Chapter 4

• JORDAN’S POV
• We all knew it was totally unnecessary for Kyle to have a stag night but we had one anyway.
• We started the day by going sailing and then tried to fish but were not patient enough so we abandoned the mission and went back to shore. It was already late afternoon and we found brunch waiting for us, out on the terrace. The island looked bigger in the physical, more imposing the photos.
• The villa actually resembled a castle. It was bathed in sunlight, with impossibly blue skies shining behind its corner towers, the stone walls almost white in the sunshine. In reality, the skies were more white with cloud than blue.
• We laughed and joked as we ate. Sharing funny anecdotes about Kyle and Maya’s relationship, but the man of the moment seemed subdued.
• “Hey,” I said, throwing a piece of fruit at him to get his attention. “What’s up with you? Is Pooh Bear missing his honeypot already?”
• “Walk with me,” he pushed his chair back and stood.
• It looked like he had something on his mind so I just followed his lead. The garden was a hive of activity because this is where the ceremony was taking place come Saturday.
• We strolled down the cobbled pathway that led to the waterfront and sat on a wooden bench. It was a cool fall day, with a soft breeze coming from the sea. We sat there a few moments, watching the beautiful scenery in silence until I couldn’t take it anymore.
• “You do know it’s too late to back out right?” I nudged Kyle’s arm with my elbow and snickered softly.
• “Four kids kinda sealed the deal,” he gave a small, lopsided smile, his gaze absently drifting to the water.
• “What’s eating you up?”
• “What would you do when the one guy Lana loved before you suddenly showed up?” Some unnamed emotion flickered in his eyes.
• “Am I supposed to do something?”
• His dark smile didn’t falter for a second. “This guy was her first...her first everything really. First boyfriend..first heartbreak...first encounter..she loved him. They have a history together.”
• I crossed my arms, my head tilted in interest as I listened. “So? what’s it to you? How does this affect your relationship?”
• “She thought he was dead and now he’s back.” He leaned back and his eyes fluttered shut for a second.
• “Well, he’s clearly a fool and wasting his time. Everyone on this planet knows how much you and Maya love each other. I doubt anything or anyone will change that,” I remarked reassuringly.
• For the first time, Kyle seemed uncertain and anxious about his marriage. “What if I was her second option? What if she ended up with me only because she thought he was dead?” His gaze swept over me, lingering and intense.
• “I think you’re having this conversation with the wrong person man. I don’t have the answers,” I remarked. “Tell me everything. But start from the beginning.”
• He sighed and pressed on the bench with both hands to raise himself. “I can’t do it now. We have a fitting in the next hour. Let’s talk after?”
• We looked up as we heard footsteps approaching. “There are my two favorite guys,” Rita grinned, enveloping us in a group hug.
• “What are you doing here?” I asked her.
• “Hey, I’m not the bride,” she laughed as we started down the path again, linking her arms with ours. “I have every right to be here. Especially after a certain Arabian prince came back into the picture,” she said, stealing a glance a Kyle. “But first-there’s been a slight change of plans with the road trip.”
• “We’re listening,” I groaned.
• “I’d like to go with my girls and then meet up with you guys in Orlando-if that’s okay with you?” she frowned. “I know how you’re both attached to your better halves so...you can’t deny me this or anything for that matter. I’m dy-”
• “Don’t!” I snapped. “We all know you’re dying, Rita. There’s no need to keep throwing it in our faces that you’re going to be gone and we have to stay here and deal with it!”
• “Jordan I-” s.
• “I think it’s very callous of you to keep using the C-card. Have you ever stopped to think about what that does to us?” My voice was choked with emotion. The intensity of my voice surprised her.
• Every time she said those words it cut like a knife; and lately she used it the way the twins used the ‘if you don’t then I’m going to cry’ line. It wasn’t fair on any of us to be constantly reminded that she was living on borrowed time. That she could leave us at a drop of a hat-without notice or goodbye.
• She looked at me diffidently, her green eyes showing remorse, but I was already too far gone. The words poured out as though they had a life of their own
• “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-” She broke off and shook her head, copper curls rustling.
• “Yes, you did,” I said. “You rub it in every chance you get. You’re dying we get it. Now you can stop rubbing salt in an open wound. You've made it clear but I can't let you be so casually cruel about our feelings.”
• She opened her mouth, then closed it again. “But it wasn’t my intention-”
• “I’m going to check on my boys,” I turned the other way and stalked back to the house.
• After telling Kyle I’d meet him at the tailor, I asked the nanny to get the boys ready and took them to see their mother. I needed her calming effect to wash over me before I went off at a woman who had barely six months to live.
• Exactly one hour later, a limousine pulled up in front of the boutique. After spending time with my wife I was calm again. Lana was warm and sensitive, and it had been natural to fall in love with her. She chided me for snapping at Rita and made me promise to be more considerate and patient with her next time.
• The tailor, a friend/employee of Lorenzo, was a distinguished-looking man with flowing white hair and a small, neat mustache. He had the face of a patriarch, dressed in a dark suit and white black-rimmed spectacles. He fussed and fretted over us before he finally allowed us to go. A door creaked open to reveal an elegant, polished older lady in a navy skirt suit and a cream blouse, with a string of pearls around her neck and sensible navy shoes on her feet. She was probably the wife...or not.
• She literally gushed when she saw Lorenzo and you could tell she was having a hard time keeping her hands to herself.
• “So..your dad and the modiste?” I whispered to Kyle.
• “A man’s gotta eat,” Jamie whispered back and Kyle smacked him on the head.
• “That’s gross.”
• “But reality,” he countered.
• “Diana. How nice to see you,” Lorenzo was smiling as charmingly as he could. “Sorry about the short notice.”
• “Nonsense. You know I’m always happy to help,” she batted her lashes at him.
• “I only wanted the best for my only son,” he raised her hand to his lips, featherlight kisses gracing her knuckles.
• “Dang...Your dad’s got game Kinley,” our friend Marcus chuckled.
• “Like father like son is what I say,” I added with a sly wink. “How about we hightail it out of here and get you blind-drunk?”
• “Good idea JC,” Marcus seconded. “Our boy is strung tighter than a guitar string. You okay bro?"
• "It's probably pre-wedding jitters," James teased.
• "I'm the best man-" I started.
• "Yeah, we know!"
• "Haters," I snickered. "As the best man, I call the shots all week and I say-"
• "Says who? Marcus cut in.
• "As the best man," I continued. "I say we go to the nearest bar and when we get tipsy, we're going to hit the beach and surf."
• "That's dangerous," Jamie's shook his head.
• "Count me out," Marcus agreed.
• "But this is on Kyle's bucket list," I argued and Kyle laughed.
• "I'm in JC," Kyle agreed, giving me a fistbump.
• "I knew there was a reason I liked you Kinley," I threw my hand over his shoulder as we stepped out.
• "since y'all want to get sloshed I'm driving," Jamie said, walking over to the driver's side.
• "Then I'm choosing the music," I said.
• "Ahhh man.." Marcus groaned. "You're going to make us listen to Rolling Stones again aren't you?"
• I waggled my eyebrows and before I put on my sunglasses. "Start it Up."