I felt my eyes go wide. “Did I, try to—?” Holy shit. My entire night was blank after the whole snow angel episode where Chase convinced all of us to lie on the floor and pretend we were gazing at the stars at Christmas time. Frank turned off the lights for us. It was beyond ridiculous.
But the last time I remembered laughing that hard with any of the guys was when we were ten and had a slumber party for Nixon’s birthday.
“No,” Val said quickly. “Well, I mean, you tried to take off my shorts and at one point begged me to flash you, but—”
I groaned, and covered my face with my hands. “I’m such an ass.”
“A drunk horny one.”
“Well, that was helpful.”
She grinned. “Yeah well, this bat really did come to good use where you were concerned!”
I frowned and stared at the bat, really stared at it. “Where did you get that?”
“It was a gift.”
“From?”
“A secret admirer.”
“Guys don’t get girls bats. Sorry, that’s not how love works. A bat is a weapon. Someone gave you a weapon?”
“He or she said I’d need it where you were concerned.”
My happy mood faded enough for me to feel a slice of pain through my chest as I struggled to breathe. “Just like the shoes, huh?”
Who the hell was sending Val Andi’s stuff?
“You should go get ready. It’s bad luck to see me before the wedding.” Val offered a polite smile. “And maybe try to sober up before you say ‘I do.’ I’ve been dreaming about this day a really long time.”
Feeling like shit, I hung my head and scratched down my neck. “I’m sorry it’s not how you envisioned it.”
She grinned. “It sorta is.”
“How so?” I frowned, taking the bat out of her hands and pulling her into my arms. “You always dreamed of chasing a horny Italian out of your bed with a bat? Is that it?”
“No.” She stiffened a bit then whispered. “But has anyone ever told you… you look like a medieval prince? Or a knight from a story book?”
“I’m no knight.”
“No, you’re the beast.”
I froze. “Right…” The list in my pocket might as well have burned a hole and singed itself on my heart. I’d gone to Beauty and the Beast but done nothing else to honor her memory.
She’d told me something similar before she died.
“Be the man. Not the beast,” Andi whispered one night. “Girls want the guy to storm the castle with a sword and a smile, not all snarling and angry. I would never suggest you become tame, but maybe… not as scary.”
“I’m not scary.”
Andi’s eyebrows shot up as she choked on a laugh. I didn’t join in. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were making a joke. Next time warn me when you’re trying to be serious.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”
“Sergio, girls look at you and see physical perfection. It’s intimidating. Don’t make it harder for her than it’s already going to be.”
Anger slammed through me. “We aren’t discussing this.”
“But—”
“No.” With an angry kiss I stole her breath and tried to make us forget, make me forget, that she was dying and yet cheerfully talking about the next girl who would warm my bed.
“Sergio?” Val exhaled against my chest and stepped back. “Are you okay?”
No.
“Sure,” I lied. “I just — you’re right, we don’t want bad luck. I’ll see you at the church.”
I frowned the entire way down the stairs, my head throbbing between my temples.
“Morning, sunshine!” Chase yelled from the kitchen.
Phoenix groaned and covered his head with his arms.
Chase snickered. “He’s not used to drinking as much as us.”
“Because I like my liver.” Phoenix fired back in a tired raspy voice. “Never again.”
“Cheer up!” Tex yelled loudly in Phoenix’s right ear. “We’ll have you feeling great in no time!”
“Let me shoot him, Nixon,” Phoenix begged. “Just once.”
Nixon glared at Tex from behind the newspaper. “No violence, it’s Sergio’s special day.”
“And we had the best bachelor party ever…” Chase nodded. “Good thing, since we didn’t get one last time.”
It didn’t even occur to me that I hadn’t had one before.
Had they planned it?
Chase slapped me on the back. “Stop trying to figure shit out and just say thanks man for the best night of my life.”
“The best night of my life doesn’t include making snow angels with you on the wood floor while Tex sings Home on the Range.”
“Amazing baritone.” Chase nodded. “Too bad Nixon’s harmony wasn’t on point or we could have made a killing on the street corner.”
Phoenix groaned. “You don’t sing on corners you strip on them.”
“And he would know,” Tex added.
“Is everyone ready to—” Frank stopped in his tracks. “You have exactly one hour until you need to be at the church.”
I glanced down at my wrinkled clothes and just barely managed to hide my yawn while Tex cut loose with a loud burp and pounded his chest.
Things got progressively worse when Phoenix actually slumped out of his chair onto the floor.