Chapter 70

CHAPTER 70

SIMON

W hen Jameson asked me to be one of his groomsmen, I was flattered and a little surprised. We had become friendly over the last few weeks, but it still caught me off guard. The idea of standing up there with him, supporting him on one of the most important days of his life, filled me with a sense of pride and honor.

I was very honored to get the invitation and I was obviously going to take him up on the offer. I had never really had a lot of guy friends. I had Lenny, but never really the bro-group thing. It meant a lot that they had accepted me into their group. I was one of them. I knew it made Rylee happy as well. Her friends meant a lot to her, and I never wanted her to feel like she was torn between me and them. We could all hang out together.

I walked through the house and found Rylee in the indoor pool. "Damn woman," I groaned, taking in the sight of her in the sleek black bathing suit. "How am I supposed to leave the house when you look like that?"

She smiled and swam to the side, resting her hands on the edge of the pool. "I guess it will be a good reason for you to come back home."

"I'll call Jameson and tell him I have my own tux," I said.

"Nope." She smiled, shaking her head. "You agreed to be one of his groomsmen. No turning back now."

"I'm not turning back. I'm just going to wear my tux."

"Go." She laughed.

"When I get back, we're getting back in this pool," I warned.

"Promise?" she retorted.

I squatted down to give her a quick kiss before leaving the house. I was meeting all the guys and a couple I hadn't met yet at the tailor's for our final tux fittings.

The room buzzed with jokes and laughter as we each took turns getting measured and trying on our suits. Lauren's brother Clay was here as well as a friend from college, Adam, to round out the numbers. It was different watching them tease each other like they had known each other forever, but I had learned they were all very different men that were all new friends. Archer was the last guy in. He had shared with me it took a little time for them to accept him as well. I found myself smiling more than usual.

Ward nudged me with his elbow. "You're looking sharp, Simon. Might even give Jameson a run for his money."

I laughed. "Not a chance. This is his day. I'm just here to make him look even better by comparison."

Jameson grinned, adjusting his tie in the mirror. "Don't sell yourself short, man. We'll both be looking good."

The tailor made some notes and we all changed back into our regular clothes. Archer looked at me. I gave him a simple nod. Ward was grinning like a fool as he slapped Jameson on the back.

"Now the fun begins," Ward said.

"What are you talking about?" Jameson asked.

"Bachelor party!" Ward exclaimed.

Jameson shook his head. "I don't think Lauren would appreciate that. We agreed no wild parties."

"Do we look like we would do anything seedy?" Archer asked.

"Maybe you're not the one to ask that," Jameson said.

"Come on," Ward said, guiding him out of the store to the waiting limo. "We've cleared this with your future bride. No strippers. It's just the guys sending you off into marital bliss."

Jameson gave in. We all climbed into the waiting car with the exception of Clay and Adam. The limo was stocked with drinks, and the guys wasted no time cracking open beers and sharing stories. I sat back, taking it all in. It was strange to be a part of a close-knit group like this, but it felt good. These were guys I could rely on, who had Jameson's back no matter what. As we drove through the city, the energy in the limo was infectious.

We took him to a swanky gentleman's club. The place was a blend of old-world sophistication and modern luxury, with plush leather chairs, a well-stocked bar, and the smoky scent of cigars lingering in the air. It was the perfect setting for a night of celebration with no strippers dancing on poles.

We started with drinks, toasting to Jameson's future. Archer and I got into a heated game of darts while the others gathered around a pool table. Archer and I returned to our table just as our personal server was delivering an assortment of appetizers.

I bit into a juicy lamb skewer, bursting with flavor. "You're pretty good at darts," I told Archer.

He gave me a pleased grin. "Probably because I've spent too much time in bars."

We both laughed. Jameson and Ward returned and started eating.

We teased Jameson about the do's and don'ts of married life, with hints of humor.

"None of you are married except Ward and he's barely married," Jameson said. "I don't think you guys are the ones I'm going to be listening to."

Our server returned with a wooden box. I could smell the cigars before she opened it. We each selected a cigar and lit up. The strong, smooth whiskey was the perfect complement to the equally smooth cigar. We all leaned back, quiet as we gave the choice cigars the reverence they deserved.

I took a slow drag from my cigar, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. Archer was sitting next to me, a thoughtful look on his face.

"So, Simon," he began, and I knew there was a loaded question behind the words.

"Yes, Archer."

"You ever think about marrying Rylee?" he asked.

I nodded, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face. "Every day."

Archer chuckled. "Yeah, I can see it written all over your face. You've got it bad, man."

The guys overheard and pounced on the opportunity to give Archer a hard time. "Speaking of marriage," Ward teased, "what about you and Mary Ellen? Any plans?"

