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“You know I’d love to, but the guys are due to arrive any second,” I mumble. “Maybe later? I can call you when I’ve caught up with them.”
“Mmm,” she nods, her eyes twinkling. “I guess I’ll have to go and play by myself then. You boys have fun. Say hi for me.”
She kisses me, and I kiss her back. Short and sweet, careful not to encourage any further arousal, or I’ll explode. With one last glance back at me over her shoulder, she walks away, swinging her hips—just to make sure I know what I’ll be missing—and leaving me staring after her. Lennon, you’re an idiot, I think to myself.
It’s like I’m going out of my way to mess this up.
***
I sit in the bar of the hotel and wait for the guys to arrive. I don’t really feel like drinking, but seeing as they’ve flown all this way for me, it seems only fair to have a drink with them before I get hitched. I’m determined this is going to be a low-key night. I don’t want any repeat of the bachelor party.
I glance at my phone, wondering what’s keeping them. I’m sure they said seven, then my phone buzzes with a message from Rick.
Rick: Plane delayed. Technical problem. Not in until after midnight.
Well, shit. That’s just ruined my night. Or maybe it saved it? Who knew.
“Mind if I join you?”
I look up and see my father standing there. I’ve barely said more than a few words to him in the last year, and I’ve no idea why he’s here now, but I offer him the chair next to me. He sits down and orders us both a beer from a passing waitress.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Darcy looked a little upset when I ran into her in the hallway earlier.”
“Oh, I guess she’s probably still stressed about the wedding.”
“I don’t know. It felt more than that,” he says.
“And, how would you know?” I snap. Hurt flashes through his eyes, and I sigh. “I’m really sorry, Dad. You didn’t deserve that. It’s just…” I shake my head. “I don’t know. I think I may have messed up,” I mumble.
He puts his hand comfortingly on my arm and says, “If you want to talk about it, son, it might help to just let it out. I’m a pretty good listener, you know. God knows, I’ve learned to be, living with your mother all these years.”
I raise my head to look at him, and can’t stop myself cracking a smile to match the one beaming wide across his face. “I take it she’s not around if you’re saying that,” I chuckle.
“She’s having a pampering party for one in our room. Got her face pack on. It’s kinda scary, but at least it’s quiet. I thought it would be the ideal time to step out and see if I could catch up with my boy. Glad I found you, and I’m here if you need help.”
I pause for a moment, thinking how different my relationship with Darcy is, compared to my parents’ arrangement. I take a deep breath and decide to take his offer.
“Well, at my bachelor party the other night, I drank so much that I couldn’t remember what the hell we got up to when I woke the next morning. Then today, some random chick knocked on my door, wanting to talk about the time I’d spent with her that night.”
“What did you do with her?” Dad asks, looking concerned.
“Rick asked me that, too, and that’s the problem. I’ve got no idea what I did, but I’d never be unfaithful to Darcy. Hell, if I knew, I wouldn’t be sitting here, drowning my sorrows. I’d be fixing the damn mess I’ve gotten myself into.”
“You should be doing that, anyway.”
“What?” I say.
“The best advice I can give you?” Dad says. “Be proactive. Get off your damn butt instead of wallowing in self-pity, and dig around. If you really have been… how shall I put it?... indiscrete, you need to fix this before she finds out from someone else. If you have, be honest with her, Lennon. She deserves that much, doesn’t she?”
“Yes. Yes, of course she does.”
“Okay, then. You don’t need me to tell you what’s right and wrong, son. Nice sharing a beer with you, we should do it more often, but I’d better get back. If your mom has to call me, her face pack will crack… and that story won’t have a happy ending, trust me.”
