"Is that…?"
"Yep." I whispered. "Do you think he's cheating on me?"
"No, he's too crazy about you." She reassured me. I watched him a moment longer. He looked up and saw me, his face turned soft. I felt a tear leak. He went to stand up. "Let's go."
"Yeah." We took off in the direction of the club. I looked back to see them hugging goodbye. Adrian was watching me. We walked faster, turning the curb. We entered the club. I sat down. "Do we have to practice today?" she shook her head.
"We can plan the wedding…" she offered.
"I don't think I want to plan it yet… they were hugging, Mia."
"So? Last night I'm sure you did more than hug."
"Yeah and they could be more than hugging too." I bit my lip. "I can't lose someone else Mi-Mi."
"You won't." her phone buzzed. "The new bouncer is here. He is going to be following Ivan around." I shrugged. "Let's plan the wedding. Adrian is mad about you."
"I know… I'm just being stupid."
"You finally realize it." She joked. I laughed. I got out the wedding to do book. "I'll call and set up an appointment with a bridal shop consultant."
"Wait, let's pick a date first." I got a pen out. I looked at the first to do. "I think it should be six months from now."
"Why then?"
"It'll be our five year anniversary."
"Awe." She fanned herself. "Good date, write it down. I'll start setting up appointments."
"Tomorrow I don't have class… do you want to check out churches?" she nodded. She started dialing. I went through my contact book, writing down people to invite. I invited everyone from Adrian's business and my personal life. I ignored all calls from Adrian… he can't just date someone if I'm not there. I wrote down a few maybe people… my parents, the gang and their families, and Mason's family. I would do that in person if I'm going to invite them.
"Okay, you have a day with David's Bridal and Sincerity Bridal. David's is November 7 and Sincerity is October 29." That wasn't even a month away. I nodded. "Kleinfield has a spot open this Friday. I told them you would take it." I nodded.
"You will be the best friend that will help me through this. Finding caterers… I think we should look at Angelo's and Lonny's Cuisine." They were amazing food places. "Maybe even Giovanni's would do it." She wrote down the names.
"ROSE! MIA!" we looked at Ivan.
"What?"
"The club is about to open and you have books and magazines scattered." I nodded.
"I apologize, this is my fault… we'll clean it up right away." he nodded, I saw Dimitri staring at the wedding book on the counter. Ivan walked away, Dimitri in tow. We cleaned up, organizing our stuff. We put it under the bar in my bags. I looked at Mia. "I'm thinking Grace Church or St. Peter's."
"Those are good choices. They're beautiful." We walked to the back, I pulled my tank top up, wrapping a hair tie around the fabric and tucking it under my bra. "Ivan wants to much skin shown." She was doing the same as me.
"I know."
"We can visit the churches tomorrow, and then start calling caterers." She pulled her hair up into a bun. I pulled it into a side pony tail, my razor bangs hanging in my face. "Oh, and then photographers." I thought about Christian… he was going to school for photography. "Do you have any ideas?" I nodded.
"You know the people from last night?" she nodded. "One of them is going to school for photography, he's always been blessed with being able to capture perfection."
"Ask him."
"We aren't on good terms… I wasn't even thinking about inviting them to the wedding." I turned the beer chiller thing up on high. "I just wish I could go back to when I was with Mason that night. I wish I could take it all back… but I also don't."
"I don't understand."
"If he wouldn't have ever die… I wouldn't love Adrian and be able to get away from my father." She nodded. "But since he did die… I'm free. I left and became my own person. I met you and we work together. I'm attending college." I shrugged. "I'm getting married."
"Rose." I looked at Dimitri. "Ivan says to tell you he has two very important guests coming tonight and to wait on them in his personal office." I nodded.
"Tell him no problem." He turned to walked away. "Dimka." He froze and turned to me. "Is Christian coming tonight?" he looked me over.
"Why?"
"I was going to offer him his first job as a photographer."
"You were going to invite him to your wedding?" he raised his eyebrow.
"Yes… actually you all. I was also going to apologize to Tasha for my misbehavior last night." His eyes softened. "I'm really sorry Dimka, I don't know what happened… she just pissed me off." I sighed. "Congratulations on getting engaged."
"Thanks…" he looked at my ring. "You too." He turned and walked away.
