Finding Us (Interracial Romance)

The Night Before

Jeremy

It's 8pm and here we are, at Noah and Brock's parents' house. The place is buzzing like it's the 90's and 2000's all over again. Snacks are spread out on the coffee table—wings, chips, dips, pizza, and more beer than anyone should reasonably drink. The music from the past is blaring through the speakers—some 90's and 2000's hits that transport us back to elementary, middle, and high school days. Every guy in the room, including Noah's brothers; Brock, Cody, Russell, and Dan along with our college buddy Travis, is loosening up. Even Paul, Sylvia's younger brother, looks like he's about to explode with excitement for his first real taste of the "bachelor party" experience.

Except there's one rule: no strippers. Sylvia made it very clear. Like, very clear. I think she might've threatened Noah's life. And we all know Sylvia doesn't bluff.

Brock, who's somehow managed to snag Sylvia's twin, Jacqueline since Pre K, is holding court in the corner, cracking open another beer. He's been roasting Noah all night. And who better than his twin to really get under his skin?

"I mean, Noah," Brock says, biting into a wing. "Remember when you tried to serenade Sylvia in middle school? You brought out your guitar like you were John Mayer, and you didn't even tune the damn thing."

Everyone bursts out laughing, especially Russell, who nearly chokes on his beer. "It sounded like a dying cat."

Noah, red-faced, flips them off but grins. "Well, it worked, didn't it? I'm marrying her tomorrow!"

"Yeah, yeah, she must have a soft spot for off-key tunes," I chime in, tossing a chip into my mouth. It's so laid-back and fun, exactly what Noah deserves the night before his wedding. But while everyone else is lost in the nostalgia, I can't shake this gnawing feeling of guilt. The guilt is gnawing at me like a dog with a chew toy.

It's like a shadow that's been hanging over me ever since Hannah's old friend, Lydia, saw me at the JFK International Airport and told me the truth: the whole thing with Cecilia sleeping with a cast director and Cecilia along with my sister, Athena coming onto Hannah? Lies. All of it was bullshit. My ex-girlfriend is revealed to be as toxic as overcooked lasagna and twice as nasty. I believed that garbage for three years, and I let it ruin everything. Now, here I am, best man for Noah, while Cecilia's the maid of honor. This means tomorrow, I'll be walking her down the aisle. A nice little bit of cosmic punishment for being such a fool.

Noah, Brock, and I have known each other since we were in diapers. We used to run around this very basement, playing video games such as; the Kingdom Hearts, Mario, and play Cody's Grand Theft Auto video games from his collection, eating Pop-Tarts, and making dumb bets about who could eat the most Doritos without drinking water. Now, Noah's getting married, and instead of feeling all nostalgic and happy, I'm sitting here like a guilt-ridden mess.

"You sure you're okay, dude?" Noah asks, sitting next to me. He's got that goofy smile he always has when he's trying to read my mind. The guy's been my best friend since we were five. He knows when I'm off. I know he's just trying to enjoy his last night as a bachelor, but he's not going to let this go.

"I'm fine," I say, but he narrows his eyes.

"No, you're not. You've been weird ever since we left the rehearsal dinner. Are you still caught up on Cecilia?" Noah queries, leaning in.

I run a hand through my hair and sigh. "I feel like a jerk. I believed Hannah's stupid lies, and now Cecilia hates my guts. I don't blame her, but it sucks. Ever since I saw her at the rehearsal dinner, she looks at me like I'm some kind of plague."