Save the Date (Modern Arrangements) (10 page)

Celia shook her head. "Nope,"
then she motioned to Lilli. "Miss I-hate-the-morning is a caffeine
addict."

Lilli turned around and made faces at
the back of Celia’s head. Celia turned quickly and Lilli plastered a smile on
her face.

"I know you’re up to something."
Celia pointed at her.

Lilli feigned innocence.

"You staying for breakfast?"
Lilli pointed at me with her black plastic spatula.

"No, you don’t have to—"

"That’s a yes," Celia
answered. Lilli put three pancakes on a plate and slid them in front of me.

I looked down at the pancakes for a
moment before I reached for the butter and syrup. While I was pouring syrup,
Dixon finally emerged.

"Yes, pancakes!" He looked
like a kid on Christmas morning as he sat down next to me. My eyes almost fell
out of my head when I saw the stack of pancakes Celia handed him.

When my eyes met hers, she shook her
head.

"I know what you’re thinking and
yes, he is a pig." She laughed.

"Hey Lilli makes the best blueberry
pancakes ever!" Dixon held his hand up. Lilli moved around Celia to give
him a high five.

I chuckled and took a bite. The moan
that left my lips rivaled Dixons.

"Holy shit." I closed my eyes.

Dixon leaned in and said into my ear. 
"Told you, best fucking pancakes ever," he patted my back.
"You’ll be begging her for them. They’re like heroin." He chuckled and
stabbed a large bite. Celia sat next to Dixon and ate. Lilli hopped up on the
counter top with a plate in her lap.

After Dixon and I both ate another plate
full, we finally pulled ourselves away from the counter. Lilli started picking
up the dishes but I swatted her away. She scowled at me.

"You cooked, I’ll clean up." I
collected the dishes from the messy counter tops.

"Did you hear that, Dixon?"
Lilli yelled as he stretched out in his chair.

As I walked to the sink, Lilli spun
around and the smell of cherries wafted around me. At first I thought it was
the pancakes but then came the flowery smell. It was her smell, her scent. I
hadn’t dreamt it.

Chapter Six
Dating For Dummies
Aidan

I left Dixon’s apartment before noon so I
could get home to do some work. I needed to be showered and changed in time for
Maggie’s birthday party.

I didn’t spend nearly as much time as I
used to spend with Maggie, having been around her since she was a born. She was
always more like a little sister than my cousin. Spoiling her had been a
favorite hobby of mine.

After going through some emails, I
slipped on a pair of dark gray slacks and a light blue button down shirt. I
gathered all of Maggie’s presents and remembered I had one last thing to get. I
hurried down to the car so I could make a stop on the way to Viola and Liam’s
house.

Pulling up to the curb in front of the
first bookstore that was along the way, I quickly got out and ran inside. After
I entered and looked around at the different shelves, I started to wander
around trying to figure out where I should look. Having no luck on my own, I
headed to the cashier’s counter and tapped the bell that was on the counter. I
wasn’t prepared to see a familiar face.

I smiled and she stopped short as she
walked out from a back room.

Raising an eyebrow at me, "Are you
following me again?" Lilli laughed.

"You work here too?" I raised my
brow. She nodded.

"What can I do for you?" She
walked up to the counter.

"I need to find a book," I
started.

"Really? In a bookstore? That’s
what you are looking for?" She winked. "Which one?"

 "Well, I’m not positive on the
name, but it has to do with Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries, Vampire hunters…you
know all of that stuff. Oh and it’s the second book that I am looking
for."

"Wow, I never took you for the young-adult
fiction reading type." Lilli giggled.

"It’s for my cousin, she’s turning
fifteen."
Jesus, who knew sarcasm could be so hot.

"Uh-huh, sure it is." With a
smile she pointed. "Young Adults section, Mortal Instruments series, City
of Ashes. They are in alphabetical order."

After finding the sequel, I saw the
third book sitting right beside and grabbed it too. Lilli was standing at the
counter looking over something and writing as I approached with the books.

"Find it?" She looked up.

I held the books up and got a thumb up
from her. Placing the books on the counter, she reached for them.

"So you have two jobs?" I
watched her long fingers caress the cover of one book, wondering what her touch
would feel like.

"Yep, weekend day job." She scanned
the books and punched some keys on the register.  Now her mouth had my
attention.

"So, how many jobs do you
have?" Her mouth was slightly wide with full lips.  With her high
cheekbones and almond shaped eyes, they made her look exotic.

She hesitated, but then answered.
"Three." Her response coming out uncomfortably quiet.

"Why? And how do you handle classes
with that kind of schedule?" The questions were genuine but I couldn’t
help sliding my gaze from her face down her long neck.  With her chocolate
brown hair pulled up, the slope of her neck was tantalizing.

She sighed.

"Did Dixon send you or
something?" She pursed her lips.

I shook my head, "Nope, just
curious."

"Well, truth is, I will be delaying
my classes for awhile, so I have plenty of time to work all three of them."
She huffed.

"Oh." I didn’t want to make
her more uncomfortable so I dropped the subject.

She told me how much the books were. Clearly
she saw the confusion on my face as I did the math in my head.

"Consider it a return favor for
giving me a ride home." She took my card and ran it through.

"You didn’t have to…whatever you
did with the books."

She slipped the books into a shiny white
plastic bag.

"I know, but hell I don’t really
get to use my discount too often, since I just read them while I’m working
instead of buying them." She looked mischievous. "Someone should get
to use it." Handing me the bag, she plastered on a giant fake smile
"Have a nice day and come again soon." Then we both broke into
laughs. "Later…Loser." With a small wave and a smile on her face, she
disappeared into the room behind the counter.

