Double Coverage (3 page)

“Piper!” Lexi grabbed her friend and gave her a hug around her waist. Since Lexi was pushing five foot four and Piper was around five ten, Lexi really only reached around her friend’s waist. “Where the hell have you been?” she said, while smacking her friend’s shoulder.

“Sorry Lex, I had to take care of some business in the bathroom.” Lexi was always jealous of Piper because she was every man’s fantasy. Long legs, gorgeous wavy hair, silver eyes and a seductive voice that could bring any man to his knees; Piper had it all.

Lexi lifted off Piper’s glasses and looked into her red-rimmed eyes. “Pipe, did you stay out late drinking again?”

Piper shrugged her shoulders, put her glasses back on, and led Lexi to baggage claim where her bag was the only one left going around on the carousel. Lexi thought again…some people never change.

Piper grabbed her bag and turned to Lexi. “Where to L?”

“I took a taxi here. I didn’t feel like dealing with parking, so we need to flag down a taxi and then we’re going straight to my place. That’s where the dress rehearsal dinner will be.”

“Sounds good to me. Lead the way.”

On their way to the curb, Lexi told Piper all about the wedding and the plans for the weekend. Even though Piper looked tough on the exterior, she was a real romantic at heart. She asked insightful questions about the wedding and talked about how happy she was that Lexi had found Jake. That was one of the main reasons Piper was her Maid of Honor. Lexi had a hard time deciding between her friend Margo from college and Piper, but in the end, the honor went to Piper. As little girls, they’d always promised each other they would be each other’s Maid of Honor, so Lexi made sure to keep her promise.

Although, secretly, she did tell Margo she was the Secret Maid of Honor. Margo seemed to be fine with that and even delivered her SMOH speech to Lexi yesterday. It was quite good. Margo and Lexi played softball together throughout college and were inseparable those four grueling years. They still hung out at least once a week.

They finally got in the cab and were on their way to Lexi’s beach-front house she shared with Jake.

“So, how was the flight?” Lexi asked, while flipping through different apps on her phone.

“Oh you know, it was a flight. Thanks for the first-class ticket, by the way. Those seats were perfect to catch up on my lack of sleep.”

“Jake and I were happy to help you out. We knew it would be difficult, financially, to get you out here, so that’s why we insisted on paying for you.”

Piper got quiet for a second and Lexi hoped she hadn’t make her friend feel bad. “I know, and I appreciate it. I’ll make it up to you this weekend. I promise.”

Lexi smiled. “You don’t have to make anything up to me. I’m just glad you’re here. I feel like it’s been so long.”

“I know, what has it been, like…?”

Piper didn’t get to finish because Lexi let out a loud gasp. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing on her phone.

“What is it?” Piper asked, while taking off her sunglasses.

Lexi looked up at her friend. “Uh, how do you know Mason?”

“Mason? Mason who?”

“Mason Dashel.”

Lexi watched as her friend thought about the name, but no recognition crossed her face. “I don’t know a Mason Dashel.”

“Do you live in a cave? He’s the wide receiver for the Denver Stallions, also known as Jake’s best man, also known as the guy who took this picture of you.” Lexi turned the picture that was on her Instagram feed toward Piper.

Piper instantly grabbed the phone and swore. “That stupid fuckhead!” She tore her hood off her head and Lexi watched the medium sized natural red curls flow out of their confines. Jealousy, once again, enveloped Lexi.

“Uh, what’s going on Pipe?”

Piper didn’t answer her question. “I can’t believe him. Ugh and look at what he wrote, “My flight companion #SirDroolsALot, #HotMessAward, and #SadLadiesClub.” Then, as if something just struck her, she looked up at Lexi and asked, “He’s Jake’s best man?”

Lexi only nodded.

“Oh, he is going to fucking get it.”

Lexi, not wanting another possible scene at her wedding, decided it might be a good idea to try to calm her friend down. “Piper, let’s not get out of control. He is a jokester. He does stuff like this all the time.”

