Page 31 of FWB

Kenny

It’s been a couple of weeks since Tiegan and I last spoke directly. Other than when I have to send off a package, we don’t interact. I’ve taken to working at home three out of five days per week, just to avoid seeing her.

I have no idea if Tiegan is going to the party tonight, but I can only assume so. Rex is forcing me to go. Like, literally forcing me. He’ll be here in a few minutes. He told me if I’m not ready by the time he’s out front, he’s prepared to hogtie me as is and drag me to the party.

Not wanting to doubt Rex for a second, I take another quick glance in the mirror.

I make haste at adjusting my coat sleeves and straightening my tie.

I don’t even own a tie. I had to borrow one from Sam.

I give myself a quick spritz of whatever cheap cologne I pick up first. “You got this,” I tell my reflection, trying to mentally prepare myself for the potential shitstorm I’m about to put myself in the eye of.

I turn off the light and head to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of Jameson to calm my nerves while I wait for Rex.

Before I even have time to swallow the burning, amber liquid down my throat, Rex honks his Blazer’s horn.

I finish the last drop of whiskey before setting my glass in the kitchen sink and making my way to the front door.

I take a deep breath in and out before opening it and stepping into the frigid December air.

Rex is hanging out the passenger side window, Tanner in the driver’s seat. “C’mon!” Rex calls. “We’re gonna miss first dibs on the buffet!”

I roll my eyes as I make my way around the car to the seat behind Tanner. Rex and his free food obsession.

“You look sharp,” Rex compliments me, turning in his seat to size me up as I buckle my seatbelt.

I huff out a laugh. “Thanks.”

“Aren’t you going to say ‘Gee, you’re looking extra fine tonight too, Rex!’”

He is wearing a navy three-piece suit with detailed pinstriping. He’s got a feather gray fedora atop his head, and a matching pocket square tucked into his chest pocket.

“You’re looking quite dapper this evening, Rex,” I tell him.

He flashes me a big grin. “I know, right?”

I shake my head and settle in for the fifteen-minute drive to the venue. The party’s in one of the ballrooms at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. I listen to Tanner and Rex bicker about mundane, silly things. Nothing more than teasing each other, really.

When we pull up to the long entrance drive of the resort, I can’t help but be mesmerized.

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of white lights, adorn every inch of the trees aligning the drive.

The inside of the car lights up like a disco ball from their reflections.

It’s enchanting. I notice that every tree, bush, and shrub on the property is covered in these twinkling lights. It’s magical.

Tanner pulls the Blazer to the valet station, and we all exit the vehicle. While Tanner is handing over the keys to the valet and giving his name, I walk over to Rex, still blinded by the lights surrounding the property.

“It’s really something, huh?” Rex asks, admiring the view alongside me.

“Yeah.” I let out a sigh.

Tanner comes around the front of the car.

I finally see what he’s wearing—a solid velvet, burgundy smoke jacket with black lapels, and a pair of fitted black trousers.

He has a paisley pocket square in his jacket pocket and is wearing a simple black button-up shirt under the blazer with the top two buttons undone, showing his chest hair.

Black penny loafers adorn his feet—shiny penny and all.

I feel entirely underdressed showing up with these two.

“Y’all ready to go inside?” Tanner asks as he stops in front of us.

They’re both looking at me for confirmation. I nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Rex claps his hands together once and pumps his elbows. “Let’s do this!”

He leads the way with Tanner following beside him, grabbing his hand. I take up the rear, dragging my feet.

We walk through the grand entrance into the welcome area.

Larry is there in his jacket and red-and-white striped tie.

He greets everyone as they approach. He’s doing the typical shaking hands and kissing babies thing.

Okay, maybe not the babies part—this is an adults-only party.

But he’s definitely schmoozing it up with the plus-ones of the Kroger employees in attendance.

We give Larry a wide berth, moving around him to avoid having to make small talk so early in the evening.

As we make our way down the long hallway that leads to the ballroom Kroger rented out for the night, I can feel my heart pounding out of my chest. I’m about to see Tiegan.

What am I going to say to her? What will she say to me, if anything?

Or will she avoid me the entire evening?

God, this is going to be a disaster. I feel like I’m gonna be sick.

“Hey. I’m gonna run to the restroom really quick.

