What a day! Faith is married, Hanna's going to come clean, the wedding was perfect, and it was him.
"It's okay, little girl."
I can still hear his voice in my head, taking care of that crazy little kid in the backseat of his SUV. I'd like to pretend it's anyone but him, but he's clearly the only Nigerian groomsman in the bunch.
When the photographer groups the Masens together for family shots, I know it without a shadow of a doubt. I know who the owner of the large biceps, broad shoulders and deep voice is, and by the way, the whole is definitely worth more than the sum of his parts. I try to peel my eyes from the family portrait in the making. This is all extremely, terribly, excitingly wrong.
"Went off without a hitch," Hanna remarks, nudging me with her elbow.
"Yep. Perfect."
"She deserves a perfect wedding."
I catch Hanna's eye. "Don't do that. Everyone deserves the perfect wedding. Whatever kind of wedding is perfect for them. This was perfect for Faith. Someone else might do something totally and completely opposite, and that would be absolutely fine too."
"Thea."
"Hanna," I challenge.
She narrows her eyes. "Soon," she says, answering my unspoken question. "Not in the middle of Faith's reception. That would be Alec-y."
My eyes snap back toward the Masens gathered before the photographer. "Alec-y," I mumble under my breath, testing out how it sounds to say his name out loud.
"Yeah, you have no idea how Alec-y this wedding could get."
I try to ignore my own sudden desire to get Alec-y, but it's impossible. Alec's smiling, hugging Faith with those strong arms I noticed last night. He picks her up and swings her around, only to get scolded by his mom. He laughs as Mrs. Masen reaches up to straighten his tie. Alec towers over his sister and his mother, and he might be a hair taller than Mr. Masen.
"How old is, um, Alec?" I wonder out loud.
Instantly, Alec glances over at Hanna and I, and I'm sure I must have spoken too loud. Hanna waves. Alec grins. I study my shoes and wrap my arms around my waist.
"Twenty, twenty-two. Something like that."
I'm going to hell and I don't even believe in hell. It's so wrong, but I hope Alec's twenty-two.
The photographer calls the rest of the wedding party over. After some jostling, laughing, quick hugs and handshakes, I'm securely wedged between Jackson and Alec. I try to tell myself that this is no big deal. Touching one of my best friend's little brother doesn't mean a thing. The feel of his chest against my shoulder really doesn't matter in the long run. The brush of his hand against my hip is incidental.
Doesn't. Mean. A. Thing.
"Still on koala time this morning?" Jackson asks.
"Um, I don't know," I manage to croak. I do know Alec's chest is just as broad up close as it appeared last night from the car. I know his thigh is pressed against me. That knowledge is meaningless, I tell you.
"I didn't know you worked with koalas. I thought you took pictures."
"I was investigating reports of human trafficking," I explain under my breath.
"Oh... In Australia?" Jackson asks.
"No, Kuala Lumpur," Alec mumbles.
I can't help but glance up. He's looking down at me, suddenly peering right into my eyes.
"Yeah, Kuala Lumpur," I agree.
Alec and I are kind of caught there. Looking. Studying. My body asks me to shift closer. My good sense begs me to put some more space between the two of us. This is Faith's little brother. This is the kid that let the entire petting zoo loose at her eighth birthday party, that read her diary when she was twelve, that once put Cupcake in the dryer.
"Have you ever been to Perak?" Alec asks.
I'm watching his lips, which for some reason renders me speechless. I shake my head.
"Just a couple hours by train from Kuala Lumpur. Kind of beautiful."
"All eyes up here!" the photographer calls. "Say Akunamatata!"
"You've been to Malaysia?" I ask, facing forward, smiling for the camera.
"Akunamatata!" everyone cheers and the world lights up. I know it's because of the flash, but for me the light feels like it's exploding from inside my chest.
His arm is against my back. I could simply fall backwards into his embrace. Why would I want that? Wow. I totally want that.
"I was only there once," Alec says from just behind me. His lips are at my ear, so he must be leaning in. "I was climbing Gunung Korbu... and working with the foundation to open a school in the rainforest, of course."
Of course.
I peek over my shoulder. Alec smiles.
"Maybe I'll check it out next time."
"Okay," he whispers.
"What?"
"Um."
"Faces forward, everyone! Smile!" the photographer commands. I force myself to follow instructions and look into the lens. Smiling isn't an issue.
Alec shifts. He totally shifts. He shifted. Right?
"Hey, Alec, I didn't see you last night, man," Jackson says.
"Yeah, I got in late and then I, uh, I had to turn around and head home."
"Because you were babysitting," I blurt out.
"What?" the two cousins ask in unison.
