Flaw (The Flaw Series) (11 page)

Jordyn looks over at the commotion and bangs her hand on the steering wheel. “Oh no, I hope we don’t miss the ceremony. I should have had us leave earlier.”

“I don’t think it’s too bad,” I say, trying to make her feel better. The helicopter we hear whirring above us proves me wrong. It seems this is a major accident and we’ll likely be stuck on this road for quite some time.

“I’m never late for anything and now I’m going to be late to my cousin’s wedding.” This time she slams her fist down on the steering wheel. “What do I do?”

“Shh, relax.” I don’t understand why she’s getting so worked up. It’s not our fault, we can’t control things like this. “There’s nothing you can do about it. So what if we’re a little late? They’ll understand.”

“I just hate being late. It’s so rude. It’s so…”

“Not perfect?”

Her shoulders drop down and she gives me a sideways glance. We never spoke about the night when she shared her issues with me about being perfect and wanting a flaw. I also never discussed with Becca what happened that night on the dance floor. Figured if we didn’t mention it, we could pretend like it never happened. But of course then things only got worse.

The chocolate chips. Aidan leaving to go work out. The blanket
.

I close my eyes, reliving the moment. The second she offered to share that blanket, I should have excused myself and left the room. I knew when she sat down next to me, the oversized fleece blanket resting over our laps that I was done for.

“You and Becca ever talk about what happened the night you guys were dancing?” Jordyn asks as if reading my thoughts.

“No, we didn’t.” I exhale and run a hand through my hair. “I’m still not even sure what happened that night or…”

“Or?” She raises an eyebrow. “Did something else happen? Tell me.”

“Nothing really, just last week, I, uh… We shared a blanket on the couch.” I can’t believe I’m about to admit this to Jordyn. “My hand rubbed her leg. Innocently.” I hold up my hands. “It was an accident. It was more like my hand
accidentally
rubbed up her leg.”

Instead of asking how a hand accidentally rubs up a leg, she asks, “Where was Aidan when you guys were sharing this blanket?”

“He went to the gym. Sometimes he goes late at night.” I shrug.

“Hmm, all right, go on.”

“It was just us and like I said, I touched her by accident. But then her hand touched me by accident.” I lean forward in my seat and tap my fingers on the dashboard. “She apologized and I teased her that she was trying to cop a feel and she started laughing and teasing me back. Joking around turned um, playful, very
playful
and playful turned…not so good.” Becca had pushed me back on the couch, her wiggly fingertips running over me in teasing little tickles, trying to make me laugh. Only I didn’t laugh.

“Not so good, how?” Jordyn has her full attention on me, waiting for the missing part of this story.

How can I say this without humiliating myself? “We were close, pushing and rubbing into each other. One minute she was giggling then she kind of saw that maybe I wasn’t joking so much. Instantly, just like that, she stopped and told me she had to go find Aidan. Within seconds she was out the door. It was the middle of the night, he was at the gym, and I guess she went down and met him.”

“What did you do?”

“The only thing I could do. I wrapped the blanket around my waist and locked myself in my room.” I rub at a knot in the back of my neck that’s caused by stress. As far as I know, Becca hasn’t mentioned our two awkward encounters to Aidan. If she had, I’m sure I’d be bandaged up in a hospital somewhere.

Jordyn brings a manicured fingernail up to her lip and taps, lost in her thoughts. “He texted me one night last week. I wonder if it was the same night. We were texting and then he just stopped.”

“Who? Aidan?” I question. “Aidan sends you text messages?”

“No, not really. At least he hadn’t, but then out of the blue one night he did. I was excited. I thought maybe he…I don’t know.” Jordyn stares out the front window biting her lip. “Don’t say anything. The texts didn’t say anything wrong and I’m not looking to start any trouble.”

The traffic lets up and slowly all the cars begin slowly rolling forward. We’re going about twenty miles per hour, but at least we’re moving. This new information Jordyn shared, I’m not sure what it means, although I intend to find out.

“Aidan is the flawed guy, isn’t he?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Does he know how you feel?”

“I don’t even know how I feel.” She laughs. “I’ve only met him a couple of times but ever since I met him, I can’t stop thinking about him. But that could just be…I don’t know,” she trails off.

“What do you think is really going on between Becca and Aidan?”

