He grinned something sly and nasty, "You know you like it."
I slapped his shoulder, "Shut up."
I turned and smiled at Will, "There he is."
He held his arms open. I hugged him hard.
"How's it hanging, J.D.?"
A laugh slipped from my lips, "You fucker. You set me up so bad. You and Brandi are dead meat."
He nodded, "I figured as much. Poor Tex has no clue what he's getting himself into."
Brandi shrugged, "Whatever, not our problem."
France snorted, "Least I dodged that bullet." He slapped Will on the arm, "You knew what to send to make me change my mind."
Will squeezed me again, "She is your kryptonite my friend. If anyone could make you see, it was J.D."
I scowled, "Good to know you are comfortable with the fact you used me."
France snatched me from Will’s arm, "It worked. ‘Course then she snuck out of the hotel, and the next thing I know, I get a postcard from some vineyard in Greece."
I gushed, "It was so nice. I stayed for three weeks and helped with the winter cleanup. I got paid in wine. Best week I ever spent, anywhere. The Mediterranean and wine and the food. Oh God. The lamb was so tender, I almost married the cook but she wasn’t my type."
"No playoffs beard?"
I nudged Mike, "No, she had that. She was missing the shitty attitude and penchant for Doritos."
He laughed and carried my bag inside.
I looked at the arch and artwork, "Oh my God, France. Look at this place. It's stunning. The artwork is incredible. Imagine if this were your house."
"Yeah, Jack, it's a castle. Come on."
I let him pull me past the stunning marble foyer and arched hallways to the lady who was planning the wedding. I was running my hand along the marble and woodwork when she passed me a champagne flute and a room key. Will and Brandi stayed outside talking, it looked heated. I looked back, "Are they screwing?"
"I suspect they might be."
I sighed, "She's pregnant. That’s disgusting."
"How long did she and Shawn try to get pregnant?"
I ran my fingers along the hallway, "Look at the art. This is like a museum." It took a second to hit me. I grimaced, "Oh God. It's not Will's kid?"
He shrugged, "She comes to every game, they talk all the time, and a few times I saw her walking away crying."
"How did they even meet? I thought she was pregnant when they met."
He shrugged, "I don’t know or care." He opened my door to my room for me. He leaned against the door, "So, did it work?"
I scowled, "Did what work?"
He grinned, "Did I ruin you for every other man?"
I smiled, "Not telling."
He leaned in, brushing his lips against mine softly. Almost four months had past since we had last seen each other and my feelings had not changed.
I was unsure of everything about myself, and therefore, unable to really commit to feelings for him. The intensity with which I had always loved him scared me into wanting to feel nothing. I stopped him, "I don’t want this to change the rules."
He laughed, "You suck."
"Not on this trip."
The room had a melon-green bed with matching chairs and drapes. It looked dated, and yet pristine, if that were possible. "God, I love it here. If I ever get married, I want it to be somewhere like this. A castle with arches and history."
His eyes were burning, "Marry me."
I scowled, "We agreed to wait to start our relationship. I need this time, France. I'm having fun, probably for the first time in a decade. Apart from the times you and I had fun."
"I'm scared I'll lose you in all this freedom and fancy-free traveling."
I laughed, "Then you never had me from the start."
He rolled his eyes, "Baby, I had you. That’s what I'm talking about. I want you again."
I pressed my hands against his chest as he got close. I realized what was happening, "Oh my God, are you horny from lack of sex?" I cupped my hand on his massive erection and smiled wide, "Dirty bastard."
He moaned, "Just let me put the tip in. Please. I'm going insane without sex."
I laughed harder and shoved him back, "No. The tip counts."
He adjusted himself, "I'm going to die from this, Jack. Die. Will you be comfortable with that?"
I folded my arms, "If I'm your beneficiary then… maybe."
He tossed me over his shoulder and threw me onto the bed. He dove on top of me, squishing me the way I liked. He rubbed himself against me, "Just one quick little check to see if we still like seeing each other naked." I wrapped my legs around him, aware of the fact my underwear was pressed on his zipper. He moaned, "You're enjoying this."
I bit my lip and nodded.
