Thirteen

THIRTEEN

Everett

Carmen

I LOVEEEE our pre-marriage counselor.

I'm so happy you've been following her "no sex until marriage" plan with me for the past couple months!

You're truly the one for me :-) Tell me how your group tuxedo fitting goes later!

" W hy do we have to get fitted for tuxedos this early?" Leo asked. "What if I gain twenty pounds between now and the wedding?"

"We'll make adjustments for that, sir." One of the tailors smiled at him. "This is more about getting the right body type and style down first."

The other groomsmen laughed.

I said nothing.

All I could think about was the other night's dinner with Dahlia and the drunken things she'd said to me. The look in her eyes when I'd asked about Carmen cheating on me.

I could still read her with ease—could still tell that unresolved feelings were trapped under her tongue like they were confined under mine—and I no longer believed she was trying to destroy things with Carmen for no reason.

I wonder what made her send me that first email, though…

"Hey uh…" Leo cleared his throat. "Can me and Everett have this room to ourselves for a moment?"

The tailors placed final marks on the hems, and the groomsmen slowly filed into the hallway.

Leo waited until the doors shut before motioning for me to follow him into an adjoining room.

"Quick question." He crossed his arms. "Who the hell are all those other groomsmen?"

I smiled. "Carmen's brothers and cousins. She thought it would look weird if I just had a best man while she has thirteen bridesmaids and two maids of honor."

"You must really love her."

"I do."

"Then why aren't you acting like it?"

"Huh?" I crossed my arms. "What are you talking about?"

"Everyone has been laughing and joking all day, and you've been a stone toad."

"It's nothing. I'm just off."

"Getting cold feet?"

"No."

"Then are you cheating?"

"I've told you to stop psychoanalyzing me."

"Because if you are cheating, best friend or not, I'll be forced to rip you to shreds."

"I'm not, but someone told me Carmen may be cheating on me."

"Well, pay someone to look into that, and when they're wrong, count your blessings and keep it moving."

"You don't think she is?"

"I don't know her well enough to say." He shrugged. "Do you think so?"

"No."

"Perfect. Listen to your gut, but still get it investigated to be sure. In the meantime, can you smile and behave like you're excited about marrying her for the rest of this session today?"

"Okay."

He headed toward the door, but then he slowly turned around.

"Who's the ‘someone?'"

"Huh?"

"Who is the someone who told you about Carmen?"

"Dahlia." I paused. "It's probably jealousy and last-minute sabotage, right?"

He stared at me.

"Tell me she's trying to ruin my life all over again because she realizes she messed up the best relationship she's ever had in her life."

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"She cheated on me before, and now she sees how silly that was and she's trying to sow doubt into my relationship with Carmen."

Silence.

"Why are you so quiet now?" I asked. "Say something."

"I do know Dahlia," he said. "Almost as well as you do. She's a lot of things, but we both know she's never been a liar."

"What about a cheater ?"

"I've told you time and time again that I never believe she actually cheated on you."

"No, really. Whose side are you on, Leo?"

"What the hell do you want me to say?" he asked."Let's stalk the hell out of Carmen and see for ourselves?"

"What a brilliant idea…"