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Maybe it was simply both of us having to put up with Mom’s crap over the years, but if anything, you’d think that would’ve made us closer. I think, in some ways, I resented him for not standing up for me… and himself. He always took her side over everything, which I understand now. After all, he was the one who had to live with her.
A group of girls pass our table, giggling and pointing at me. I frown and wonder why. It’s not the first time since we’ve been in here, and up until now I’ve dismissed it, but this kind of attention from girls isn’t something I’m used to. This feels different, and I’m starting to feel uncomfortable, like they know something I don’t. One of the girls plucks up the courage to walk over to me. She stands in front of me, giggling and flashing looks back at her friends.
“Hello. Can I help you?” I say, raising my eyebrows.
“Sorry, I didn’t recognize you at first with your clothes on,” she giggles.
“Excuse me?” I growl.
I wait for her to elaborate, but she just giggles again and runs off with her friends. I look down at the table, purposely avoiding the glare of my mother. Why didn’t we just elope? Neither of us were into the big wedding thing. I could’ve avoided all of this and taken her somewhere tropical, just the two of us.
“Lennon?” Mom presses, her eyes wide. “Is there something we should know?” and she says it like every step of the way, I’ve fucked up my life. Situation normal.
“It’s fine, Mom,” I sigh. I just wish I could remember what the fuck happened.
What the hell did I do last night?
***
“Greg, Jill,” I say, nodding at Darcy’s parents. I avoid meeting Greg’s gaze because I’m terrified he has something on me from the bachelor party. “These are my folks, Peter and Lucille.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Jill says, warmly. She clasps her hands around Mom’s and smiles. “You must be so proud. Lennon is a wonderful boy.”
Mom smiles wryly. “He was, he had so much potential until…” Her voice trails off and I shake my head in disbelief at her incredible insensitivity toward me, especially when meeting Darcy’s parents for the first time.
“Until I gave up your dream for me, to teach instead? Or, until I met their daughter?” I reply to Mom, raising my eyebrows. I turn to Jill and frown. “Please, excuse my mother. She can be rude, and she often says things without thinking,” I explain. I turn back to Mom and give her a pointed stare. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to find my bride and spend some time with her while you all get acquainted. I trust you’ll be fine here with Darcy’s parents?” Mom smiles so tightly, I’m afraid her face is going to crack. If I wasn’t so annoyed, I’d be amused.
“Of course, we will,” Dad says, sliding his arm around Mom’s waist. She tries to push him away, but he tightens his grip. “Go and have fun. Say hi to Darcy from us.”
I leave my parents with Greg and Jill, and go in search of her. Darcy’s father hadn’t given me any reason to think I’d done something wrong, even when I worked up the courage at the end of the conversation to look him in the eye. Surely, if I had, he’d be ripping me to shreds? Still, the odd looks keep coming, and it’s driving me crazy.
What the hell did that girl mean when she said she didn’t recognize me with my clothes on? And if something had happened, why didn’t Greg say anything? I rub my forehead, unable to shake the sinking feeling in my stomach. Fuck Rick and his juvenile mission to get me drunk. He got me into this mess, so now he’s going to fix it.
***
I’ve searched all over the hotel for Darcy with no luck, so I decide to find Rick instead, and it wasn’t hard. He’s still passed out in my room.
“Get up,” I growl, shoving him with my boot.
“Wh-what,” he says, rolling out of the bed, and he’s much more awake than I’d expected. In fact, he’s fully dressed and holding a phone I don’t recognize.
“What have you got there?” I ask, my mind suspicious, and he tosses it in my direction.
“See for yourself,” he grins. “You wanted answers, and I got them for you, my friend. Sorry, I was having a little power nap here. This detective shit is tiring,” he adds, sitting up. He stretches his arms out and yawns as I sit down on the edge of the bed. I stare at the phone, still not sure what it’s supposed to be telling me.