There's no good way to explain myself.
'I was just ogling you from a passing car.'
'I'm so far gone that I recognized you today by the look of your biceps.'
I feel my cheeks growing warmer and this time I'm certain I feel Alec shift closer. His fingers twitch against my hip. The rise and fall of his chest against my shoulder somehow makes my own lungs work faster.
Another brush of his hand and I'm sure I'm about to burst.
"Babysitting?" Jackson asks again. "What're you talking about? Alec's the baby in the family."
"Shut up," Alec hisses. I feel him shove Jackson behind me. I sneak a glance over my shoulder.
"I think maybe, um, Isawyou near thesecuritygate lastnight," I explain really quick, so that maybe the implication doesn't have time to sink in.
"Really?" Alec asks with an eyebrow raised. The implication clearly sank like a stone in a shallow puddle.
"I could be wrong," I hedge, facing forward just in time for another flash from the camera.
"Okay, guys. Let's do a candid shot. Something fun! Spontaneous! Silly. On the count of three!"
"I'm gonna pick you up," Alec whispers in my ear.
"One!"
"What?" I ask.
"Two!"
He wraps one of those long and strong arms around my waist.
"Three!"
Before I can protest I'm hoisted into Alec's arms and held snugly against his chest. His face is really close to mine. He's grinning confidently and his big brown eyes are triumphant. Any other guy, any other day and I'd be struggling, putting my self-defense skills to good use. Today, feeling suddenly and extremely Alec-y, I wrap my arms around his neck. The camera flashes.
"Hey, there." He's beaming. I feel the scratchy edge of his hairline underneath my fingertips, but I hold myself back from running my hand up, or down, or wrapping my arms tighter, or bringing my face closer. I don't. I mean, I can't. However, I can and do tingle all over. I do want to run away at the same time that I never want to leave these arms.
Overwhelmed, I giggle, and so does Alec. He doesn't have a little laugh; it's deep and full and his chest vibrates against me as the camera flashes again. Neither of us is looking at the photographer. I couldn't if I tried.
"Thanks, everyone. I think we've got what we need! I just want a few more with the bride and groom and their parents."
The crowd begins to disperse and quite suddenly and sadly, there's not a single reason Alec should continue to hold me in his arms. In fact, he probably shouldn't have been holding me at all. He's still Faith's little brother. He's still too young and very Alec-y. Not to mention that we're surrounded by friends and family... which makes me wonder what we'd be doing if we were alone. I scramble free from Alec's arms.
I catch Hanna's eye as she walks off with some friends. "Very Alec-y," she silently mouths.
"I should probably go. Hanna has her dad and Decker back there to deal with and I should -"
"Thea, right?" Alec asks. "Faith's friend from San Francisco?"
Flustered, I hold out my hand. "Yeah, it's been a long time I guess." Alec laughs and clasps his fingers firmly around mine and shakes. And shakes. And shakes and smiles.
"I should get back," I try again, as we continue to shake hands.
"Not yet."
"What?"
"Thea, I need -" Alec glances around before leaning his head close to mine, "- I need your help."
I shiver. "My help?"
"Please?" he begs.
It occurs to me that we've stopped shaking hands and are now simply holding hands.
"Um, sure. How can I help?"
"Please don't tell Faith."
For half a second I wonder if I want to take on any more secrets, but with one look into Alec's big brown eyes, I don't have the will to say no.
"Sure. What's up?"
"Later at the reception, I need you, to, um... to hold my monkey."
"What?" I ask way too loud.
Alec puts a finger over my lips in attempt to keep me quiet, but his plan totally backfires because my heart starts beating as loud as a bass drum.
"Kiko," he whispers.
"What?"
"My monkey's name is Kiko."
"Your monkey?"
My eyes dart below his belt. My cheeks warm. My hand drops along with my heart.
"Hey, Alec! The photographer needs you!" Faith calls.
"Meet me in the pool house in twenty minutes, okay?"
"You want to get me alone so I can have the privilege of petting your monkey?" I hiss.
"Alec!" Mr. Masen shouts.
Alec smiles. "It's not like that. I mean, I kind of... Trust me. Okay?"
~0~0~
The ballroom looks like a celestial fairytale. Don't get me wrong, it's a spectacular space and you'd be hard-pressed to make it look anything but stunning, but Faith and her team of wedding planners have outdone themselves. Pale, dove gray and dusky rose colored balls of light look like they're floating in the air instead of hanging from the ceiling. The centerpieces glow with brilliant white gardenias, pale river rocks and tiny twinkling lights. Servers glide through the crowd with champagne and trays of hor d'oerves. A band plays something soft and jazzy.
