Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
As soon as we step outside into the warm, breezy air, Coach Turner gives me a relieved look, then turns his attention to Talia.
“Still up for the reception?” he asks her. “We can skip it if you want.”
“Nah. Kyle’s paying for an open bar. Let’s go drink the best alcohol money can buy.”
“Attagirl,” he says.
We fly out late tomorrow morning, and something tells me we’re all going to wish we were staying an extra day to recover from today.
“All I want for my birthday and Christmas and”—Talia furrows her brow, concentrating—“my birthday forever is a thumb drive with those photos on it.”
She’s had more than a few drinks, and so has Coach Turner. The reception venue has a bar, and we’ve taken over three stools at one end. Turner’s had several shots, and he’s actually smiling and laughing as we talk about the wedding photos.
Audra wanted photos of just her, Kyle and their parents, and then photos of just them and their siblings and their partners. Of course, as Talia's supposed fiancé, I was in that one. I was also in the one with every family member from both families, grinning like the happiest motherfucker on the planet.
Kyle sulked the entire time. Audra’s still behaving like a coked-out bridezilla, micromanaging every last detail she can. Talia, Coach and I are on a downhill slide, though—enjoying the last of our time here, but glad we’re leaving tomorrow.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Coach tells Talia in response to her request for the photos with me in them.
Fortunately, Talia had prepared him for hearing that we’re engaged. He wasn’t thrilled, even knowing it’s not real, but he tolerated it. Now he’s tipping back his glass tumbler, getting the last few drops of whiskey from it.
“That’s it for me,” he says. “I said I’d stay through the toasts and they’re about to start.”
Talia bursts out laughing from just the sight of Kayla taking the microphone from the DJ to do her maid of honor toast. She’s been outdrinking both me and Coach, and I’m kind of worried about her since I’ve never known her to drink much.
“Hey everyone, thanks for your attention,” Kayla says. “Audra and I were college roommates and I just want to offer up my warmest wishes for this happy couple. Cheers.”
It’s the most underwhelming toast ever. Talia downs a shot of tequila instead of drinking from the flutes of champagne that were passed out, and when she slams the shot glass on the bar, she lets out a little burp and laughs.
I shake my head, knowing there won’t be any more sex for us today. I’ll be surprised if she makes it back to our room before she passes out. It’s more likely I’ll be carrying her there.
Kyle’s best man is one of his high school hockey teammates, and he spends more time talking about how cool it is that Kyle’s a pro hockey player than he does about him and Audra.
I turn to make sure Talia is still upright on her barstool, and she’s gone. I lock eyes with Coach, both of us finding her at the same time.
“If I could have your attention for one more toast!” Talia has one hand wrapped around an invisible microphone and the other one in the air, her index finger raised. “Just one!”
Oh shit. She’s not yelling, but she’s not not yelling, either. She’s standing between two tables full of reception guests, too far away for me to intervene without everyone seeing.
“Hey, hi! I’m Talia Turner, Audra’s sister. Well, I’m also Kyle’s ex, but everyone knows that. Everyone! It’s why you’ve all been looking at me all day, right? Right?”
Coach Turner cringes, walking over to her.
“I’m doing a toast, Dad!” She walks away from him, moving closer to the dance floor set up in the middle of the room. “So where was I?” She taps the invisible microphone. “Is this thing on? Anyway! Like I was saying, it’s so funny that my sister knew Kyle was THE ONE”—she makes air quotes with the hand she’s not using for the invisible microphone—“because I was already dating him then!” She looks at her sister and Kyle, who are sitting at the head table with the same horrified expression. “Auds, you should have mentioned that you planned to fuck him behind my back. And also! He used that ‘you complete me’ bullshit he STOLE from a movie on me too.”
She stumbles slightly and I’m torn about whether I should let her keep going or go end this.
“But don’t feel bad for me!” she yells. “Seriously, do not. I’m so good. I’m with a man now. A real man! One who doesn’t need me to spank him so he can come when he’s drunk.”
There’s a ripple of soft, stunned laughter.
The best man approaches her, putting his hands on her shoulders. Coach Turner and I both go toward them at the same time.