“Well, he doesn’t do shit like this to me.” Realizing that Piper was planning revenge on her friend’s wedding weekend she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t cause a scene. I’ll seek revenge in a subtle way.”

A little intrigued, Lexi asked, “Oh yeah? How?”

Piper gave Lexi that glorious smile of hers. “By using my sexuality, of course.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Pipe. His ex, Brooke, is going to be there and I want to keep things as tame as possible.”

Piper started laughing. “His ex is going to be there? Oh, my God. Even better!” Lexi started fidgeting her hands, but Piper placed her hands on top of Lexi’s to stop the nervous habit. “I promise you, I will not ruin your wedding. This weekend is going to be amazing.”

With Piper’s reassurance, Lexi relaxed back in her seat and took in the view of the ocean. Even though her backyard was the sea, she never got sick of the sound of the waves or the smell and feel of the ocean breeze. She was one lucky girl.

***

Mason sat on one of the seats in the airport waiting for his buddies and the rest of the groom’s party to arrive. Jake was going to pick them up from the airport. Well, more like meet up with them when his plane arrived and they were all going to go to a bar for a semi-bachelor party before the rehearsal.

Being the best man, Mason was pissed that he was unable to throw his best friend a proper bachelor party, but Jake, being the pussy-whipped man he was now and with his busy schedule, he wouldn’t allow for a bachelor party. Mason struggled while talking Jake into a couple drinks at a local bar before the rehearsal dinner, but he managed to get his way. Jake complained about how he hadn’t seen Lexi in a couple of days, so he wanted to go home and get ready for the party with her, but Mason put the kibosh on that, explaining that Jake would have the rest of his life to spend time with Lexi. He was getting drinks with his buddies.

Mason was playing Candy Crush Saga on his iPhone when a soft lump hit him in the face. He looked down at his lap and saw a rolled up pair of boxer briefs.

“What the fuck?” Mason looked up and saw Jake’s teammate and good friend Ryker grinning down at him.

“Dash, my boy!” Ryker said, using the nickname Mason received from one of the sports announcers in college.

“Please don’t tell me these are used,” Mason said, while flinging the boxers to the side with his phone.

Ryker picked them up and shoved them in his back pocket. “You wish! What’s going on?” Ryker asked. “Damn, you look a little pudgy these days.”

Ryker and Mason were notorious for picking on each other’s weight. Since they were both wide receivers, the only weight they wanted to gain was muscle, unlike their fellow linebackers.

“Fuck you,” Mason said, while smiling. “You finally get that dick enlargement you’ve been saving up for?”

“Yeah, and if I bring in a friend smaller than me, then I get fifty percent off. So I gave them your name.”

Mason chuckled. “Dude, if I get any bigger, I won’t be able to fit in my briefs anymore.”

Ryker shook his head. “How many times have I told you, they make boxers with superman on them in the men’s section? You don’t have to keep shopping in the little boys department.”

Mason blew out a frustrated growl. “Can I ever have the last word?”

Ryker barked out in laughter. “Not while I’m around.” He looked around. “So where is everybody?”

Mason looked at the time on his phone. “Parker and Jake should be here soon. They’re both coming from the city.” Parker was Lexi’s best friend in college and slowly, over time, became a great friend to Jake, as well…after all of Jake’s jealousy wore off from Parker’s friendship with Lexi. Parker played shortstop for their baseball team in college and now was playing for the Atlanta Braves. He was recently called up to the majors and kicking ass. He was able to come into town for a couple of days, thanks to the all-star break, perfect timing by the engaged couple.

“Speak of the two douchebags now,” Ryker said, while looking to his side.

Jake and Parker walked up to the other two men together wearing sunglasses and plain ball caps, most likely to avoid any kind of recognition by fans. Jake was good with his fans, but when he was a man on a mission, he didn’t want to stop and Mason knew Jake was thinking the quicker he got the bar scene over with, the quicker he could get to Lexi. Poor sap.

Mason stood up and gave Jake an inappropriately large hug spinning Jake around and kissing him on the cheek. Mason put Jake down, while Jake wiped his face. Mason went after Parker, but he held his hands out in defense.

