Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

"Time to get up, dude!"

"You are way too happy. I guess you finally got some." Still half-asleep, I sat up and rubbed my face.

"A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell."

"Ah, so that means you're going to tell me all the details. I bet she’s a screamer." Standing, I walked toward the kitchen. Coffee, I need coffee.

"You're a sick man, my friend, but I like it! I like it a lot!" He laughed.

"So, why are you calling and waking me up so early?"

"Oh shit, yeah, come over for the game. I already called Oz and he’s heading over in a few."

"Alright let me get caffeinated and dressed. I'll have to leave to have dinner with my aunt and uncle tonight, so I can’t stay all afternoon."

"Sure, sure…get your ass in gear."

"Hey, you care if I call James?"

"Nah, call that bastard too," he chuckled.

"Later." I tossed my phone onto the kitchen counter and prayed there was coffee in the cabinet.

~

After an afternoon of sports, beer, chips and subs at Dixon’s place, I took off to my aunt and uncles house. Arriving around six, so I could clean up before dinner, I found my cousin Maggie sitting in the living room.

"Hey, little lady." Leaning in, I kissed her cheek.

"Aidan," she wrapped her hands around my neck and squeezed. "Mom said you would be here for dinner, but I figured you would bail since it's the McConnell’s." She wrinkled her nose.

"Nah, Aunt Vi knows, I can’t say no to her."

I ruffled her bright red hair.

"Hey! I was having an awesome hair day, jerk!" Laughing, I headed upstairs to clean up before dinner.

Once showered and dressed, I descended back downstairs. Maggie wasn’t in the living room any longer; female voices filtered from the kitchen, so I headed in that direction.

Maggie was propped up on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. I could remember when her legs wouldn’t even reach the first bar on those stools. It was hard to believe she was going to be fifteen soon.

Shit. Mental note, buy her a present.

"Mom," she whined. "Why do you insist on inviting them over? They're so snobby. Yeck!"

I snorted at Maggie’s rant about the McConnell’s. Viola and Maggie both looked in my direction.

"Oh, I’m so glad that you came." Viola pulled me into a tight hug.

"I told you I would." I squeezed back. "What’s on the menu?" Leaning toward the food, I inhaled deeply. "It smells delicious."

"Wedding soup, filet, roasted potatoes and asparagus, Greek salad and bread," she beamed proudly. She had to have spent the past couple of day preparing the menu.

"Don’t forget the Tiramisu." Maggie added with a large smile. "Yum."

"Viola, it's your homemade wedding soup, right?"

"Of course," she looked insulted that I would think any different.

"Then I think I should test it."

Laughing, she swatted my hand away from the large spoon in the pot.

The echo of guests rang throughout the house with the sound of the bell.

"Oh shit!" I spun around, surprised Viola cursed. "Sorry," she blushed. Maggie and I laughed. "Shut it you two," she giggled. "I’m not quite finished up here."

"I’ll greet them." With a shrug, I headed to the door.

"Oh thank you, Aidan!" Viola called after me.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I yelled back with a wave.

Liam met me at the door with a smile. He opened the door, revealing the McConnell’s. There was no mistaking the McConnell's Irish heritage. Both Mr. and Mrs. McConnell had fiery red hair, fair skin and upturned knobby noses. However, Elora seemed to have blossomed over the years. Her features were similar but not nearly as severe. They, along with her strawberry blonde hair, complimented the roundness of her face and fair, lightly freckled complexion.

"Welcome, Albert." He shook Mr. McConnell’s hand.

"Always a pleasure, Ahnya." He kissed Mrs. McConnell’s hand.

"Dear, Elora, you have become such a beautiful woman." Liam nodded to her.

Following suit, I greeted in the same manner as Liam. However, I kissed Elora’s hand and nodded to her mother. Viola appeared from the kitchen with Maggie close behind to offer their welcome.

Taking a moment, I let my eyes linger over Elora a minute longer. When I finally moved back up her body, we caught each other’s eye. She smiled. By the look in her eyes, she wanted to be polite, but the smile was forced. Like me, she must realize this is an attempt to set us up. She must be as uncomfortable as I am.

“May I?” Offering Elora my arm, hoping to relieve some of the tension, she smiled genuinely and placed her long fingers on my arm.

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