Archer tried to look nonchalant, but a faint blush betrayed him. "We've talked about it. Quite a bit, actually. But Mary Ellen being Mary Ellen, she wants to keep it hush-hush until after Lauren and Jameson's wedding. She wants her friend to have her moment. She said it goes against the rules to announce our wedding plans before Lauren has had her moment in the spotlight."

Jameson grinned, shaking his head. "That's Mary Ellen for you. Always thinking of others."

Just then, the server returned with another round of whiskey. As we toasted to Jameson's upcoming life as a married man, I found my mind wandering back to Rylee. Seeing the camaraderie between these guys made me anticipate a future where I would be sitting in Jameson's position, celebrating my own impending nuptials.

The conversation naturally shifted back to me. "So, Simon, do you have any plans to propose?" Jameson asked.

I leaned back, taking another drag from my cigar, savoring the rich flavor. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

The guys groaned and threw napkins and whatever they could find at me. "Come on," Archer pushed. "She's like a sister. We need to know these things."

"We've known each other a couple of months." I shrugged. "Don't you think that's a little fast?"

They all exchanged looks. "You're talking to the wrong crowd about moving too fast." Ward laughed. "I'm a firm believer in when you know, you know. I think if you love her like you've never loved before, it's a pretty big clue."

I nodded, taking in his words. There was no denying my feelings for Rylee. She was all I had ever wanted and more, but were we ready for the commitment? I wondered.

The night wore on with laughter and ribbing, celebrating one bachelorhood nearing its end while pushing me to step into the married world with all of them.

"Don't rush it, Simon," Jameson said softly while the others were talking. "You'll feel it when it's time."

I smiled at him. "Thanks, man," I replied. My mind was still on Rylee and our last conversation by the pool.

We stayed until the club closed, the night ending with a final toast to Jameson. "To Jameson," I said, raising my glass. "May your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures."

"Hear, hear," the others echoed, their glasses meeting in the middle.

We all walked out into the cool night air, our breath visible in the crisp October chill. Jameson clapped me on the back. "Thanks for tonight, Simon. It means a lot."

"It was truly my pleasure," I said. "Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this."

We climbed into the limo, all feeling the effects of the smooth whiskey. It felt good to be part of something bigger than myself, to have a group of friends who genuinely cared about one another. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I truly belonged.

When I got home, Rylee was already asleep. I clumsily stripped down to my briefs, leaving a pile of clothes on the floor. I slipped into bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. She stirred slightly, mumbling something in her sleep, and I kissed her forehead.

Lying there, with her in my arms, I knew I had everything I needed. A wonderful woman who loved me, friends who had my back, and a future that looked brighter than ever. It was more than I ever dared to dream, and I wasn't going to take a single moment for granted.

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon. Rylee was in the kitchen, humming softly as she cooked breakfast. I leaned against the doorway, watching her with a smile.

"Good morning," I said, making her jump slightly.

She turned and smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Good morning. How was the bachelor party?"

"Good," I replied, walking over to wrap my arms around her from behind. "But not as fantastic as this."

She laughed, leaning back into me. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

I kissed her neck, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. "I mean it, Rylee. Last night made me realize just how lucky I am. Not just to have friends like Jameson and the guys, but to have you. You make everything better."

She turned in my arms, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes. "I feel the same way. You've brought so much joy into my life, Simon. I can't imagine it without you."

"What's all this?" I asked looking at the breakfast spread.

"Let's just say I woke up to you snoring in my ear and reeking of whiskey and cigars." She laughed. "I had a feeling you were going to need a high-protein breakfast to recover."

"Sorry." I grimaced.

"It's perfectly fine. I'm glad you had a good time. Sit down and I'll get you a plate."

I walked to pour myself a cup of coffee. "Thank you. You're too good to me."

"I'm just good enough," she teased.

She put a plate stacked high with bacon, eggs and perfectly cooked hashbrowns in front of me. I took a bite of bacon and waited for her to join me at the breakfast bar.

"So, where did you guys go?" she asked.

"We went to a gentleman's club downtown. It was a night filled with fine whiskey, premium cigars, and a lot of teasing," I replied, taking another sip of my coffee.

Rylee raised an eyebrow. "Teasing?"

I laughed. "A friendly pressure about joining the married men's club. They even tried to extract plans about my potential proposal to you."

Rylee's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink. "Oh?" she managed, trying to keep her voice casual.

"Don't let it go to your head," I teased, reaching out to tuck a loose curl behind her ear. "Nothing's set in stone yet."

She laughed. "Good."

"But there were no shenanigans, no naked women gyrating in our laps, no anything," I assured her. "It was a good time. Really good."