“Keep those lips to yourself, man. I know it’s been a while, but I don’t need disease-ridden lips anywhere near my face.”

“I take offense to that. They are not disease-ridden.”

The guys all looked at each other and then Jake said, “Uh, with the ladies you’ve been spotted with lately, I’d say you might want to see a doctor.”

“Hey, I don’t ever really let a lady touch my lips. The only thing their lips are touching is my cock.”

“Well then, you might want to get your cock looked at,” Ryker said, as all three of the guys stared down at Mason’s jean-clad crotch, forcing Mason to block their pestering stares with his hands.

“Stop looking at my dick, you idiots. If you’re that interested, I can show you later…while we’re sharing a hotel room,” Mason said, while wiggling his eyebrows. All three men took their turn punching him in the arm and walking away. Mason rubbed his arm and chased after them.

He walked next to Jake and looped his arm around his neck. “So, are you ready for this man?”

“Yeah, let’s just get this over with. I have other plans in mind.”

“Jesus, can’t you just relax and be with your boys for a little?” Mason asked.

They were riding down the escalator toward baggage claim when Jake turned to all three of his groomsmen. “Nothing against you guys, but I’m so horny I think my balls are going to shrivel up and turn into dust. Lexi has been teasing me all week with naked pictures. So, excuse me, if all I want to do is go home and fuck my gorgeous fiancé.”

Ryker laughed and quickly grabbed Jake’s phone out of his pocket, just as he got off the escalator. “I hope you saved them,” he said, while running away toward baggage claim.

“Fucker!” Jake ran off toward Ryker and tackled him into a wall near the bathrooms.

Parker pulled the phone out of Ryker’s perverted hands and handed it to Mason. Jake lunged at Mason, but Parker held him back. “Let’s not make a scene. We’re going to keep that phone until you have a couple of drinks with us, horny or not.”

Jake pointed his finger at all three of them. “I swear, if you look through my phone, I will chop all of your dicks off.”

Ryker grabbed his crotch and grimaced. “That’s just cruel, man.”

The four men grabbed their bags and talked about their trips while driving over to the quiet sports bar that Mason knew wouldn’t draw too many unwanted spectators and fans. Mason, Jake and Parker went into the bar and ordered some beers, while Ryker took a phone call from his agent.

The three guys clinked their beers together. “Cheers, man,” Mason said to Jake. “I can’t believe you’re committing to the old ball and chain tomorrow. I never thought I would see the day when you settled down.”

They laughed and took a sip of their beers. Back in college, Jake was a huge ladies’ man and Mason was the one in a serious committed relationship…with Brooke. Funny how things change, Mason thought. He imagined that he would have been the first one to get married out of his buddies, but instead, it was the ultimate ladies’ man, Jake. And now, Mason was incapable of committing to a woman for more than one night. He didn’t really believe in happily ever after anymore, thanks to Brooke’s dream smashing. She did a number on him, but he wasn’t going to reveal that to anyone. Nope, he just played up the fact that he was a free man and was loving every minute of it.

Ryker busted through the door of the bar and threw his arms around Mason. “Looks like we’ll be able to finally get that dick enlargement together, while holding hands.”

Parker, Jake and Mason all looked at Ryker as if he just gave birth to an elephant.

“What?” Mason asked.

“Just got off the phone with my agent. I’ve been traded. Denver, here I come.”

Jake put his beer down in shock. “What? Wait, so you’re leaving me? You two d-bags are going to be playing together? How the hell is that fair? And how did the Stallions pull that bullshit off?”

Ryker shrugged. “I don’t know, but all I do know is that I got a nice chunk of change out of it.” He put his beer bottle up for another cheers and said, “Here’s to me being so great.” The guys shook their heads and laughed at Ryker’s obnoxiousness.

Ryker put his beer down and pointed to the wall. “No shit. Look at that. A life size picture of me doing my touchdown dance. I’m surprised the “Gift from God” Jake isn’t up there.”