I’ll meet you guys in there. Save me a seat,” I tell them before making a beeline for the nearest men’s room.

Luckily, it’s unoccupied when I enter. I walk over to the sink and turn on the cold water so I can splash my face.

Maybe that will jolt me out of whatever I’m feeling right now.

I look at myself in the mirror, my dark beard now dripping with water.

I’ve noticed more gray in my hair and beard over the last two months.

I’m going to be completely gray by the time I’m forty, at this rate.

Taking a couple paper towels, I dry myself off. Time to do this.

When I enter the ballroom, I scan the room for Rex and Tanner.

I need to stick to them like a leech tonight if I’m going to make it through this debacle.

I immediately spot Rex by the buffet table, loading his plate with the fancy food Kroger had catered.

I’m not hungry yet, so I continue to scan the crowd for any sign of Tanner’s tell-tale burgundy blazer.

I finally spot him, but he’s not alone. He’s chatting with a couple of women.

I can’t see their faces, but I would know that body anywhere.

Tiegan. She’s wearing a rich, long-sleeved, red dress that matches her hair and hugs her voluptuous curves in all the right places.

She shifts positions, and I can see the front of the dress plunges into a deep V, putting her incredibly perky breasts on full display, along with the top of her dragon tattoo that rests between them.

The tattoo I’ve left trails of kisses along more times than I can count.

My eyes travel the length of her body, and I notice the long, flowing skirt has two slits cut into it, one on each thigh, exposing her jack-o-lantern tattoo on her right thigh to me.

She laughs at something the woman next to her says.

I don’t recognize her guest. My guess is it’s her best friend, Kiersten.

The physical description seems to match the stories I recall Tiegan telling me.

Tanner sees me and waves me over. Tiegan and her friend turn to look at who he’s waving at.

When they notice it’s me, Tiegan’s face goes red—a fierce blush creeping up her cheeks, nearly as bright as her lipstick.

She quickly excuses herself from Tanner’s presence and heads to the buffet line.

She grabs a plate and loads up on pasta, salad, chicken, and rolls. She doesn’t look at me once.

Tanner comes over to me. “Did I miss something? I thought you two were friends?” He throws a thumb over his shoulder in the girls’ direction.

“It’s a long story,” I say as Rex joins us, two plates piled high. One is dedicated entirely to desserts.

“I put my jacket down over here,” he says, gesturing with one full hand to a table in front of us in the corner of the room.

“I think I need to get a drink first,” I say, trying to find the nearest open bartender. I spot one across the room and make my way over.

When I’m a few feet away from the counter, Tiegan cuts in front of me.

“I’ll have a Stella Artois, please,” she says as the bartender pops the top off the bottle of golden liquid for her.

When she turns around, I’m only a foot away from her.

She startles when she sees me, throwing a hand over her heart.

“Jesus, I thought we talked about you sneaking up on me like that!”

The edges of my lips curl up in a small smile. “Sorry. Bad habits and all that.” I shrug.

She focuses on me, inspecting me from head to toe with her mesmerizing turquoise eyes. Finally, she says nonchalantly, “You clean up nicely.”

I stand there, admiring this goddess among men. “You’re stunning.”

She looks down for the briefest of moments before meeting my eyes again. They look like they’ve gotten redder since I’ve been standing here. “I can’t do this right now.” She grabs her beer and makes to walk past me.

I grab her wrist. “Please, Tiegan. Can we talk?”

“You had your chance to talk to me, and you let me walk away. We’re done talking. Now, please, let me go.”

With nothing I can say, I let go of her wrist. People are starting to stare.

I turn and watch her walk to her table across the room, where she’s sitting with Kiersten, Jerome, Michelle, Alyssa, and Elizabeth, along with their respective dates.

Kiersten says something in Tiegan’s ear before glaring at me.

Tiegan shakes her head, and Kiersten turns back around.

But not before shooting me death rays from across the room.

Great. Now I’m on the best friend’s shit list.

I walk up to the bar, needing a stiff drink now more than ever. “Jameson, neat. Make it a double, please.”

I down the glass as soon as the bartender sets it in front of me.

“Another,” I demand as I firmly set the glass on the bar top.

The fellow pouring the drinks looks at me and then over to Tiegan. “Trouble in paradise?” he asks while refilling my glass.