She shrugs, sticking her tongue out and clicking, before continuing. “I think their friendship is special. But I think friendship is all it is. What do you think?”

“At times I will admit their relationship confuses me, but I do know one thing, Aidan has made it clear to me she’s off limits.”

“What about her? Is her message clear?” Jordyn glances over at me. “Those things that keep happening with you guys, it doesn’t sound like she’s so clear on things. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

I’d like to believe that maybe Becca and Aidan are just friends and that maybe, just maybe, she’s feeling something towards me. It’s just I know better than that.

We finally arrive at the hotel having missed the ceremony and race to dress, readying ourselves for the reception. Jordyn comes out of the bathroom in a fitted tan dress. The color of the dress is so close to her own skin, at first glance she almost appears naked. The color and smooth silky material don’t leave any room for imperfections and her body has none.
None
. Her brown hair is swept up in some elegant twist and she’s got that whole sexy, dark eye thing going on. I raise my eyebrows in approval. “Very nice.”

“Oh, yeah, look at you.” She grins, making me feel good about my choice of attire. I tighten the pink tie around my neck. I am not a guy who’s afraid to wear pink. Recently, pink has become my favorite color.

Jordyn holds my jacket open for me and I slip my arms into the gray Armani. I fix the lapel while she straightens out the back, smoothing her hands down to get out any wrinkles.
A woman’s touch certainly feels nice
.

“We look good.” I wink at her, walking past the mirror, checking our reflections as we get ready to leave the room.

“We do.” She stops us, taking a moment to soak in our picture-perfect appearance. “We’re a perfect couple. You look incredibly handsome, polished, refined. My whole family will think so.” She swallows, purses her lips, and drops her gaze away from the mirror. “You’re exactly the type of guy they’d expect me to be with.”

In reaction to the compliments I move in closer, focusing in on the curves of her body. I pull a breath in through my nose, pushing into her backside, and wrap my arms around her waist. “God, I haven’t been with someone in so long.” A gravelly whisper rumbles out of me.

Jordyn instantly hoists her elbow straight into my gut. “Are you kidding me with shit again?” she groans, spinning around. “Every time I say something or give you a compliment, are you going to misinterpret it?”

“No,” I grunt, holding my side. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant that I was…That I hadn’t…”

“Go ahead, tell me what you meant.” Jordyn challenges me to finish the sentence.

I really hadn’t meant anything by it. I think it was just a mixture of old habits and a record-breaking amount of time
not getting any
.

“I just want to make sure
you
,” I let go of my side and point at her,
“
don’t try and have sex with
me
later. That might really screw up our friendship.” I fix my hair in the mirror. “I don’t care how long it’s been since you were with someone and how horny you probably are. It’s not gonna happen. Ya hear me?”

She grabs a gold beaded purse off the dresser and an envelope with the names Erin and Christopher written on the front. “I’m having the concierge send up a cot,” she says, opening the door.

“Whatever ya gotta do to keep yourself in control,” I say, following her out into the hall.

Her eyes roll and she slaps the beaded purse against my shoulder. “Let’s go.” She laughs, “We’ve already missed half the cocktail hour.”

We arrive late to the crowded ballroom, which is humming with people holding little plates of hors‘doeuvres. A tray of champagne is offered and we each take a long stemmed crystal glass, finding our way over to the first station of food.

“Aunt Loraine, Tucker, Hi.” Jordyn hands me her glass of champagne to hug the people standing in front of us. “I’m so sorry we missed the ceremony. The traffic was backed up beyond belief on the parkway,” she says over apologetically, as if her Aunt will be angered about something we had no control over.

“No worries, dear, a few other people hit the same traffic.” Her aunt smiles, seeming not the least bit upset. “It’s a shame, though, the mass was beautiful. Wait till you see Erin. She looks gorgeous … so happy, she’s just glowing.”

“Oh, I can’t wait. Where is she? I need to say hello and let her know I’m here.”

“She’s in the bridal suite with her bridesmaids and few of the other girls, getting freshened up. She’ll be out soon.” Her aunt waves at another guest and takes off in that direction.

“So, Tucker, how are you?” Jordyn smiles up at a burly guy with freckles who’s dressed in a tuxedo. She reaches back for the glass I’m holding for her. “Where is your pretty little girlfriend?”

