Chapter 16
Gary spent the next two days in the hospital. Bernie and Chuck took care of the paper. When he was released, Kaitlyn insisted that he come home and stay with her. She wanted to take care of him. After two days of home rest, he told Kaitlyn that he was ready to deal with the paper. She reluctantly agreed, only on the condition that Chuck go along with him.
It was Thursday and everyone involved in the wedding planning was meeting at Marissa's for dinner. Kaitlyn's sisters, Marissa, and Jade had everything for the wedding planned right down to the flowers by Wednesday evening. They just wanted to go over some last minute details with Kaitlyn. Marissa was taking care of the luncheon following the ceremony. While the women were in the kitchen talking about the wedding, the men were in the living room.
"Well Gar." Chuck said as he put his arm around Gary's shoulders. "The bachelor party will be tomorrow night."
"Oh no. No. No. No." Gary said emphatically as he removed Chuck's arm from his shoulders. "There will be no bachelor party."
"What do ya mean?" Chuck said. "We can't give you a send off into marital bliss without a bachelor party."
"Absolutely not! No Chuck, no!" Gary said.
"Come on Gary, it won't be that bad." Mike said. "From what I hear Chuck has a great night planned."
"Yeah, I could use a night out." Greg said.
"Me too." Emmitt agreed.
"You guys don't seem to understand something. You see Chuck and bachelor parties, well, there is a history there that I really don't want to elaborate on." Gary said as he shot Chuck a look.
"Gary! Buddy! That was a long time ago." Chuck said turning to the other guys in the room. "You see, I hired these strippers.." Gary quickly cut him off.
"No! Chuck no bachelor party. I'm going to spend the evening with Kaitlyn." Gary said as he looked at Chuck. "Sorry guys." He said to the other men.
Later that evening, as the guys listened to Greg tell baseball stories. Chuck approached Kaitlyn, who was in the kitchen talking with Jade and Megan.
"Ladies." He said in a low voice as he came through the door. They started to laugh. He walked over and sat down next to Kaitlyn.
"Chuck, I'll give this to you, you definitely have a way about you." Kaitlyn laughed.
"You have no idea." Jade joked.
"All right, all right." He said as he put his hands in the air. "Just let me say my peace and I'll leave. Kaitlyn, I'm going to need your help with something."
"What?" She asked suspiciously.
"Well, it seems that your fiancée doesn't trust, me, his best man and best friend, I might add, to throw him a get together tomorrow evening." Chuck tried to put it delicately.
"A get together." Jade said. "I believe the right words are a bachelor party." Jade said to Kaitlyn.
"Call it what you will. He's telling me no. The guys, they're counting on me to come through for them. Now, because he is unwilling to cooperate, I'll be letting them down." Chuck said.
"What exactly do you have planned?" Kaitlyn asked.
"You know, just guy stuff. A little drinking, a few movies…" Chuck said innocently.
"And women." Jade said interrupting him.
"Honey. I am disappointed in you." Chuck said. "You are the love of my life. Other women need not bother." Jade looked at Kaitlyn and rolled her eyes.
"What exactly do you need from me Chuck?" Kaitlyn asked.
"All I need you to do is tell him that you have plans for tomorrow night. Maybe a night out with the girls, or something." Chuck said. "Come on Katie, the guy needs to have a little fun."
"You're not going to get him into any trouble are you?" Kaitlyn asked skeptically.
"Scouts honor." Chuck said as he raised his hand.
"I don't believe you were a scout, Chuck." Jade teased.
"Where is this little get together going to take place at?" Megan asked.
"A little club downtown." Chuck said under his breath.
"All right." Kaitlyn relented. Chuck hugged her.
"Gary does not know how lucky he is." Chuck said. Kaitlyn laughed and turned to Jade.
"Looks like you and me are going to have dinner tomorrow night." She said as they all smiled.
On the way home from Marissa's, Gary as expected, asked Kaitlyn to have dinner with him the next night.
"I can't." She said innocently. "I already told Jade that I would have dinner with her."
"Jade?" Gary asked.
"Yeah. I figured you would want to go out with Chuck. I thought it would be nice if Jade and I got to know each other better. I mean she is married to your best friend. I think she's nice." Kaitlyn said.
"So you're going to have dinner with Jade and I have to go out with Chuck?" Gary asked and Kaitlyn nodded.
"Oh that can't be good." He said under his breath.
The next night when Gary opened the door to the loft he not only found Chuck, but, Mike, Greg and Emmitt.
"Chuck I thought I told you no bachelor party." Gary said.
"Gary, Buddy. We're going to a fine establishment. It's just us guys going out for a nice night." Chuck said as he patted his friend on the back.