Page 112 of Bridesmaid for Hire
Death is upon me.
I gag some more.
Cough a few more times.
Nearly keel over as my eyes pop out of their sockets.
“Wow,” Hardy says as he pats me on the back. “You okay, boss?”
Nope.
Dying.
I’m dying.
But, I’m all about saving face, so I nod and cough a few more times.
Once my throat calms down, I say, “Saliva went down the wrong tube.”
“Is that what it was?” Reginald asks, cocking his head, a bemused look on his face.
“Yeah.” I smile and then leave my lit cigar by my side. One puff is good enough for me. “So, what are you guys talking about?”
Please say work. Please say work.
“The wedding,” Hudson says. “Grilling Jude on whether he has cold feet or not.”
I glance over at Jude who looks as stoic as they come. “Not even a little, he says. I’m counting down the days until I can call Haisley my wife.”
Reginald beams.
The boys nod with appreciation.
“Are you staying here for your honeymoon,” I ask, “or going somewhere else?” Just then, the boat picks up speed, rocking us just slightly back and forth. Oh boy.
Keep it together, Brody.
“We plan on a few more nights here, but then Reginald has something planned for us,” Jude answers, the slight rock of the boat not the least bit soothing.
“Something I know they will love,” Reginald says with pride.
Not sure I’d be cool with my father-in-law planning my honeymoon, but that’s just me. From the way Jude is so possessive over Haisley, I’m going to assume they won’t care where they go, as long as they’re together.
“Do you know when you get back to the States?” I ask.
“Two weeks,” Jude answers. “Haisley and I have renovations we need to finish up, and I know there are some pending projects she’s been working on that she wants to be home to complete.”
“Two weeks is a good amount of time, though.”
“Wish it was more,” Jude says.
Don’t we all wish we had more time with the people we like, well in his case, love.
“What about you?” Reginald says, taking a puff of his cigar and motioning for me to join him in puffing.Damn it.“When are you going to propose to Maggie?”
I take a puff of my cigar but do it very, very lightly and then let out the smoke, feeling my entire face turn green from the taste.
Fuck, these are disgusting. How does anyone do this and feel normal?
