Permanent Bliss (Bliss #3.5)(5)
Author: B.J. Harvey

When we drive away, it’s a speechless superhero I leave standing on our porch with a stupid grin on his face left contemplating exactly how freaky this drunken Mac might get later on.

Mission accomplished.

Daniel

Knowing that the girls are going to be busy for the rest of the day and night, I’ve organized some of the guys to come over for an impromptu bachelor party at our house. My mom and dad picked up the kids just after Mac left and now I’m sitting back in our family room waiting for everyone to arrive. I’m hoping Noah arrives first so that I can give him a piece of my mind.

I loathe the fact he’s put me in this position. Yes, Mac and I know that Noah and Nikki have been hooking up. And as much as Mac hates the idea, calling it ‘icky’ and ‘incestuous,’ I couldn’t care less. What has pissed me off is the pulling out of the best man card to get her invited to the wedding.

Why would Nikki even want to come to the wedding? You’d think it would be slightly uncomfortable watching your ex-boyfriend pledge his love and commitment to another woman, surely?

Realizing that I can’t do much about it now, I go into the kitchen and start getting the food ready before the guys arrive. Beer, snacks, sport on the big screen television and poker—everything we need for a great night in. And hopefully enough to keep my mind off a drunken Mac sex attack later on because I’m so down with that idea and I don’t think the guys would appreciate my enthusiasm being shown so obviously all night.

Speaking of which, here’s a little insight into the male body and psyche. Sometimes we can’t control the behavior of our cocks. With Mac, one look can have me standing at attention in two seconds flat. An innocuous comment can also have the same effect. And don’t get me started with the reaction she can get from making out with me on our front porch and promising drunken sex fun later on. That’ll get my superhero appendage ready for launch every time. So while I may be relaxing and talking shit with my friends tonight, the freaky bedroom action I’ll get to enjoy when Mac gets home will always be on my mind. I just hope I can keep the blood from heading south too soon. All the action in the world won’t make the crap I’d get from the guys worth it.

I’m pulled from my thoughts with a knock at the door. Walking into the entranceway, I see Noah’s ugly mug staring back at me.

“You’re an ass**le,” I say when I open the door to let him in.

“Hello to you too. What have I done this time?” he retorts, stepping inside.

“You mean, apart from inviting my ex to my wedding and leaving me to drop the bomb on my fiancée?” I snort.

I follow him into the kitchen where he walks to the fridge and opens it up, pulling out two Millers and holding one out to me.

“She kinda conned me into it, man. What was I to do? Nine inches deep and she does this squeeze and tighten maneuver that would bring any man to his knees.” He offers me a shrug of his shoulders and a sly grin.

“Dude, don’t wanna hear about that shit. I’m happy with my junk right where it is. But you know this is gonna cause trouble between Mac and me. She made her opinion on Nikki very clear a few months ago when my mom asked whether the Prestons could be invited, Nikki included. No way, no how, was that woman to be invited to our wedding. And now you pull this?”

I grab the bottle opener and pull the cap off my beer, lifting it up to my mouth and taking a long swig, loving the feel of the cool liquid traveling down my throat. I look over at Noah and level him with a knowing stare, watching as he starts to twitch, obviously feeling guilty and uncomfortable.

“Look. I’m sorry man. I don’t think she’ll cause any trouble. It’s been years now, and she’s been banging me for most of that time. You know that. And I honestly think she wants to finally take our relationship to the next step.”

“You mean out of the bedroom and into daylight?” I quickly retort without thinking. Noah’s wide eyes and frown immediately let me know it was not the right thing to say. “Sorry dude, you know—”

He shakes his head and averts his eyes, taking a long swig from his bottle. “It’s all good, Dan. You’re right. It has been casual but maybe she realizes it’s time we grew up too? Why else would she ask to be my date?” I study him as he talks, not missing the small glimmer of hope in his eyes.

I’ve always known that Noah had a soft spot for Nikki. He never hid it from me, but when Nikki and I hooked up back in high school, Noah stepped aside and we were all just good friends. After Nikki and I broke up, then got back together, then broke up again, Noah came to me and asked whether I’d mind if he asked Nikki out on a date. It never happened but then, after his barbecue a couple of years ago when I first introduced Mac to our friends, I started to wonder if something was going on between them.

A few weeks later, Noah confirmed that he was sleeping with Nikki, nothing serious, just two friends with a mutually beneficial sexual arrangement. Mac thought it was incestuous but soon shut up when I reminded her of her past arrangements, but I wasn’t fussed either way. I had stopped having feelings for Nikki a long time ago, and Noah was my best friend who had been hiding his for a long time. Who was I to stop them?

“You’ve put me in a tough spot, Taylor. Mac is gonna hit the roof when I tell her.”

“Do you have to tell her? Can’t we just turn up on the day and say surprise?” he asks sheepishly, knowing very well that would just make matters worse.

Slamming my beer bottle down on the kitchen counter, I glare at him. “Fuck, man. Do you want to ruin my life or something? Mac would have a level ten freak out then f**k off and leave me standing at the altar looking like an idiot. Hell, I would be an idiot to even contemplate letting you do that. So stop trying to get out of this. You want Nikki there, you’ll be the one to tell Mac the next time you see her. Deal?”

He swallows hard. The wrath of Makenna Lewis bearing down on you is a scary thing. “Shit, Dan. Really?” His eyes plead for me to step up for him, but to be honest, FUCK THAT!

I pick up my beer, downing the rest of the bottle with a smile on my lips. “Yep. And I’m gonna be right there with you, watching her rip you to shreds. It’ll almost be worth the collateral damage I’ll suffer.”

The doorbell rings again and I shoot a shit eating grin to Noah before turning toward the door and greeting the rest of the guys.

Let the fun begin.

Chapter 3: “Last Friday Night”