Save the Date (Modern Arrangements) (9 page)

"Hello," I answered a little
breathless from the pacing.

"Hello honey. Are you okay? You
sound a little—"

"I’m fine." I smiled at the
sound of Viola’s concern.

"Oh," she paused. "Well, I
just want to remind you about Maggie’s party next weekend. You know we are
having dinner at seven on Friday—"

"Right, Viola," I chuckled.
She knew I would never forget Maggie’s birthday.

"What?" She feigned innocence.

"I’m guessing you’ve heard from
Elora’s parents?" I walked into the kitchen.

"Well," she hesitated.
"Okay, I did. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine.” Grabbing a mug, I moved
to the coffee machine, placed the mug on the base and hit the button to fill it
up. “Elora is a nice girl and it would’ve been easy to come to the arrangement
necessary, but I would never want to take away her chance at real happiness.
Not for someone like me." I mumbled.

"Aidan Walsh Iverson! How dare you talk
about yourself like that!"

Uh oh, Vi is about to go all motherly on
me.

"You are a wonderful man and any
woman would be lucky to have you."

I snorted.

"Aidan sweetheart, I love
you," she reassured.

"Viola, I need to tell you
something." Taking a deep breath, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy to
explain.

"What is it?" Her question was
full of sincere concern.

Pacing back and forth in my kitchen, I
launched into the
deal
I  was going to make with someone. Regardless of my
shame of the situation, I was running out of time. When I was finished, she was
extremely quiet. As the silence grated on my nerves, I squeezed the back of my
neck with my free hand.  

"You still there?" I rubbed at
the tense muscles in my neck.

"Yes dear, I’m here." She sighed
lightly. "Aidan, please don’t rush out and make this
arrangement
with someone hastily. I realize you’re being practical; however, you may come
across something…the real thing." She attempted to diffuse this idea but we
both knew I was out of other options.

"I don’t plan on rushing in, but I’ll
do what I have to do."

The rest of my weekend was the same.
Oscar had been sleeping or had other plans, Dixon was working, and I couldn’t
get a hold of James at all. I spent my weekend working on business and pondering
outcomes for my situation.

Soon Monday arrived and it was time to
return to the office. Everything was going in the typical corporate fashion
until Thursday afternoon when James burst through my door.

"Cousin!" He walked in large
strides, taking a seat on the corner of my desk. Leaning back in my chair, I raised
an eyebrow.

"Cousin?" I grinned.
"Someone’s in a good mood."

"Of course I am." He smiled
wide.

"Because of?" I prodded.

"I’m getting married." He
blurted.

My mouth fell open in shock.

"You’re what?" I leaned
forward, clasping my hands on the desk in front of me.

"You heard me." He picked up
pen off my desk, twirling it in his fingers.

"But—"

"I asked her Sunday," he said
before I could finish. "After everything that's happened I realized I love
her more than anything, Aidan. Elora is my…is mine. I went out Saturday and
bought the ring then arranged a lunch at the Botanical Gardens and
proposed." Slipping off the desk, he sat down in one of the leather office
chairs in front of me.

"What about all your
friends
?"
Both brows rose.

"To be honest, I was stupid to keep
Elora at arm's length," he looked down remorsefully. "When I thought
that she may be gone…with you…" he looked up to meet my gaze, "it was
my reality check." He smiled small, unsure of my reaction.

I stood up and walked over to him
quickly.

"Congratulations!" I pulled
him into a tight hug.

"Thanks!" He looked genuinely
happy. "You know you’re my best man, right?"

"I better be!" With a smack to
his back, he led us toward my office door. Once James was gone, I sat back into
my chair and put my head in my hands.

How is it that I go on a date and she
leaves with my best friend? Then the girl I had been dating ends up in love and
engaged to my cousin? What the hell is wrong with this picture?

Three hours later, as I sat listening to
the marketing department debate with the sales team about the cost and
inefficiency of customizing all of our marketing pieces,  I began to debate my
decision to be a part of the monthly department update calls.

A text from James quickly drew my
attention away from the discussion.

Club, Inc.. Tonight. 9pm. Be There
Fuckers!

Dropping the cell back onto my desk, I
couldn’t wait for this call to finish up.  Drinks at the club were looking more
and more appealing.

Around eight thirty, I arrived to the
club. Celia stood behind the bar. She sauntered over, smiling, as I slipped
onto a barstool,.

"What can I get you?" She
leaned forward, working the cleavage angle.

"Bourbon," I replied.

"Sure thing," she spun around.
As she did I could smell vanilla and sugar.

Scanning the club, I looked around for
anyone in our group. My attention was caught by two words.

"Hey Loser!" I turned to see
Lilli throwing her bag under the bar.

"Hey," I grinned. A tingling
sensation traveled through my body as my eyes traveled over every curve and
exposed inch of flesh.

"Please don’t tell me that—"

"No. No blind dates. I’m here to
celebrate my cousin’s engagement." Celia walked my drink over and placed
it in front of me. "Thanks!"

"That’s cool, but I thought you
were the one looking…or something," Lilli raised a brow.

"It’s complicated," I forced a
smile. "I’m surprised Dixon hasn’t told you all about it like he has
everyone else."

She shook her head, causing a thick
strand of long dark hair to fall over her right shoulder.

"We really haven’t been home at the
same time lately," she smiled, but something in her face gave away to
sadness. I was about to speak again when she held up a finger and walked
towards some guys that just sat down to the bar.

Watching Lilli at the other end of the
bar, I felt a smack on my back.

"Hey Aid-man."

Turning around I was greeted by Dixon’s
large bright smile.  He slipped onto the stool next to me, his blue button down
tightening around his biceps. It looked like he would rip the shirt if he
flexed.  I was about to argue the nickname but saw his eyes were following
Celia. With his attention on her, I knew I’d never get it.