“I’m doing fine and my pretty little girlfriend is in the bridal suite with my sister.” He adjusts his glasses, looking from Jordyn over to me.

“Oh God, what’s wrong with me. How rude. Tucker, this is Josh, - Josh, this is my cousin, Tucker.”

I reach my hand out and shake hands with her large cousin. “How long you guys been together?” he asks us.

“No, Josh is just a friend,” Jordyn supplies.

“You must be one hell of a friend coming all the way out here for a wedding. I like you already.” Tucker grins, giving me a rough pat on the back. “You watch football?”

“Of course, I’m a huge Steelers fan.”

“Perfect, finally I got someone to talk to.” He motions for me to follow him. “Come on, forget champagne, let’s go find the bar and have a beer.”

I look to Jordyn for the OK and she waves me away. “Go have fun. I have to find the bride and say hello anyway. Which way is the bridal suite?”

“That way.” Tucker dips his head towards the hall before I go following him over to the bar.

We talk sports and guzzle beer. I’m having a great time, open bar, and someone to hang out with. I have a lot in common with the guy. Looks like this won’t be so bad, after all.

There’s a call for the bridal party to gather for introductions. Tucker grumbles about his groomsman duties and chugs back the rest of his beer, placing the empty bottle down on the bar. “I’ll see ya in there, man.” He squeezes my shoulder before taking off.

“I had a feeling you and my cousin would hit it off.” Jordyn sidles back up beside me.

“Yeah, he’s cool. I got a drinking buddy.”

Jordyn sorts through the table filled with little folded cards. “Oh good look, Tucker and Tessa are at our table.” She points to the place card next to ours. “You guys will be able to hang out all night.”

It doesn’t have time to register before blonde curls come bouncing in my direction, stopping short once she sees me. She stops dead in her tracks, wide eyes staying fixed on me for a moment, and the corners of her mouth drop into a frown. I run an anxious hand through my graying hair,
graying more and more by the second
.

Tessa takes her seat at table four and swings her head away from me, eyes set on the door. What are the chances? Jordyn’s cousin, the one guy here I make friends with, is the boyfriend of the girl who probably hates me more than anyone in the world.

And I am not that liked
.

This should be interesting.

The room darkens and a spotlight is centered at the closed double doors. Every guest in the place has his or her phone positioned to take pictures and videos of the grand entrance. Jordyn stands up, moving in closer for a better view. The music thunders, filling the room and lights begin swirling as the members of the bridal party attempt some YouTube-worthy moves as they enter the dance floor.

All eyes are focused in one direction, with the exception of Tessa’s. She glares at me and slowly gets up from her seat, taking the few steps over to where I’m sitting. This isn’t good. The drink in her hand is fruity, red and full of ice. I put my hands up to cover my head but the drink is dumped onto the lap of my light gray pants instead.
Holy shit. Ice. Cold. Wet
. She storms away from the table without saying a word. The lights in the room change and the guests begin returning to their assigned tables. Quickly, I grab the black linen table cloth and pull it to cover the red mess in my lap.

Jordyn sits down, assessing the weird way I’m now seated at the table. “What’s going on down there?” she asks.

I lift up the corner of the tablecloth, giving her a peek. “Tessa is an old friend,” I whisper.

“Jesus Christ.” Jordyn closes her eyes and starts rubbing her forehead. “You can’t get up. You can’t make a scene here in front of my whole family.”

“I won’t.” I add a dark linen napkin from the table for additional coverage. I reach over and grab Jordyn’s napkin as well, to discreetly sneak down the front of my pants. It’s one cold sticky mess in there. I shift awkwardly in the seat to alleviate some of the discomfort taking over.

“Later I’ll go up to the room and grab your coat. You can carry it down low when we go to leave. And once we get back to the room I have stuff that will get the stain out. For now,” she looks down, “you’ll have to stay at the table, just like that. I know you’re uncomfortable, but
please
don’t let anyone see that big stain.”

I nod my head, understanding. Right now I have some bigger issues to deal with. Sweat begins to form on the palm of my hands as I see them approaching. Tessa’s got Tucker yanked down, whispering frantically in his ear. With new eyes he shoots me a look that almost causes the wet spot on the front of my pants to double. I’m an average-sized guy. Tucker is not.