"He loves you." Mia whispered. "He's completely in love with you, he hates Tasha and loves you." I sighed.
"I know, but I love Adrian." She just looked at me.
"I'll go open…" she sounded weird. I looked to where her eyes travelled. Adrian was walking towards me. I turned back to washing the bar.
"Rose, she works for me." I held up my hand.
"Just answer me this…" he nodded. "Are you cheating on me?" I had tears in my eyes. "Is it because I'm never around? Is it because I'm not planning the wedding?"
"No… baby. I would never cheat on you." I knew this man backwards and front. I knew he was lying.
"Who is she?"
"What's gotten into you?" he reached for me, but I backed up.
"Maybe the fact that my fiancée told me this morning that he can't handle much more of me."
"No, I meant I couldn't handle much more of not being with you." He reassured. "I love you more than anything. That girl is my cousin. She's Kaleb's daughter. She's eighteen and trying to make money." I looked into his eyes.
"You swear?" he nodded. I let him touch me this time. "What do you think about June 2 of next year?"
"What do you mean?"
"I was thinking that's when we are getting married." His eyes lit up. "Mia and I joined forces today after I told you I got caught up. We've been talking to bridal shops and making up a checklist."
"Really?" I nodded.
"We'll do everything. You just need to check the list of people to invite. I thought everyone from your job and then my personal life and back home life. Here is the list." I dug it out of my bag. I handed it to him. "Just double check it."
"I can do that. I'll be with Ivan tonight." He kissed me. "I love you."
"I love you too." He walked towards Ivan's office. Mia returned. The club was filling up with people. "We made up. It was his cousin." She laughed.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I met her four years ago… before the plastic surgery." She cackled. "We have a long night in head of us."
"Agreed."
-X-X-X-
I had an hour left of my shift when Ivan sent me a note. It said to meet him right away. I looked at Mia. "If they come, smooth talk." She nodded. I walked to his office and entered. Adrian and him were chatting. "Hello."
"Hey, I just got note that Angela and Rex are sick, you and Mia will be working to closing." My mouth hit the floor.
"What?" I whined. "That's like six hours from now."
"I know." He looked me over. "My guests are about to arrive. Leave." He shooed me politely. I walked out of the office, huffing. I made my way back to Mia who was with Christian and Lissa. I pulled her close.
"We have to work until closing, Ivan's direct order."
"Fire truck." She swore.
"I agree." I pulled away. I saw Tasha glaring at me. "I want to apologize for last night's behavior." I told her above the music. She eyed me up. "I'm really sorry."
"Whatever." I withheld from rolling my eyes. I looked at Lissa and Christian.
"I'm sorry for flipping that night. You didn't deserve it. I was just angry." She nodded, smiling.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you." I swallowed.
"Christian… are you still going to be a photographer?" he nodded. "I was wondering if you would be my wedding photographer."
"I get paid and everything?" he joked.
"Yes." I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket and a pen. I wrote down a number. I gave him the paper. His eyes bugged.
"I can't take any money from you."
"Yes you can, you're going to have to deal with me for the next six months… I would expect you asking for more." He laughed. I looked at Liss. "Do you want to help me and Mia plan?" she nodded eagerly. "I've really missed you guys."
"We've missed you too." She got out of her seat, hugging me tightly. Once she withdrew her eyes lit up. "Did I forget to tell you?"
"What?"
"Your dad and mom are having a meeting with the owner of the club." I sighed. I looked at the bar, poor Lila. She was by herself.
"That's just great. We have to go. Stop by the bar before you leave and I'll give you my number. We're checking out churches tomorrow." She nodded. "See you later." Mia and I walked back.
"You guys love each other so much. It's obvious."
"I know Mia. I love them a lot, but they chose Tasha over me. I am sorry for everything, but I don't know how much more I can take of Tasha being a puppy dog." We went around the bar. "Do you want door duty or bar duty?"
"Bar, you take door." I walked to the entrance. I smiled at Amelia.
"You can go do floor duty." She left happily. I bet she got tired of annoying creeps a lot. I smiled at the person in line. "ID." He handed it over. I looked at the kid. "This is fake. Shoo." He handed me a fifty. I raised my eyebrow, pulling him gently off to the side. "Don't make me call the cops." I warned, taking the fifty. He frowned and left. Dimitri was standing next to me for props.