Finally, James and Oscar arrived.  Soon
Uncle Liam, along with two of James’s buddies, showed up as well.

"Liam, does Viola know where you
are?" I teased.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, yes, but I don’t think she
realized…" He drifted off, looking around at the half dressed waitresses,
shot girls, dancers and bartenders. In his traditional Armani gray suit, he seemed
out of place. With the loud music, flashing lights and the furrow of his brow,
he looked uncomfortable.

"Dixon," Lilli leaned up on
the bar, wrapping her arms around Dixon in a hug.

"Hey, Lilli," he returned the
hug.

"How come he gets a hug and I get
called a loser?" I shouted over to her teasingly.

She put an L on forehead with her
fingers and then pointed at me. I returned the large smile she gave me with one
of my own.

"Who is that?" Liam asked as
he sat on my left.

"Lilli," I took a sip of my
drink. "She’s Dixon’s roommate."

Then I introduced Dixon to Liam. Liam
was instantly amused by Dixon. I think it would be difficult for anyone to
really not like him.

With a loud shout, James got the evening
started.  Celia poured shots of Patron and we toasted his engagement.  We found
a table and spent the night drinking and joking around.  At the end of the
night, around midnight, we said our goodbyes and headed home. Aside for Dixon,
who waited on Lilli and Celia’s shift to end.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The weekend found me at Dixon’s on
Friday night, hanging out watching sports and drinking beer. It was around one
thirty when we heard the door. Without looking away from the TV, Dixon yelled
out, "Hey, Lilli."

"Hey honey!" Dixon spun around
at the sound of Celia’s voice. With a sly smile, tight fitting jeans and barely
there halter top, Celia wiggled the fingers of her right hand at him. Looking
at Dixon’s face, I knew it was time for me to go.

"Celia," Dixon smiled, but
confusion soon replaced it. "Where’s Lilli?"

"Oh, she is on her way up. She had
to fight off Tom in the entryway," Celia rolled her eyes sitting on the
arm of Dixon’s chair. "Not to mention that she’s already in a shit
mood."

"What happened? Bill giving her a
hard time again?" Irritation poured from every pore of his body.

"Of course he is. This time it was
because Lilli refused to serve a guy who was making lewd comments." She
shrugged. "You would think Bill would support us instead of taking it out
on us. Anyhow, if he has to talk with her again he says he’s going to fire
her." Celia slid onto Dixon’s lap. "It’s ridiculous." She
grumbled.

"Well, I think I should get—"

"Stupid fucking asshole! Stupid
pathetic…" Lilli stopped ranting when she saw us looking at her. "Sorry,"
She stated, forcing a smile before storming towards the kitchen. Her face
flushed with anger.

"Told you," Celia whispered to
Dixon.

"Want me to kick his ass,
Lilli?" Dixon turned his head toward the kitchen.

"I just don’t understand why he
doesn’t get the hint." She yelled before gulping down a beer she pulled
from the refrigerator. "Seriously, how many times would I have to tell you
no before you would get the hint I wasn’t interested?" She looked directly
at me.

"Ummm…" Straightening my back,
I searched my head for the right response.

"Don’t answer," Dixon whispered
harshly. Celia giggled.

"Oh, never mind!"

Dixon gave me thumbs up. Lilli fumed
down the hallway until her door slammed.

"Okay, well I think I should go."

"Dude, you don’t have to go. Stay
and hang longer. We can shove a movie in." He stood up, placing Celia in
the chair by herself, and walked over to some shelves of DVDs.

"No really, I have plans tomorrow
so I—"

Lilli entered the room wearing cotton
shorts, a tank top and those damn knee socks with the stripes. If someone were
to describe this outfit to me I would laugh but it was hot on her.

"Lilli, you’re scaring Aidan,"
Dixon chuckled.

"No she’s not," I protested.

"Are you scared Aid-man?"
Lilli grinned, sitting down just one cushion away from me on the couch.

I grimaced. "You know, I’m not a
fan of the nickname."

"So you prefer Aidan-O?" She looked
at Celia. "That’s Phoebe’s lover boy name for him.”

Without even thinking, I launched the
jacket I held in my lap at her. I inhaled quickly, ready to apologize but she
was cracking up. Laughter burst from my mouth.

About 3 beers and half a movie later, Celia
fell asleep on Dixon’s chest. I’m not sure when sleep found me but waking to
the smell of cherries and flowers was nice. Groggily, I opened my eyes and
started to stretch. A warm body shifted next to me. Still exhausted, I forced
myself to look at the source of the warmth. Lilli lay against my chest and
legs, both of us stretched out on the couch. Lying side by side sent a
comfortable ease I hadn’t experienced with a woman before. Savoring the comfort
and warmth, I cuddled in closer to her.

Next time I woke to the smells bacon and
syrup. Stretching, I found myself alone. Sitting up, I shoved off a blanket
that hadn’t been there before.

Did I dream it? Maybe Lilli hadn’t been cuddling
on the couch with me.

Noise in the kitchen drew my attention. Lilli
and Celia stood in the kitchen cooking and attempting to be quiet. They were
failing. As I headed toward them Celia turned around with a plate full of
bacon.

"Good morning," she smiled. Smiling,
I rubbed the back of my head. She was definitely in Dixon’s shirt, it was huge.

"Coffee?" She placed a cup in
front of me.

"Oh God, please, yes!" I rubbed
my eyes.

"Another caffeine addict in the
house I see," Celia smiled.

I smiled and picked up the full mug.

"Thanks," I took a sip.
"Dixon one too?"