Scorched(48)

Suffice it to say that it had been a long morning, and he was still giving serious consideration to suing those wannabes that claimed to be meteorologists. He was fairly sure that he had a case for the decimation of false and inaccurate information. He was almost positive that Vivian would agree to represent him. Unlike Molly’s other friend, Sami, she actually appeared to be able to tolerate his existence.

“Devil.”

Turning slightly in his folding chair, he couldn’t help the small groan that escaped as he saw who was calling his name. “Think of the diva, and she shall appear, Devlynn. Remember that,” he murmured to his slumbering daughter.

“I heard that, you asshole,” Sami groused, as she continued toward his table, her baby pink strapless bridesmaid gown flowing around her legs.

“I wasn’t trying to be quiet,” he returned, patting Devlynn’s back as she stirred against him and frowning as the blonde bombshell pulled out a chair and sat down at the table beside him. All around them, workers were folding up tables and chairs and loading them into the pair of vans the events company had provided. The last of the guests had departed less than half an hour earlier, and the only folks remaining were those that Molly counted as family. His eyes turned to the woman that had just sat down. “So, how’s it going in there?” he asked, lifting his chin and jerking it toward the back door.

Sami groaned and wrinkled her nose. “About as you’d expect. The wedding photographer just finished in the living room and the boys that Molly hired are waiting to take down the silk bunting in the dining room and den. I’m surprised there aren’t cops blocking the rooms off with crime scene tape. I swear it looks like a bloodbath happened in there. Honestly, what was Mols thinkin’ when she allowed Mannie to choose those wedding colors. Crimson and roses? Why didn’t you just contact the blood bank and have ‘em spray the joint?” she asked with a delicate shudder.

“Now, Sami,” Viv chided, tossing her dark shoulder-length hair over her shoulder as she joined them at the table. “You know that Mannie had his heart absolutely set on those colors. He said it was the color of love or some mess like that, remember?”

“Oh, I remember,” Devil grunted. “But between you two and me, I agree with Vivian. I felt like I was visiting a crime scene when I walked in the dining room.”

“If I was you, I’d keep that to myself when Molly gets out here for a breath of fresh air. “I think she’s still a mite rattled from the tuxedo incident.”

“What tuxedo incident?” Devil asked, looking from one of Molly’s best friends to the other.

“You didn’t hear?” Sami asked with a sly smile.

“Sami,” Viv warned.

“Oh, but this is toooo good, Vivi,” Sami whispered, her smile growing exponentially larger as Viv glared at her. “Lemmee tell ‘em!”

Closing her eyes, Vivian shook her head, “You are so lucky he’s holding Devlynn,” she murmured.

Tired of the byplay, Devil offered Sami a hard look. “Talk.”

“Well, you know how everybody was rushin’ around this morning, tryin’ to get everything moved inside while the boys were getting on their tuxedos, right?”

Oh yeah, he remembered. He also remembered the epic battle that had taken place regarding those fuckin’ tuxes a few days back when Armando had had his heart set on some New Age red velvet monstrosity he’d found while out shopping with Molly while Nick had strongly wanted to stick to tradition and wear his tastefully simple black Armani. That fight that had transpired had been almost as big as the one they’d had when Armando had learned Nick hadn’t told his parents about him. He was convinced that guilt was the only reason Nick had agreed to compromise and let Mannie wear the tux of his choice while Nick wore the traditional one that he already owned.

“I remember, Samantha. Get to the point.”

“Oh, she is,” Viv muttered, a faint blush staining her cheeks.

“Well, Nick got ready upstairs in one of the guest bedrooms without a single hitch,” Sami explained easily.

“So,” Devil prodded impatiently, switching his daughter to the other shoulder and rocking gently from side to side when she squirmed against his chest.

“So, our Armando didn’t have as easy a time. I guess our boy did a little stress eating during the past few days and gained a couple of pounds because his tux didn’t go on quite so easy. The poor bastard had both Molly and Viv, here, in your bedroom tryin’ to stuff him in that get-up he chose.”

“Well, obviously they were successful,” Devil shrugged. “After all, I was at the wedding, Samantha.”