"Hello beautiful." This man was handsome, a total creep, but handsome. I smiled at him.
"ID." I said normal tone. He handed it to me. He was definitely old enough. I took the stamp and stamped his hand. "Welcome to Frostbite." He entered.
-X-X-X-
I went through this routine about five hundred times. My face hurt and my legs were tired. I checked the time. Only three hours left. The max was inside. The line stopped. I was chilling, waiting for people to leave. Dimitri was silent this whole time. He was rigid, I knew that meant that he was angry. I turned towards him. "What's wrong?" he looked at me.
"I'm not upset." I looked at him, eyebrows raised. He smirked. "Still unable to do the one eyebrow." I glared at him, trying not to smile. "Get back to work loser." He ruffled my hair. I punched him in the arm, turning back to the line. I saw a huge group of people leaving.
"Have your ID's ready." I told the people in front. I looked at the guy, hand out. He put the ID in my hand. "Welcome to Frostbite." I stamped his hand. I repeated this for five more then stopped. "So, Dimitri…" I turned back to him.
"What?" he raised his eyebrow at me, smirking.
"Will you be one of my bridesmaids?" I bit my lip. He looked pointedly at my lips, then my eyes.
"That means me in a dress… so no." I grinned.
"I'll give you a tux." He sighed, thinking about it. I watched the door. Three more left. I let three more in.
"Okay… will you be my best… woman?" he tried to contain his laughter. I chuckled.
"How sweet…" I let a few more in. "Can I wear a tux?" I was jumping up and down.
"You are the strangest woman I have ever met." He looked down at me. I frowned. "Yes, if you want." I smiled. I let a few more in. I saw Amelia walk back out.
"Mia says that you are supposed to be inside… Ivan's guests just arrived and he's demanding it." I looked at Dimitri.
"Okay, have fun." I handed her the stamp. I walked inside, feeling his eyes burning into my back. I walked to his personal office, knocking.
"Enter." I came in. I saw my parents sitting there with Adrian. "Rosemarie, nice of you to join us." Ivan smiled. I smiled politely.
"You called?" I asked.
"Yes, we are ready to order." I nodded. "Four orders of burgers and fries… what would you like to drink?" he looked at my parents. They just stared at me.
"Just beer." My dad said.
"Three beers and one water." Ivan shooed me. I walked out, letting the door click gently. I walked to the kitchen, giving Kyle's the order. I grabbed their drinks and headed back. I set the drinks in front of them.
"I'll be back with your food… page me if you need me." Ivan stopped me.
"Rose… your parents and I were talking… you didn't tell them you were engaged?" he was starting problems.
"No, we aren't really speaking at the moment." I went to walk out the door.
"Rose…" my mom stood up. I held my hand up.
"Just don't… okay?" I shut the door behind me. I walked to the kitchen, their food was almost ready. I looked at Mia. "One and a half hours." She grinned.
"I am so tired." She complained.
"Me too." I laughed. Kyle dinged the bell. I grabbed the food and made my way to his office. I set the food down.
"Rose?" I looked at Ivan.
"Why don't you take off for tonight? Lila and Amelia have everything under control."
"Thank you." I shut the door behind me. I walked to the bar. I grabbed Mia. "We have the rest of the night off." She squealed. "Did they leave?" she shook her head. I looked at the table where they sat. I grabbed a napkin, writing my name and number down. I walked to their table. "Hey guys."
"Hey." Lissa slurred. I looked at Christian.
"Here's my number. Call me tomorrow." I smiled at Lissa. "Tell her she can join me at my place after she gets over her hangover." He laughed and nodded. "I won't tell anyone that you have fake ID's either." He grinned. "See ya." I turned and went back to the bar. Mia handed me my bag and we headed out. I texted Adrian telling him I was going home. We made our way to the front. Amelia looked at us as we were leaving.
"He gave you the night off?" I nodded.
"Have fun. The count is one hour with a few minutes. You have almost made it." She grinned. "Bye. Dimitri, Christian has my number. I'll get your dress ready." He laughed, shaking his head. Mia and I made our way to our bike's. We were right in front of the bar. I swung my leg over.
"What was that about?"
"They're my best friends, it hurts knowing they were mad at me. We have a lot of work to do. See you in a few hours." She waved. I turned the key, gassing it. I had a long six months to get through.