Perry Constantine looks at me as if I might be someone special.
Chapter Nine
Perry
Slowly but surelythe family trickled into Bishop’s Landing, here for the weekend to celebrate my and my blushing bride’s engagement party. Constantines are everywhere, many of them staying at our family home in Bishop’s Landing. Mother called me home Thursday night, saying I shouldn’t stay in the city one more minute. I needed to be home with family, preparing for my impending engagement party, and do my part in contributing to the upcoming wedding day.
What a fucking joke.
I have no clue what she’s referring to in regards to the wedding. Isn’t that just women’s stuff?
Not that I would ever say that out loud. All the women in my family would come for me, teeth bared.
Mother did make an appointment for my brothers and me at our father’s favorite suit shop in Bishop’s Landing to get fitted for our tuxedos for the ceremony. The morning before my engagement party, my brothers and I rode together over to the shop, both Keaton and Winston grumbling the entire time.
Bunch of grouches. Winston was pissed he wasn’t in the office. Keaton was pissed in general.
Me? I’m the one who should be the most pissed of all, being forced to marry an uptight little supposed nonvirgin who recoils every time I touch her. Our marriage ought to be a lot of fun.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“Why didn’t she schedule this appointment on a Saturday?” Winston says once we’ve all climbed out of his car. He wouldn’t let me drive.
Figures.
“She wants us home,” I say.
“It’s the last place I want to be,” Keaton adds, glowering at us.
“I canceled meetings,” Winston goes on as we head toward the shop. “Important ones.”
“Blame Mom, not me,” I remind him. “And I’m not the one who wanted to get married. You guys forced it on me.”
“We didn’t force you to do shit,” Winston snaps.
I keep my mouth shut, not in the mood to fight over this. The moment the owner, Benny, sees us enter his store, he calls out to us, a giant smile on his face.
“Three Constantines in my store, what an honor!” he says, his focus entirely on Winston. “How are you, son?”
Winston grits his teeth, most likely hating how Benny just called him son. No other man was able to do that besides our father. “We’re wondering why we have to be fitted for new suits when all three of us already own tuxedos.”
“I don’t,” Keaton pipes up, earning a stare from the both of us. He shrugs his broad shoulders. “What, I don’t. I never wear ’em.”
“Not even to a school dance?” That’s how I got my first tux.
And we definitely don’t rent them. We don’t need to. We go to enough events amongst society to warrant owning one.
“Nope. And I’m not sucking up to rich assholes at charity events like you guys, so I’ve never needed one.” Keaton grins.
Benny completely ignores Keaton. “Your mother wanted the three of you to match. She’s excited for the wedding. She wants her sons to look their best.”
“You do realize he’s the groom.” Winston jerks his thumb in my direction, since Benny has been making eyes at Winston only since we walked in.
“My apologies.” Benny nods and bows toward me. “Are we ready to get sized? Shall the groom go first?”
“Definitely.” Winston shoves me toward Benny. Keaton laughs.
I glare at them, annoyed.