"Thanks," I shouted over my
shoulder.  The door chimed as I exited.

Pulling into Viola and Liam’s driveway a
half-hour before the party, I got the perfect parking space – one where I
wouldn’t be blocked in by other guests. Leaning into the back of my car I brought
the large gift bag of presents to the front seat.  Grabbing the bookstore bag
from the passenger seat, I pulled out the books one by one and placed them in
the bag with the other gifts.

When I grabbed the second book, I
realized there was a third book I didn’t purchase. It was bright yellow. Pulling
it out, laughter bubbled out of my chest. The big bold black text read
Dating
for Dummies
against the bright yellow. Smiling, I tossed it into the back
seat and headed into the house.

When I entered the house, it was like
someone puked purple and black all over the place; streamers, balloons,
flowers, cake and all the accessories in the same color theme.

"Aidan!" Maggie bounded down
the steps toward me. I almost didn’t get her gifts out of my arms in time to
catch her before she jumped into my arms.

"Happy Birthday!" Kissing the
top of her head, I squeezed her tight in my arms.

I put her down and looked her over. She
matched the party. Maggie was very unusual, for lack of a better word, in her
style. She had on a black tutu over purple and black stripped tights and
matched with a purple top. Her red hair was in crazy twists and knots around
her head. Then I saw her shoes – green. After my appraisal, I raised an
eyebrow.

She curtsied.

"You like?"

"Well it’s definitely…you." I
smiled large.
Damn, my little cousin was growing up so fast.

"I’ll take that as a yes." Grinning,
she stepped toward the dining room.

Picking her gifts up from the floor, I
followed her. A large table sat against the wall already overflowing with
gifts. I placed my bag among the mountain. Knowing Viola would be finishing up
the last of the preparations, I went to the kitchen.

Leaning in the kitchen doorway, I
watched her oversee the cooks and the waiters. Clearing my throat, she spun
around.

"Aidan," she smiled and walked
toward me with open arms. "I’m so happy you made it."

"Like I would miss Maggie’s
birthday." I rolled my eyes.

Family and friends started arriving
shortly after I got there. Distant relatives surrounded Maggie, but only a few
around her age. Next, business associates, mostly the board of directors. That
was when Gideon Hettich arrived with his daughter, Lorelei.

Lorelei, a very petite, pale skinned
girl with light brown, shoulder length hair, always looked socialite sexy. Definitely
pretty with amazing intelligence but there always seemed to be something behind
her eyes that gave me chills.

"Aidan," Gideon greeted me
then motioned to Lorelei. "You know my daughter Lorelei, of course."

"Yes, of course, always a pleasure
to see both of you." I lied.

Gideon, for years, has done his best to
gain control of AIS. My grandfather and he go way back. When I asked Grandfather
about Gideon once, he simply said ‘Keep your friends close, but your enemies
closer’. It wasn’t until I became more involved with the directors board that I
truly understood what he meant.

After all the greetings and food, Maggie
began the task of opening presents. Shuddering at the memories of opening
birthday gifts, it could take you at least an hour to accomplish the goal. You
have to open, verbally thank and keep a gift list for thank you cards later.

"Aidan," Maggie yelled.

I excused myself from a conversation
with Gideon I was happy to get away from. Maggie was opening the gifts from me.

As I approached, I heard Viola telling
Maggie to act like a lady, to which Maggie rolled her eyes in response.

"Hey Magpie." I stood next to
her.

She smiled up to me and then started
with the gift bag. She pulled out the two books and stood up to squeeze me tightly.

"How did you know?" She
giggled.

"I saw you reading the other day
when I got here, so I found the rest of them for you."

Taking her seat, she went through the
other gifts – gift certificates for her crazy clothing stores, MP3 download
certificates and the simple silver birthstone ring.

"Thank you so much!" She
beamed and stood on her tiptoes, kissing me on the cheek.

Once the party was over and the last
guest left, I took my leave from the house. Arriving home and getting out of the
car, I caught the bright yellow out of the corner of my eye. Reaching into the
back seat, I got the book Lilli snuck into my bag before going up to my
apartment.

After changing into a pair of pajama
bottoms and T-shirt, I collapsed onto the couch. Opening the book up, I shook
my head and laughed. She’d written an inscription.

'Here’s to bagging yourself a wife! Oh and to
not losing your dates to your friends!'

She’d also drawn a small smiley face
with its tongue sticking out, making sure to include an L on the forehead. Tossing
the book onto my coffee table, my laughter echoed throughout my empty
apartment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sunday afternoon with the guys is always
a highlight, but when you are sitting around listening to them bust your balls
about not being able to find a woman, it kind of kills the mood.

"So, what’s the plan now?"
James lounged back into the oversized chair in the TV room of my apartment.

"Well I do have a plan, but I have
yet to really put it into action," I sighed and then told them my plan to
make a deal with someone if necessary.

"Are you serious? You’re going to
go as far as to make your marriage a business deal?" Oscar shook his head.
James was chuckling.

I tried to change the subject.

"Where the hell is Dixon?" I
chugged my beer.

"He won’t be coming." Oscar responded.
"He went back to Maine with Lilli."

"Maine?" I pressed for more
information.

"Yeah, I guess her dad got sick and
he wanted to help her. From what Dixon said, it’s serious. He has a heart
problem. Dixon didn’t exactly give me the details." Oscar shrugged as he
grabbed the remote and changed to a different game.

I sat there thinking for a minute about
what Oscar said. Then other pieces started to click together from the fight I
overheard, things Dixon mentioned and small things Lilli actually said to me.
There was even the date with Phoebe when she asked Lilli about her dad. Lilli
was financially strapped because of her father. She was taking care of him. For
a brief moment, an idea appeared in my head.