“Thanks for the invite. Max is around here somewhere.”
“Just want to warn you,” Devin starts.
“I know, I already saw him.” Marisa nods.
“He’s married now, really nice chick, kind of a funny story actually, either way, he’s here, and happy now.” Devin fills in.
“Good, I’m glad.” She has a sad tone in her reply, that I just put as regret, until her face lights up as a tall drink of water puts an arm around her shoulder.
“Dev! How goes it? Ah, you must be the wifey, congrats. I’m Mike.” He offers his free hand out to me.
“Connie. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” I lie.
“Hopefully, you believe only the good stuff. So, this was fun news to hear, I had to see it for myself, that the famous, unstoppable, unattainable Devin Richards gets married.”
Devin leans in and kisses my temple, as I smile. “She has a voodoo, she put me under her spell, and I happily succumbed.”
“Sounds enchanting,” Marisa laughs.
“I would say it was more the alcohol than anything, he got me good and drunk to first even give him the light of day, then sweet talked his way into my heart.”
“That sounds, pretty much on the dime for this guy.” Michael laughs, throwing his head back.
If they only knew.
Chapter Sixteen
Devin
“Looks like we’ve got three men down and two more to go!” Jason laughs.
“Don’t hate on it, marriage is a good thing, when you have someone amazing to share it with.” Max replies, looking longingly at his wife, Peyton.
“What I can’t believe is that this guy is settling down.” Jason laughs. “And it’s not some thruple type of marriage. I’m proud of you man, you’re growing up. Does she know about your kink?”
“It’s not a kink, dude. It’s not like I get a kickoff of people licking feet or anything, no offense to them. But yeah, she is aware.”
“Does that mean it’s more than just the two of you in this relationship?” Max asks.
“I haven’t actually had time to discuss that with her.” That’s not completely true. There’s been plenty of time for me to say something, I just have been chicken shit to do so. We’ve got a good vibe going on and I don’t want to freak her out. But I also know that if I don’t get laid soon, I might just keel over.
I’m standing on one side of the lawn with my oldest friends. We’ve all known one another in different aspects of our lives and came together one summer in college and since then, we’ve been thicker than thieves. They know all my secrets, but this is the first time that they’re seeing me in a quasi-relationship.
“Marisa is here,” I say quietly leaning into Max.
“Yeah, I know. I saw her. “ he replies. “She looks happy.”
“She is, she is. I hope you don’t mind that I invited her.”
“Man, she was your friend too. I’m not a dick and won’t tell you that you can’t be friends with them. It’s in the past, and look at Pey, I got lucky.” He looks adoringly at Peyton beside him, who has been talking with Marcus’s wife, Kady.
“So, you gonna introduce us to the lucky lady or do you not want her to see how handsome I am?” Jason jokes although, there’s a part of him that’s serious.
I look back to where I last saw her and she’s standing with her friend Becca and her parents. The small group looks comfortable, but I can tell that they each are nervous.
“I’ll introduce you guys later, I probably should take some time and introduce my new wife to some people.” I say, patting Max on the back as I leave my group of friends and approach the new group.
I place my hand on the small of Connie’s back and kiss her gently on the cheek.
“Hello everyone, thank you for making it today.” I hold my hand out for her father to take and lean in to kiss her mother on the cheek. I nod at Becca who looks warily at me, so much so that I’m curious if she is aware of the real relationship between Connie and me.
I spot my mother gliding in between circles and she catches my eyes with a smile and holds up her champagne flute in a toast. I angle my head for her to come over in this direction. Watching her change directions and nodding at people as she passes by, then finally making it to our circle.
“Mother, I would like to introduce you to Connie’s parents and best friend.” I say.
“Yes, this is my father – Paul, my mother – Liz, and my best friend – Becca.” Connie points to everyone as she says their names.
My mother, as ever the elegant and polite host, pops a smile and falls into an easy conversation. I lean into Connie and kiss her cheek with her pressing herself against me.
“Can I parade you around here and introduce you to people?” I ask her.
She smiles and nods her head. “Becca was just about to leave, so let me just say bye to her.”
I nod and wait patiently as she has a few moments with Becca. A moment later, she loops her arm through mine and we turn to begin working the party. I make introductions to people that my father associates with, my mother’s gardening friends, and lastly, my colleagues at the office. I save the best for last, and figure that it will put a big smile on her face.
“Dr. Mayfield, I’m so honored that you could make it on such short notice, I hope that we aren’t taking you away from anything pressing?” I shake hands with the CEO of San Francisco General Hospital.
“Not at all, this was perfect timing, I had just gotten off a bundle of shifts and now I have a few days off, and what better way to spend it than celebrating love and well, I never want to miss a party that your mother throws,” he turns to Connie and smiles. “Hello, name is Jerry, Jerry Mayfield. Congratulations on your marriage.” He extends a hand to Connie, whose eyes are wide and her mouth open in a look of shock.
“Excuse her, she’s got a thing for doctors,” I gently squeeze the side of her waist, alerting her to come back from her daze.
“I’m sorry, it’s just I never thought that I would meet you in person, Constance, um Richards. Very pleased to meet you.”
“Have I become an overnight celebrity?” Mayfield looks at me with a smirk.
“My Connie here is a registered nurse, she’s got her eye on working at General,” I say opening up the topic for the two of them, by looking at the pleased look in Mayfield’s gaze, I know that I’ve sparked his interest.
“You don’t say, and what’s your specialty?” he asks.
“Well, I trained in emergency medicine, but currently, I work for a small practice.” She says, almost with embarrassment.
“And why not an emergency room?” he asks, genuinely interested.
“I applied but didn’t get my foot in the door.” She says, holding her head up high with confidence.
Mayfield reaches into his coat and pulls out his money clip. He unfolds the contents and pulls out his business card from the fold.
“Your husband has my number, but I would like for you to have it too. Send me your resume, and how about we have dinner together next week?” He smiles proudly at the both of us as if he just scrubbed out from a successful surgery. “My wife is itching to eat at The Saundry, I hear that they just hired a Michelin starred chef.”