Page 13 of Sweet Surrender
“I just came to pick up my suit for your brother’s wedding. I was just heading out.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot I was supposed to be reaching out to you. You never RSVP’d.”
“Consider this that.” He held his suit up as confirmation, and I wanted to see what he looked like in it, but I wouldn’t say anything, because I had been in full agreement with him that nothing would happen beyond the weekend. In fact, he had given me a choice to take it further, and in the end, I was adamant that I didn’t want another excursion.
It wasn’t because of his performance, because the Lord knew that man’s bedroom skills deserved to be shared. Every woman needed to have her back blown out by Judah St. Charles at least once in her life.
“So, are you bringing a date? I mean, I need an exact count of guests,” I improvised, realizing how desperate I sounded.
“It’s okay for you to ask me, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the number of guests in attendance,” he replied with a wink.
“But you still haven’t answered,” I pointed out.
“I don’t have a date, Alex. How about you?”
He seemed genuinely curious as he tilted his head and stared at me with a daring smirk.
“I don’t have one either. I’ve been so busy planning the wedding that I hadn’t considered who I would bring with me. God, how could I be so dense?” I asked, smacking my forehead.
“It’s not that bad to show up at a wedding without a date.”
“Have you tried it?”
“I’ve been to a couple.”
“And people are always trying to set you up, right?”
“Yeah, but that happens in any environment.”
“I just think that we should go together. I’m tired of going to weddings alone. That will ward off any matchmaking attemptsby our families, especially your mom, who I happen to know is a lot like mine,” I teased.
“It’s a date,” he replied in a suggestive manner as he bit his bottom lip.
The way that his brown eyes sparkled in the light against his dark skin made me feel like I was asking for trouble.
“Where are you heading when you leave here?”
“I was heading down the street to A Cup of Tea to grab a bite to eat. It’s still brunch time, so I should be good,” I stated, glancing at my phone.
“How about I go with you? A man’s got to eat, and I took the day off work to finish up some other errands and things I need to handle. Doing all that I have to do on an empty stomach isn’t advisable. So, I don’t mind breaking bread with a friend.”
“I would like that a lot,” I replied as Jon-Jon waved me over to him.
“One second, my brother wants me.”
“No problem at all.”
I headed straight to my brother.
“What’s going on with that?” he asked, jutting his chin forward at Judah.
“Nothing. We’re going to grab something to eat. So, chill.”
“You need to chill, and I’m not playing.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You were dating his brother. It’s just not a good look for you to be seen out and about with him too.”
“Jon-Jon, don’t start. I’m thirty-two years old, and I know how to handle myself,” I replied, waving a finger in his face.
“All I’m saying is that I don’t want any drama at my wedding, Alex. You know that Zack’s my best friend.”
“And that has what to do with me?”
“Keep playing,” he called after me as I beelined toward Judah.
