Page 12 of 3 Daddies to Go
With a choked sob, I run out of the room even as their laughter floats behind me. I barrel out into the hallway, slamming the heavy door behind me, and lean against the wall trying to get my bearings.
What did I ever do to Monica to make her so damn mean? If she wanted to go on about how eating meat is bad for the environment, that’s fine. I don’t agree with her, but it didn’t have to get personal. What was with those veiled comments about my weight? I can read between the lines, and it’s not fun, I tell you.
I flash back to seventh grade. I’ve always been a bigger girl, but seventh grade is when the bullying got really bad. All the skinny girls would tease me and call me fat. One time, they locked me in the bathroom stall and threw their lunches at me as I cried.
It got better in high school, when I learned to pretend not to care what the mean girls thought about me. But every once in a while, I feel like that thirteen-year-old girl cowering in a bathroom stall again, praying for the food shower to end.
I swipe at my eyes, trying to get rid of the tears. I swore long ago I’d stop crying over stupid girls saying stupid things, but I guess I’m still not completely over it. It wasn’t necessarily the words that hurt the most, though. It was the fact that Monica said all that stuff in front of Tag, Tanner, and Trace, who just witnessed my humiliation.
I’m not under any delusions that guys like that would end up with a girl like me, but it seemed like there was something in the air between us. It seemed like they appreciated my curvy form and the fact that I like my calories. But now, I doubt they’ll want anything to do with me since Monica has pointed out all my flaws. Honestly, they’re probably in there laughing up with Monica and Leonore right now.
I brush away the tears and take a deep, shuddering breath. I will not let some mean girls ruin this wedding for me. It’s Trudy’s night, and I’m supposed to give a speech praising her and Herbie to the high heavens. I need to collect myself before then.
That’s not for a while, though, and I need a pity party for a minute. I bury my head in my hands again, another flood of tears threatening to spill. Monica was a bitch for no reason. Leonore joined in just because she could. I know Jenny probably didn’t hear any of it, since she wasn’t paying attention to us, but still, Jenny didn’t come to my aid.
None of them did. The mean girls won.
I don’t want to go back. I wish I’d brought my steak. Food is comforting to me, and I wonder if I can get a waiter to bring me another plate.
Suddenly a deep voice interrupts my thoughts.
“You okay, honey?”
I look up to find Tag, Tanner, and Trace standing before me. They’re devastatingly handsome, and I gasp, cowering away.
“What are you doing out here?” I sniffle. “You should be enjoying your dinner.”
They smile ruefully.
“Those girls were pretty nasty,” Trace growls. “We wanted to check on you, and make sure you’re alright.”
I swipe at my eyes. “I’m fine, really. They’ll notice if you guys are missing from the table, so you should get back in there. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t worry about me.”
“No, it’s fine,” drawls Trace. I can’t believe these men are standing here right now because everyone at the party will notice. Yet, Tag, Tanner and Trace don’t seem to care. They’ve unbuttoned their suits and loosened their ties, looking coolly confident.
Tag adds, “People have already started dancing, and in fact it’s pretty raucous in there. Trust me, no one cares and no one notices that we’re gone.”
To punctuate the comment, a loud cheer erupts from inside the reception hall. Someone probably did a fancy dance move and the crowd’s screaming with glee. It’s likely a drunk guy showing off for all the single girls, or maybe Trudy and Herbie kissed because that always draws a big reaction from guests in TV and movie weddings. I didn’t hear the telltale glasses clinking, though.
I fiddle with my dress, feeling awkward under the stares of these three attractive men. What am I supposed to say to them? I don’t have a lot of experience in this type of situation. In fact, I have no experience whatsoever. Should I bat my eyelashes like Monica does? Or giggle like Leonore?
No, I think.If those things worked, the guys would still be inside with them.
Tanner takes a step closer to me. “What are you thinking right now, Kendall?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
He laughs.
“Are you still upset about those girls?”
The reminder sends a tear streaming down my cheek.
“Hey now,” Tanner says. “Don’t feel bad. Here, take this.”
I nod, expecting him to hand me a napkin or something so I can clean myself up, but then Tanner leans forward and kisses me, seizing my mouth with his own. His lips dance across mine and my heartbeat accelerates with passion and surprise. What’s going on? How can we be standing in a dark hallway outside a wedding banquet making out?
But it’s happening. His hands pull my head towards him to deepen the kiss, and thoughts of the earlier disaster disappear as his tongue slips between my lips, tangling with mine.