and Reese. Somewhere in their late twenties.

"I've never seen this guy happier," Ezra comments, watching Reese who is grinning like a moron.

I nod my agreement. "It is kind of strange seeing him so serious."

Ezra and I aren't exactly friends, but we know each other. Guy hated me when he first met me, but I'm pretty sure he hates everyone. More so than me.

"Daddy!" Ezra's daughter whisper-shouts his name as she runs over. I think she's about four or five. Oriana walks after her, carrying the basket full of flower petals. Ezra picks up his daughter, looking over the white dress she's wearing. Her long dark hair is braided like her father's.

"You look beautiful, El." She wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes.

"I'd give you a kiss, but I don't wanna ruin my makeup. Isn't it pretty? Mommy did it for me," she says, smiling brightly. She's adorable.

Oriana comes over and kisses Ezra. "You're so sexy," he tells her, then looks back at his daughter. "Your makeup is very pretty, El, but you're pretty without it too."

"Well I know that!"

I hide my chuckle. "She's been hanging out with Reese too much," I mutter. Ezra and Ori both laugh, and her eyes light up when she spots me. She gives me a tight hug, Ezra's glare on her the whole time.

"How have you been, Justin?" she asks.

I shrug as she steps back. "Not too bad. You?"

Oriana and I have an interesting history, which sometimes makes me feel strange. I used to work for the man who kidnapped her. The man who raped her. I kept her captive in his house, until Ezra and Reese came to me to help her escape. We lived together for a little while after that. Which I was okay with. Oriana is an easy person to get along with. At the time, she was like a baby bird with a broken wing, and I felt the need to care for her. I helped her get on her feet. We were close. But ever since she moved away with Ezra, we don't talk as much as we did. I'm fine with it. Glad she's got a great life, that she's happy and safe. But it is nice to see her.

She looks as beautiful as I remember with black hair and bright green eyes. You'd never know she's aged five years and had three kids.

"Great. Can you believe he's getting married?" she asks, pointing to Reese who is bouncing on his feet with excitement.

"No," I say simply, and she laughs.

"Where are the boys?" Ezra asks, talking about his two other children. Ezra doesn't hate me, but he isn't fond of me either. He doesn't know me well enough. Meaning, he doesn't like me talking to his wife for too long. It doesn't offend me. It's their relationship, they can do whatever the hell they want.

"Sleeping. Can you believe it?" Oriana adds.

I heard their youngest son, Oliver, who's only a few months old, is a terrible sleeper. Ezra and Reese were talking about it while we got ready.

"Hopefully it stays that way long enough for these two to finally get hitched so Reese can stop bitching." Ezra puts Elizabeth down and she grabs her basket from her mother. "Katrina is still fine to stay tonight?"

Ori walks over to Ezra and he puts his hand around her waist and pulls her into him.

"Of course. She's had it planned out for weeks. I haven't had a night out with my husband without kids in a long damn time, so she better be."

I'm guessing by the conversation, Katrina is their new nanny, considering Reese stole the last one. He's having a wild after party, to which the kids will not be going. Reese is wild on a normal day, so I'm not keen on finding out what his plans for the night are.

"Hey, guys." I look up to see a woman I don't know, who is dressed in a similar dress to Oriana's. Her hair is short and dark. They're the same emerald green as our ties. Both long with loose sleeves and lots of lace. "We ready for this, or what?"

Oriana laughs. "Can't wait for it to be over so Reese can stop whining. Justin, have you met Casey?" she asks, turning toward me.

I shake my head and offer her my hand. "Justin. Reese's cousin."

"Casey. Josie's ex-boss."

"Interesting person to choose for the maid of honor," I say.

She smiles. "I guess we're friends too," she says sarcastically. "Not many people I'd wear a dress for." She gestures down her body.

"But you look so pretty in dresses!" Elizabeth says, clapping her hands.

"Darn right I do." She winks and Elizabeth giggles.

The music starts up and Oriana helps her daughter get into the right place so she can walk down the aisle at the right moment. Reese is beaming up there, and I can't help but feel happy for him.

"Just like we practiced, remember? Not too fast and not too slow," Oriana says to Elizabeth. "And small handfuls, so you have enough to last the whole way, okay?"

"Got it, Mommy."

"Good luck, El," Ezra says, kissing her head. She grins wide, then starts down the aisle, tossing out black and white rose petals. She does an amazing job. Ezra and Casey go next, as the best man and maid of honor. Oriana and I walk next, arm in arm. We take our spots up by the arch. A moment later, a song from Harry Potter begins to play. I only know that because Reese was bragging about all the weird shit they're doing. I've never seen the movies.

Josie walks down the aisle, and she looks absolutely stunning in a sexy wedding dress that will no doubt be off her body as soon as Reese can get it off her.

Reese practically melts, unable to take his eyes from her. The guy is so in love it makes me sick.

"Holy shit, my wife is so hot," Reese mutters, reaching out and grabbing onto Ezra's arm for support. He looks like he may actually pass out. Honestly, it'd be a great story to tell so I hope he does.

"She looked better in the lace bra and panties," I whisper loud enough for him to hear. But I'm pretty sure he doesn't hear me, because he takes off before she reaches him. He kisses her like he's going to die if he doesn't.

"Not one bit of self-control," Ezra mutters, shaking his head. The officiant gives me and Ezra a concerned look, so Ezra goes up to Reese. "Okay, Romeo." He literally peels Reese from Josie, who is smiling.

"I think it's sweet," Oriana says.

"Kinda makes me want to puke," Casey says.

"Same," I add.

We all knew nothing about this wedding would be traditional. Reese definitely isn't fucking normal, and it's only proven truer when I listen to vows about otters and T-Rex's.

Once they're officially married, he kisses her so passionately, I think I'll have to rip him off her before he rips her clothes off. There are kids here. Thankfully, Ezra grabs him before it gets to that.

"I'm fucking married!" Reese shouts, raising their joined hands in the air. Everyone stands and claps. Ezra pats him on the shoulder, a proud smile on his face. Not a single part of Josie looks like she cares how much of a scene Reese is making. She really must be perfect for him. I don't know her all that well, but knowing Reese is in love with her is enough for me.

They disappear for a little while after that and I'm pretty sure I know what they're up to. As does everyone else.

Once they show back up, both with messy hair and flushed skin, we go to the reception which is being held at a fancy hotel not too far away. The kids are here for dinner, but after they have cake, Katrina takes them home, where she'll stay with them for the night.

Once all the tables are cleared of food, the DJ starts up with music. The room we're in is small, but the hotel is huge. The other event rooms are booked full, and the bar just outside the door is central to all the rooms and extremely busy with four bartenders working it. I head out to get a round of drinks and stop dead in my tracks when I see who is sitting across the bar, staring at me with a knowing smirk.