The first morning after he slept in my guest room?! Lord help me! I came downstairs in a ratty old t-shirt and panties, my hair in a messy bun that had clearly been slept in as it plastered itself to the side of my head. I was still rubbing my eyes, getting the crusties out so I could see the coffee maker to start it, forgetting someone else temporarily lived with me. He came out of his room, asking if I was making coffee in just a pairof grey sweats that hung so low on his hips it looked like they were holding on to the edge of a cliff, just barely hanging on, staying where they were, oh so precariously placed. The lack of a shirt showed off every inch of muscled torso, bulging arms, and perfect Greek statue carved perfection.
It was unfair.
So insanely unfair.
The washboard abs. The tattoos on his sides, arms, chest, and back. Because, my God. I didn’t know if I was drooling in my sleep or if that was because he was that freaking…sexy.
And he still was, standing there in a suit and bowtie in the middle of the backyard surrounded by the woods, right next to Aaron who was in a white and black tuxedo, looking like damn James Bond. I smiled, knowing Denise would have her mind blown by him in a few minutes. Opening the door when I heard ‘L-O-V-E’ by Nat King Cole start playing, I made my way out into the backyard that overlooked a river and more forest. I looked up at the guys and saw Adrian’s eyes trained on me, and Tennley as we walked up together. Her shaking a bouquet of leaves, letting them fall and cover the aisle the guys had raked this morning, in one hand, my hand in the other. He looked like a man who had just been blown away.
He mouthed the word ‘beautiful’to me, and I blushed. I knew he was just being polite, but I couldn’t help the blush. A man who looked like he did, shirtless, called me and my little girlbeautiful. Once Tennley and I were standing on the left side of the altar, ‘Speechless’ by Dan + Shay was playing through the air. This was their song, which Aaron dedicated to Denise the first time he heard it. I took a deep breath as the chorus started and looked at Aaron, as I knew my bestie had just started walking down the aisle towards us. His jaw dropped, hiseyes misted over, and I was doing everything I could not to cry right alongside him. Tears lined my eyes as I watched Adrian put his hand on Aaron’s shoulder as the tears fell from his eyes, completely overcome with emotion, but shining so brightly with love, pride, joy, and the look that said he was lucky and he knew it.
This man had nothing but love, respect, and admiration for my best friend. I wanted that someday. That kind of beautiful love that never dimmed, never died, and lasted a lifetime. She took her time getting to us, making sure that every bit of the song played for them. I looked back at Denise, still walking down the aisle, crying, looking at Aaron like he was the only one she saw. He probably was. She was smiling so hard it looked like it hurt, blushing like a fool.
If she weren’t already pregnant, it’d probably happen tonight.
For the briefest of moments, I remember my wedding day I had planned out in my mind. I remember how I had almost every detail planned. A different wedding for each season, just in case. I feel the sadness penetrate me for just a moment. Just until Adrian’s friend started speaking. Our boss, Emily, stood close after walking down the aisle.
The ceremony was short and sweet, and each said their vows they had specially prepared for each other. I was a mess by the end of it. Tennley was just babbling away as they kissed, sealing their union forever. We clapped and cheered for them before we all walked just a few hundred feet away to where the giant cabin was, where the reception was being held. I called the DJ on our walk over, as Adrian took Tennley from me, so I didn’t have to juggle both the phone and my girl. As soon as we came into view, I heard him fade the music out and start his introductions.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience this evening, as the couple had a private ceremony with family only. Please get on your feet as we welcome the bridal party. Maid of Honor, Elise Adams, with flower girl Tennley Adams!” There was polite applause, “Best man, Adrian Walker! And now, please give a warm welcome, for the new Mister and Missus Aaron and Denise Jones!” The applause and cheers were overwhelming, both for Aaron and Denise as well as for Tennley, who’d never been around this many people before. I went to stand right next to her while Adrian held her, leaning his head down and telling her with his deep baritone voice that it was alright, that she was safe, that I was here, and cooed the same things to her. After a few minutes, she started to calm down, and I couldn’t help but feel calm as well. She had a new person she was comfortable with.