It's all exactly as Faith wanted. Hanna was right, it's perfect... yet it can't hold my attention for a second. In fact, I feel completely penned in - even though the ballroom seats three hundred and the ceiling disappears somewhere above my head. I find myself gazing longingly out the windows as my parents' conversation washes over and around me. I pass Jackson without a second thought. I attempt to insert myself between Hanna and her father, but their combined tension is smothering. The room is smothering. My dress is smothering.
But I'm not going to the pool house to fool around with my friend's little brother. Who does he think he is? Well, I guess he thinks he's a Masen. I bet he's used to girls all over the world petting his freaking monkey. He says pet, they ask how hard.
Alec did seem sweet and sincere, though. And smart and strong. And handsome. And funny... His monkey. Please.
And he's Faith's little brother and he might not even be old enough to drink.
I'm really not going. I'm sure more than twenty minutes must have passed and it feels extremely satisfying knowing Alec's alone and waiting... with his monkey. He can get someone else to, ahem, help him out. I saw Faith's college friend, Veronica, ogling him. I'm sure she'd pet it.
The air in the ballroom is quickly becoming stuffy and warm and I pluck a glass of champagne from a passing tray and take a swig. I wonder where the oxygen is disappearing to. Through the windows, the cool, oxygen-rich air of Seattle beckons. I notice a commotion near the front of the room and the bride and groom are introduced to resounding applause. I could slip away and no one would know the difference.
I can't decide if Alec looks better in a T-shirt or a tux. Definitely a tux. Or a T-shirt.
I'm not going.
Faith and Jonathan greet the guests that have gathered around the door. She's glowing and gracious and he's completely transfixed, like he can't believe the poised woman by his side is his wife. I've never met a princess, but I'm pretty sure Faith's as close as they come. It reminds me of the daydreams I had as a little girl when I was certain I'd marry a rock 'n roll prince.
I'm not meeting Alec.
~0~0~
Alec tries unsuccessfully to suppress a smile as he answers the knock on the pool house door.
"I'm not petting your monkey."
He laughs. "I asked you to hold it. Petting's not required."
"Whatever."
He's untied his bowtie and unbuttoned his collar. His jacket hangs open. He plunges his hands into his pockets. If sex were an adventure, its name would be Alec.
"Why are you here, then?" he challenges with a grin.
"What do you want?"
"I can't show you out here. Come inside."
I fold my arms across my chest. "You should be at your sister's wedding reception."
"So should you, right?"
I glare. The air between us feels electric and the charge tries to work its way underneath my skin. I've clearly lost my good sense and turn to go back to the reception instead of prolonging whatever this is.
"Please, Thea, wait! I'm sorry." His hand is on my bare arm and I'm somehow immobilized. "I'm not trying to offend you. I promise. I'm just -"
Alec's explanation is interrupted by the same ear piercing shriek that I heard last night. I cover my ears with my hands, and I'm acutely aware that Alec's touch is gone. The door to the pool house clatters shut. The shrieks and cries are muffled with the door closed, but even so, I can tell that whatever's making that noise is not human. That's no baby girl.
"Uh, Alec?" I call as I push open the door. It's dark and crowded inside. There are boxes I hadn't expected to see.
"Shh, girl. It's okay. Shh."
Cries have faded to whimpers and grunts. I search through the maze until I find them both: a tall, handsome man with kind eyes and a small, furry bundle with wrinkled fingers. Alec's hushing and bouncing the way parents do with babies.
"Alec?"
My voice is met by two pairs of eyes, one pair dark and imploring, the other pale brown and frightened.
"Thea, meet Kiko." Alec adjusts the furry bundle so that it's facing me. The little monkey is all tummy and long limbs. She keeps a poker face, but her eyes are big and they dart about intelligently, like they're taking everything in. After checking me out from head to toe, the monkey hides her face against Alec's chest.
"She's cool, Kiko. I promise. This is Thea," Alec whispers while walking in my direction, shifting the bundle so she is forced to look at me again.
Kiko, to her credit, doesn't shriek.
"Your... monkey?" I quietly edge closer. Kiko watches. So does Alec.
"She's actually a chimpanzee." Kiko glances up at Alec and back at me. She clings to him with hands and feet.
"You have a chimpanzee?" I ask. Music and bits of conversation from the reception drift in through an open window.
"I found her when I was hiking in Cameroon."
Alec grasps my fingers with his free hand. Kiko reaches out a tiny, wrinkled finger and I force myself to stay still. I'm surprised by the softness of her fingerpad as it brushes against my cheek. It manages to bring a smile to my face. Or maybe that's Alec's touch.
"She likes you," he breathes.
