Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

thing.
    "Will, tell me you found him" I begged, sweat pouring down my face. Beside me Jayden was breathing heavily as if he'd just run a marathon. Note to self: build Jayden's stamina. I already had some ideas.
    "I found him!" Will cried cheerfully bringing me back to the present.
    "He found him!"
    "Oh, thanks God!" Jay said exhaling heavily.
    "Where was he?"
    "You won't believe it, dude. He's back at the club. He lost the rings."
    "You've got to be kidding me!"
    "I wish."
    Jayden must have seen my crestfallen expression because his face immediately lost its cheerfulness. "What is it?"
    "Your dumbass brother lost the rings."
    ****
    "What were you thinking, bringing them with you to the club, you fucking moron?" I yelled at Jake who was on the verge of tears. Dark circles marred his usually handsome features.
    "I don't know. I didn't think."
    "Fuck! Fuck..." I said already thinking about my sister's crestfallen face when she found out. If we couldn't find those rings, the wedding would be ruined. Damn Jake and his second thoughts. He jinxed it all with his stupid cold feet syndrome.
    "Calm down," Jayden whispered grabbing my forearm. Jake gave us an odd look and I gave him a hateful look back. He blushed and lowered his head.
    "Where have you searched?" Will asked him, diverting his attention.
    Jake started counting on his finger: "the hotel room, the clothes I wore yesterday, the club, the street around the club, the elevator, the hotel lobby and called the taxi company."
    "Never mind," I said sighing. "It's not like whoever found them is gonna give them back. They're worth a fucking fortune."
    Will nodded in agreement. "You better call Kathleen."
    I handed him my phone since his battery was dead. Poor guy looked dead tired. He'd been running around like an idiot ever since he woke up. It almost made me feel guilty for cursing him that much. Almost...
    He retreated around the corner and I saw him gesticulating as he spoke with my sister in a hushed voice.
    "What time is it?" I asked Jayden, who was leaning against me, cooling us with an improvised paper fan.
    "So, since when did you two...?" Will grinned wiggling his eyebrows. Jayden bolted away from me which only caused Will to laugh out loud.
    "Shut it, dude. Jake'll kill me." I whispered kicking Will in the shin.
    "Oh please. You think he didn't already know? You two have been giving each other 'Oh, fuck me now' looks ever since last night."
    "Fuck me sideways. And I thought I was being subtle."
    Will laughed patting me on the back. "Well, maybe you could've saved yourself, but then you ruined it all by nearly proposing to Jayden. Trust me, bro, not subtle at all."
    I shook my head, sighing heavily. "What can I say... I take after my mother."
    Jayden grinned at me. His face was redder than a lobster and I was willing to bet it wasn't just the summer heat involved.
    "Guys, guess what?" Jake came running toward us with a huge grin on his face. "Kathleen had the rings!" He burst out laughing. "When I came back last night, she helped me undress. She found the rings and put them in her jewellery case."
    The three of us looked at each other with pissed off expressions.
    "You fucking moron!" we exclaimed in unison, which only served to make Jake laugh louder.
    ****
    It must have been the only wedding where the bride turned up earlier than the groom. We all ran towards the small chapel, our clothes in disarray. We had almost decided not to change into our wedding suits, but Jake was too scared of pissing my sister off more.
    Jake had a terrified expression on his face and we all patted him encouragingly on the back. He smiled at us shyly and fixed his tie.
    "Go make my sister happy, dude."
    He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. Kathleen was waiting for him at the altar. Her cheeks were rosy and her make-up a little ruined, but she looked more beautiful than ever. My heart constricted at the sight of her. My father held a tight grip around her waist. He looked even more nervous than her and Jake combined. I elbowed Jake in the ribs. He got the message and walked with shaky legs towards Kathleen, followed closely by Will, who was the best man.
    Jayden and I took our seats in the front row. Soon followed a clumsy exchange between Will and Kathleen involving the rings. Everyone laughed, especially when Kathleen gave her future husband a loud slap on the shoulder as revenge for his misconduct. The ceremony ensued and, as my sister and Jake professed their undying love