The reception was wonderful, though at times, it did feel like someone was watching me. I couldn’t pinpoint any one person when I would look around. After dinner, we dance. Tennley and I danced together until her little legs got too tired. Then Adrian and Aaron danced with her. Soon, Tenn’s eyelids were starting to droop, and she looked like she was ready to fall over and sleep. I decided to run inside the big cabin where our duffle of stuff was, and take Tennley inside to change her into her jammies and get ready to head back to the smaller cabin the three of us were staying in tonight. The happy couple would be staying in the master suite here.
As I rounded the corner to the larger bathroom on the first floor, I was grabbedroughlyon the arm and pulled into a hallway off to the side. I couldn’t tell from the back of his head, in the dim lighting, who had hold of my arm, as the man pulled me down the hallway.
“Let go!” I said, firmly, not knowing how he had such a tight hold of my arm. The man just kept pulling us along as I tried to use my feet to stop us, but I just glided along on the hardwood, unable to stop or get traction with my flats on. I couldn’t reach my phone in my sweater pocket with Tennley in my arm, the man's strong grip on the other one, and with how loud the music still was right out back for the reception, I was doubtful anyone would hear if I started screaming. The only thing that would do would be to frighten Tenn and piss off the man who seemed to grip tighter as he pulled us along, toward the end of the hall. I pulled Tennley as close to my chest as I could as she began to fuss, wrapping her arms and legs around me. My poor girl was exhausted.
“Please let me go. My daughter is exhausted. I just want to get her to sleep. Who are you?” I tried to stay calm, appealing to the humanity of this person. Hoping seeing a little girl upset would make him let us go.
“I won’t tell anyone. I promise. Please just let us go,” I tried again when he stayed silent. Once he’d pulled us to the far end of the hall, he turned.
“Why are you dancing with another man and letting my daughter dance with him too? Who the fuck do you think you are?!”
Oh no.The chill that ran down my spine was one of fear. Great fear.
Trevor.
How was this my life?
S E V E N: Asshat
Adrian’s POV
Elise had been gone for roughly ten minutes with Tennley to change into her nighttime clothes when she said she shouldn’t be more than five. Something felt wrong. She’d been doing most of the changing and nighttime routine the last two weeks, except one night when she got held up at work by a crazy patient. I wanted to help, but I didn’t want to overstep or intrude on her routines. I checked my watch again as I headed inside; it had been twelve minutes. The sinking feeling in my gut, the one I got before every ambush overseas, was screaming that something was terribly wrong. It was more intense than the feeling I had right before getting blown up.
I started checking the rooms of this monstrous-sized cabin where they had the reception. The living room, kitchen, dining area, reception area, and the first two bedrooms on the first floor, all empty. I spun around, knowing there were two more hallways to check. I strode down the hallway in that direction. I could feel my heart rate picking up, and I couldn’t help the worry that started gnawing at the back of my mind.Where were my girls?
Yes.
My girls.
I had started to think that over the last two or so days. I woke up every morning, happy to start breakfast for both of them, and I loved listening to Tennley’s giggles. They were the highlight of my day, every day. And when she cried, the tears that welled in her eyes, she broke my ice-cold heart, and I would happily go to war to destroy whatever made her cry. I heard a scream, sharp and shrill!
“No!” I stopped walked and listened, “Don’t you fucking touch us! Stay away from us!” I was trying to concentrate on where her voice came from. As soon as she was done yelling, I heard my little princess crying. The ringing in my ears started, and it was the absolutewrongtime for that. But I zeroed in on her cries, and I strode toward her. I felt like I was back in the service. All I was missing was my weapon.
“Trevor! Stop it! Let go! Help!”Keep yelling, was all I could think when I heard both of them more clearly, and moved, sprinting in the direction of the hallway.
“Who the fuck is he?!” The man roared at the end of the hallway where I saw them with his hand on my girl, and my baby was red in the face, screaming her little lungs out. She noticed me first as I ran up on this asshole from behind. I rounded his right side, grabbing his arm tightly, twisting it behind his back until he squeaked.