"You flew her here? Doesn't that break about a three dozen laws?"
"Her mom died... killed by poachers right in front of her. I saw her and it's hard to explain. I just couldn't... Have you ever seen something and you just can't let it go?" Alec's fingers clasp mine a little tighter.
"Maybe. Not necessarily a primate."
As if on cue, said primate climbs from Alec's arms into mine. Her little limbs are strong and her fur is surprisingly soft.
"Hi there, Kiko," I whisper. She makes soft, almost-grunts and her little belly poofs out with each rumble.
"Like I'd heard about chimps my entire life," Alec says quietly, petting Kiko, still holding my hand. "'Chimps are so cool, so smart, so strong.' They've got this exotic kind of beauty that I'm pretty sure my sister has always been kind of jealous of." Alec glances between Kiko and me. "But you don't pay attention, really. Not until the chimp's right in front of you. Then you see her in person and it's completely different. She takes your breath away."
He's no longer looking at the chimp. Neither am I.
"Your monkey?" I ask.
"It's like I never even saw you before."
"I think the last time was when Faith graduated from high school. You were a little kid."
"I don't remember."
"You snuck two iguanas in to dinner." I laugh. Faith's family reserved this fancy restaurant overlooking the Puget Sound at sunset. Just as dinner was being served, the first iguana ran across the table and sat on Mr. Masen's plate. The other one scurried over the guests and finally rested on top of Faith's aunt's head. To say she screamed is a gross understatement. I'm pretty sure my own parents could hear her cries of terror back in San Francisco.
"I remember the iguanas," Alec chuckles.
"And now you brought a monkey to her wedding."
"Kiko's a chimp."
I glance at the chimp in my arms. She leans her head against my chest.
"Kiko's a pretty name... for a chimp."
"Thea."
"Yeah?"
"I was just saying your name."
"Oh."
Kiko begins climbing around me like I'm a tree and Alec is forced to let go of my hand. Her tiny fingers grab fistfuls of my hair and she sniffs an ear. She inspects my necklace and earrings. When her foot claws at the sweetheart neckline of my gown threatening to expose a boob, I start to lose my cool. But Alec manages to untangle and scoop her up with impressive ease. I attempt to pull myself together and Alec tries not to look.
"I'm about ninety-nine percent sure a chimp stole my camera last April in Cameroon," I reminisce as I tug on my bodice and try to smooth my unruly curls.
"Where in Cameroon?" he asks.
"Ngambe Tikar. I was working on a story about illegal logging in the rainforest."
"Oh my god! I was there last May working with the foundation to help the Baka secure farming rights."
"You're kidding."
"No."
"Weird."
"Right?"
Kiko chirps and grunts.
"So, about my monkey," Alec says, grinning.
"What about your monkey?"
"I'm giving Faith fireworks later. She doesn't know. I've got to be there. You know, to give a speech and all that jazz. Kiko might go nuts, though."
"And you want me to hold her?"
"Please?"
"Why?"
"I don't know." Alec glances around the pool house like he's looking for a reason. His eyes settle on mine. "Because I like you?"
"You like me?"
"Well, I did pick you up before."
"How old are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Kind of."
"Twenty-one."
I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good answer?" he asks.
"It'll do."
"So, um -" Alec comes closer. Kiko reaches out to me with one arm and one foot so she's stretched between us. "Will you hold my monkey, Thea?"
"Totally."
He leans in toward me. "Do you promise not to let her go?"
I crane my neck. "I'll hold her really tight."
"Thank you."
"You're really welcome."
He wraps an arm around my waist and it's what I've always been missing - I simply hadn't known until now - this man's touch.
"Um, Thea?"
"Yeah?"
His lips brush against mine and I'm all in: body, heart and soul. I can't hold my hands back, I can't keep my lips from moving. Both arms wrap around, holding my body to his, holding the back of his head. A hand frames my face, another drifts lower, and when his lips part, I come undone. It takes all of my willpower to remember I'm a maid of honor at my best friend's wedding and I cannot unclothe this man in the pool house.
I break the kiss, but hold Alec close. His lips brush mine once more. His fingers grasp my hip like he doesn't want to let go. I can feel his chest rising and falling against my own.
His chest is right up against my chest. His body is flush with mine. I tear myself out of Alec's arms.
"What's the matter?" he asks. "What did I do?"
"You kissed me and -"
"And you liked it."
"And I forgot to hold your monkey!"
A/N: This chapter made me happy for weeks; I hope it made you happy too! Thanks so much to Jo & Amy for letting our characters hang out together. If not, Thea & Alec wouldn't have met. Thanks to SueBee for indefatigably adding and subtracting commas. Until next time. xxx~BDC