He brushed his beard against my neck, lightly kissing and sucking. He slowly lowered himself to my chest. He dragged his lips over where my nipple was. I moaned, "France, no. Not here. The wedding is in two hours. Your ex-fiancé’s wedding."
"Goddamn."
I nodded, "Yup."
We were weak so I got up and left the room, before I made a huge mistake.
Saturday evening - The Wedding
The wedding wasn’t huge, maybe a hundred people. The foreigners from the Italian team were all there except Luce. I had wanted to see him badly.
France didn’t say anything to me after I had left him there hard and annoyed. He was one of the groomsmen, which was weird. At least, I thought it was. He and the groomsmen were all up at the front of the chapel talking with the priest. Tex had crazy, obviously Texan relatives, who were loud and funny.
I saved my sister a seat when I went down to the long, arched corridor where the service was going to be. I hadn’t seen Daniela or Tex. I felt awkward being there.
I was staring at the paintings on the ceiling when I heard a voice.
"It was commissioned by a cardinal. He was a patron of the arts. Most of the house was built in the 1600s."
I looked back, smiling wide, "You came."
He nodded. He looked the same, but maybe better. His accent was less maybe, or he looked more American. Something about him was different. Maybe it was the way he looked at me. He held his hand out to me, "You have to see something."
I placed my hand in his and let him lead me through the massive hallways and small clusters of wedding guests. We entered a room with high, arched ceilings. Instantly, both our faces went to the ceiling.
"My God."
"It's called the ancient library."
The ceiling was covered in stunning paintings that all came together with a Pegasus in the middle.
"Imagine if this was just one room in your home."
He smiled when he spoke, I could hear it, "Have you seen the spiral staircase yet?"
I shook my head, "No."
"What about the Pannini gallery?"
I looked at him "The wedding starts in like ten minutes."
He made a face, "We better hurry." He walked from the room, "How is the traveling?"
I nodded, "Great. I don’t even know who I was four months ago. I feel so liberated."
"You look different."
I gave him a look, "How so?"
He shook his head, "Your eyes are clearer and your sadness is gone."
I liked that answer. I smiled and followed him into the chapel. We sat next to each other. I still didn’t see Brandi.
Luce leaned into me, "How are things with Mike?"
I sighed, "Complicated as per the usual." I looked at him, "We are still not seeing anyone, including each other."
His eyes flinched. He nodded, "Really."
I scowled, "What do you know?"
He shook his head, "No way. He can tell you himself. I'm not having any part of this."
I felt sick, and yet, at the same time I completely expected it. Him being a slutty hockey player was not something that was new. I sighed and leaned into Luce, "How's Boston?"
He chuckled, "Cold."
I laughed, "Yes, it is."
My sister and Will came in and sat together. She glanced back around at me and waved. I cocked an eyebrow but she turned away. The music started as the seats were filled and the wedding began. The bridesmaids came down the red carpet first, looking gorgeous. Of course, they were probably all models as well.
Luce whispered, "Were you surprised Tex and Daniela decided to tie the knot?"
I nodded, "I was." I glanced into his dark-green eyes, "Were you?"
He shook his head, "They were having an affair for months. Will, Mike's friend there, came to visit him in August. He caught them in a compromising position. He told me when we were drinking in Boston one night."
"Did he tell Mike?"
He shook his head "No. The dynamics of the team were already a bit tight. Mike came and some of the other guys were threatened by him. Who leaves the NHL to come and play for Italy?"
I smiled, "He was running away from me."
He nodded, "I know, but a lot of guys said he was being a diva. They said he couldn’t get a contract so he said screw it and came to Italy to prove a point. His New York teammates were pretty angry."
I shook my head, "That was entirely my fault." I looked down the aisle to where Mike stood next to Arthur and the rest of the groomsmen. His dark eyes were burning, watching me and Luce talk.
The music changed and we all stood.
Daniela looked stunning. Her dress was, by far, the most beautiful wedding dress I had ever seen. Against her olive skin and dark hair, the cream was the perfect contrast. She looked warm and glowing.
I smiled at her as she walked past. She winked at me. I felt the blush creeping up my cheeks. I hadn’t seen her since the wine tasting. She looked happy, oddly enough, considering I had broken up her last relationship. Not to mention, Tex was a big lug and she was a delicate flower.