Twenty-seven Bhanu
I wasn’t expecting to be this delectably sore trying to put clothes on while Sunny finished getting ready, yet here I was. Practically wobbling.
I put away dishes from our lunch of leftovers, dreamily reminiscing of last night. And this morning. Several times over.
Whew! I guzzled ice water to cool down but nearly spat it back out when Sunny walked out of the bedroom wearing the heck out of black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Even though it was hot out. Surely the venue would be indoors with AC cranking and save the entire section of groomsmen from suffering pit stains.
Pit stains or not, Sunny looked pretty good dressed up. His slacks weren’t too baggy or tight, like they were tailored, which meant they showed off a nice butt when he turned to grab his jacket. Ugh. A jacket in Waikoloa was like having to walk into a hellishly hot death.
His shirt was equally tailored so that the threads were just the right amount of loose at his sides but a little snug at his arms so that the outline of his biceps showed while holding his jacket.
A tie hung around his neck.
“I can’t believe they’re making you wear a suit here,” I said as if I didn’t have water dribbling down my chin.
“Fuck me, it’s already hot.” Then he winked at me and said, “Language. Sorry.”
I clucked my tongue. He wasn’t sorry at all. “Not going to fix your tie?”
“I’ll fix it there.”
“Let me see how you look with a tie. Here, I’ll take pictures.”
“What the hell for?” he asked quizzically.
“I dunno…to commemorate this momentous day?”
He rolled his eyes. “For the social media I don’t use?”
“Or for yourself? Memories for later?”
He shook his head. “They have a professional photographer. One of the reasons I have to get there so early.”
“What kind of knot are you doing? Are you all doing the same?”
“Um. Basic knot?”
“Basic?” I crossed my arms, visually studying the single twist in the tie at his shoulder. “Do you know how to tie a tie?”
He scoffed.
“Well? Mr. I-Can-Do-Everything. Let me see your technique.”
“No.” He walked around the couch, and I went around the counter, blocking his path to the door. He heaved out an exasperated breath. “Don’t start.”
“I’m fascinated with ties. Show me.”
“I’m going to be late.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you pinned me in bed.”
He groaned like he wanted to relive this morning, and my legs went weak. No! He didn’t have time for this.
“You still have about half an hour before you have to meet with the others.” I took the jacket and tossed it onto the back of the couch.
He dropped his head to the side. “Bane.”
“Sunshine.” I deadpanned.
“You’re starting, and I’m pretty sure I asked you not to start with me.”
“You didn’t ask at all, and I don’t take orders.”
Sunny raised his chin so that he was looking down at me. Boy, he sure seemed an entire foot taller when he did that, and oh so attractive. “I don’t have anything to prove.”
“That’s right. The basic skills of tying a basic tie don’t prove a thing.”
I knew him well enough to know that he didn’t like backing down. When it came to me, he definitely didn’t like me getting the last word.
Sunny fumbled with his tie, not even adjusting the twist on the shoulder, much less adjusting the ends correctly. I snickered when he just about slapped himself with one tail. His face flushed, his jaw tight, but not once did he say anything, much less ask for help.
As amusing as it was to watch him struggle with basic tie skills, I couldn’t take much more. It was like watching a puppy trying to get up that very first step after learning how to walk.
“Just going to stand there laughing?” he grumbled. Not exactly a request for help.
I finally gave in to pity, took hold of the solid blue tie, and helped him. Sunny grunted but relented, his chin high, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as if looking at me would set him on fire in a painful death. His entire body stilled as I dramatically swept one end of the tie over the other, the fabric almost slapping his face. He winced but didn’t pull back.
I stifled a giggle. “Oops.”
