Page 37 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)

thirty-one

Nate

“ H ey asshole, a lot of guys go to college for a decade.” Brad takes a bite of steak.

Yep. They’re doctors, Brad.

Garrett drops his fork onto his plate. “You’re still in college? Please tell me you’re at least working on your doctorate by now?”

Mitch and Clayton join in, and Brad sulks into his beer. I look forward to this trip every year, but I just can’t get my mind into it right now.

Kate dominates my every thought.

I miss her like crazy.

What’s that song lyric?

‘You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.’

Who the fuck sings that song?

“Earth to Nate. Do you want to get in on this? Brad’s only been your best friend since high school.” Garrett taps my shoulder, and I blurt out the first thing that pops into my head .

“Is it Cinderella? Big eighties hair? Is that right?”

Brad gives me a puzzled look. “What the fuck are you talking about, man?”

Garrett sighs. “Here we go. Nate’s pissed because I’m going to marry his wife as soon as his annulment goes through.”

Mitch nods. He’s been high since we got here. “Dude, congratulations on the marriage. Many blessings.”

He’s even starting to sound like a stoner when he talks.

“You’re not marrying her because I’m not getting an annulment. And I won’t be held responsible for what I do if you bring that shit up again.”

Clayton raises his hand until Garrett and I shout, “What?”

“You’re married? Since when?”

Garrett pulls out his cell phone. “He married her in Vegas. You’ve got to see her. She’s gorgeous and smart as hell. A therapist. Look at this. She and Daniel fell asleep on the couch. Is that not the cutest fucking thing ever?”

He might as well run me through it with his steak knife.

She’s perfect.

I went to her apartment last week just to see her face. The guy who answered the door looked like he could break me in half, so I correctly guessed that it was her dad.

“She’s sick and resting right now.”

I’d tried to get around him when I heard that. “I’m her husband. Just let me check on her—I’m a doctor.”

His hand in the center of my chest had me backtracking right out the front door.

“Nate, can I call you Nate? I don’t wanna be that guy, but that’s my baby girl in there. Ya feel me?”

I nodded, instantly regretting crossing the man.

“Now, I believe that fair is fair, so I’m going to give you a warnin’. Stay the fuck away from her—if she wants you, she’ll come find you. Disregard that, and you’ll find out just how bad Kate’s ‘biker daddy’ is. Alright?”

A younger me would’ve mouthed off and told the old man to go to hell, but the look in his eyes? I didn’t doubt that he’d kill me slowly and somehow make it look like an accident.

“Jesus Christ, Nate. You’re shaking. I didn’t hold a gun to your head…yet.” He’d thrown his arm around my shoulder and walked me back down the stairs, laughing like we were old friends.

I snap out of it and take a long drink of beer. Garrett is enlightening everyone at our table and several surrounding ones about what happened with Kate.

“And now he’s pouting in his beer because he had a fantastic woman, and he fucked it up.”

I down the rest of my beer. “Thanks, Garrett. Super helpful of you to let everyone know.”

Mitch suddenly turns to me, and I jump. “You need a grand gesture. That’s what they do in the movies.”

Clayton nods. “He’s right. You fucked up epically.”

Garrett slams his pint glass down on the table, earning us some curious looks. “Mitch, you’re a goddamn genius. Nate, what was your plan for this weekend?”

I point to the window. “Snowboard?—”

Garrett shakes his head. “No. You’re just going to bring the group down with your sadness. And I can’t have you killing my good snow vibes. You need to go home.”

I roll my eyes and answer with as much sarcasm as possible. “Okay, sure. I just paid for the fucking trip; let me catch a flight home before I’ve even gotten the chance to step foot on the slopes.”

Mitch holds his fork in his hand like a microphone. “Hey, Nate. You should go home.”

I nod slowly. “Okay, Mitch. Good talk.”

Garrett stands up. “Patrons of Snowcliff Brewing Co. , should my asshole brother go back to Texas so that he can grovel at the feet of one Mary Katherine Quinn in a grand gesture made for the big screen?”

Several people raise their drinks while the grand majority ignore him. I bury my face in my hands. “Are you finished?”

He continues, “No. Her Christmas party is tomorrow night. If you quit dicking around here, you might make it back in time.”

I frown. “And you know this how?”

“Nate, I had coffee with her last week. What Kate and I have is something special, and I’m not going to throw that away because you had confusing feelings toward a woman who thought she was a soap opera character.”

I kick my chair back and stand up, fists clenched.

I’m going to beat the shit out of him.

Eleven hours and four Red Bulls later, I pulled into town. No available flights would get me back to Lubbock in time, so I took my car and left Garrett to find another ride back.

Driving has got to be one of the most monotonous things ever; I found myself drifting off several times.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve pulled plenty of all-nighters, but the adrenaline kept me going strong.

Most of the drive was spent with the windows down and Rage Against the Machine blaring through the speakers.

I made it home just after noon, and as much as I wanted a few hours of sleep, I needed a tux. The invitation said coat and tie, but I was going for a grand gesture—not the bare minimum. So, I spent more than I should have, but it was do or die at this point.

I manage a quick nap before jumping in the shower. My beard has gotten a little unruly after being up in the mountains, so I take my time cleaning it up with the razor.

I’ve got hair gel holding my hair in place.

I’m wearing a black tux.

Fuck, I even went as far as manscaping —it doesn’t get any grander than that.

The doorbell rings just as I’m adjusting my bowtie. I open it to some college kid I’ve never seen before .

“Nathaniel Davis?”

“I’m Nate?—”

He hands me an envelope. “You’ve been served.”

I stare down in shock at the papers in my hand. I’ve never been on the receiving end of one of these before, and I sure as fuck don’t like the feeling.

Okay, grand gesture time.

Think, Nate.

Something that will win her over and get her to rethink our marriage.

My phone chimes.

Garrett: Did you come up with a plan yet?

Nate: You know me. I’m more of an off-the-cuff kind of guy. I’ll think of something.

Nate: Also, she may have had me served.

Garrett: Shit. You better come up with something spectacular then; otherwise, you missed out on snowboarding for nothing.

I clench my teeth. The fucker seems to have forgotten that this whole thing was his idea.

Nate: Thanks for the tip, dickhead.

I throw the envelope on the kitchen island and stalk to my car. Kate’s Christmas party is at an upscale hotel near campus. I arrive within five minutes, and I still have no idea how to get her back.

I leave my car with the valet and slip on my tuxedo jacket. The lobby is littered with people, but I don’t see her anywhere.

A hotel employee directs me into a crowded ballroom and I find the inspiration I need. The DJ booth is set up on a small stage near the front of the room .

My pulse picks up, and I start grinning.

I’ve got just the plan to win her back.

But first, whiskey… lots and lots of whiskey.