I was pretty run down, but I still remembered my oldest brother's wedding. Gabrielle had been like a sister to us growing up. She'd always been around the house and ran with us guys like the best of them. Then, her father had died, and his stupid ass will had stipulated she had to be married before she could inherit her due share of his company. Gabbie had always been against getting married or "tied down" as she'd always put it, but her father had been set in his ways. A woman's place was to be married.
It had been Nick's idea for the two of them to get married so she could get what was rightfully hers. Everyone had assumed they'd get divorced once the three-year stipulation of the will was up. But, as far as I knew, they'd stayed married.
"They're renewing their vows," Aspen said.
"Really? I always figured they'd just stayed together out of convenience. Gabbie was always more of a sister to any of us than a romantic interest."
Aspen snorted. "Well, it looks like she's more than just a sister to Nicky. At least, I hope he's not thinking of her as his sister as he bangs her! But I guess you can't help who you fall for."
"Gross," I replied, rolling my eyes. But that was Aspen all right, never once shying away from a juvenile joke. As much as he drove me crazy with his stupid little jokes, I couldn't deny how much I missed talking with him. Or how much I missed talking with any of my brothers. "What's the date?"
Aspen gave me the details as I pulled up my calendar. It wasn't the greatest time for me to take a few days off work, but it was for the best. Not only could I not disappoint Nick and Gabbie by not showing up, but a mental vacation for a few days would really be a godsend at this point. I had an entire list of shit I needed to do. Wouldn’t a couple of days off and coming back rested make me far more productive than if I worked myself to death without a break?
"I'll be there," I told him, straightening up and rolling my shoulders. Already my body was starting to relax at just the thought of having a break. In fact, I decided to take a bit of my own advice and call it a day a little early. Going home and having a nice hot meal sounded like the perfect way to end my otherwise chaotic day. Maybe I'd even get out one of those books I'd been meaning to read but hadn't had the time for.
"You're welcome to bring a plus one, you know," Aspen added. Once again, I didn't have to see his face to know he was smirking and far happier than he had any right to be. I was sure my mother had put him up to this call, and she'd probably made him promise to include that little bit. She was always on me to find someone to settle down with. She wasn't getting any younger, she liked to remind me, and she wanted more grand-babies to dote over. Nick and Gabbie hadn't given her any, much to her annoyance, but at least they'd gotten married. "And honestly, I suggest you bring someone, anyone, unless you want Mom spending the entire time playing matchmaker," Ass added.
He had a point. It was too soon after his divorce for him to bring a plus one. He had a free pass, unlike me. There was no way I was going to show up to the wedding alone. I wasn't dating anyone, but that didn't mean I couldn't find a date for a weekend trip. And even if it wasn't a serious relationship, at least it would keep my mother at bay. Even she wouldn't be callous enough to try and set me up with other women when I was with one.
"Trust me, I plan on it," I said, fighting back a shudder. "Mom will be busy fawning over Nick and Gabbie, but knowing her, that's only going to give her the baby fever and I am not going to be in the line of fire for that!" I'd made the mistake of going to a family function solo once and had long since learned my lesson. That poor woman was not going to quit until all of her sons were happily married and she had an entire litter of grandchildren to spoil.
Now I just had to find someone to bring along to save me from her.
Aspen and I chatted for a bit, but I wasn't super focused on the conversation. Instead, my mind drifted back to the mystery woman from the Halloween party. Even weeks later, I could still clearly remember how she'd felt in arms. I remembered every inch of her creamy dark body and wished I had another chance to fully explore her. If only I knew who she was. A weekend with her would be like being in paradise, no matter where we were.
But despite my subtle inquires, I still hadn't been able to figure out who she was. Plenty of people at the party remembered her, but none of them had known her identity. Which made bringing her as a date impossible.
Which then made me start thinking about Jade. Just because I had a rule against sleeping with my employees didn't mean I couldn't bring one as a date to a family function, right? As long as I was upfront with her about it being strictly platonic, would that be so bad? Besides, it would give her a much-needed vacation
