Bachelor Party
1308 Words
Two weeks before the marriage, the Jacques brothers decided to throw Kensley a bachelor party. When asked when he would be available and where he would like to go, Kensley gave an answer that shocked the men.
It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon. An older lady sat in front of her tea shop lazily fanning herself as she watched people walk by at a dizzying rate. She hummed a little tune until a long shadow fell over her. She glanced up to find three dazzling young men standing before her, the sun behind them shining like a halo.
Her jaw dropped and she couldn’t help but murmur, “Oh Lord, please don’t tell me it’s my time to go.”
Harry was the first to speak. “Ma’am, we’re here for a private party I booked yesterday.”
The woman shot up and blinked rapidly to clear the haze in her mind. “Oh! I’m so sorry. You all looked so ethereal there that I thought the Lord sent his hosts to take me. Ahahahaaa,” she laughed in embarrassment then added, “Come in, come in.”
She hurriedly guided the three men in and pointed to the table in the back that was sectioned off with a bamboo partition.
John looked around, seizing the area with his dark brown eyes, and sat at the long wooden table next to the window.
The owner said, “I believe you ordered Menu A for the party of four?”
Jason took over and nodded. “Yes. One of us is running late and should be here shortly.”
Harry took a seat opposite Jason and looked out the window as well. As two women walked by the storefront, they noticed the handsome men, gestured excitedly and then entered the shop.
When the bell on the door jingled, the owner looked up and shouted, “Welcome! I’ll be with you shortly!”
She looked at the three men in front of her and smiled awkwardly. “I’ll be right back with you. My employee is in the back getting ready so I have to handle the front of the store.”
She hurried off to address the two female customers leaving the three to discuss amongst themselves.
“Why would Kensley want to come here for a tea party of all things? Isn’t this what women do?! What’s wrong with him?” Jason grumbled.
Harry rolled his eyes. “I know right, I was expecting a wild party with some lap dancers or strip–” He suddenly cut off, noticing the warning glance from John.
John, the eldest of the group, spoke slowly, “I, for one, am glad that Kensley picked something practical otherwise I wouldn’t feel comfortable handing over my little sister.”
Jason pursed his lips and couldn’t say more.
A gentle knock on the window got their attention and they looked over to see Kensley in a tight t-shirt paired with navy slacks, aviator glasses, and a baseball cap smiling at them.
The moment he walked in, the female guests in the store had already increased and they all gawked at him as he walked passed.
“May I help you?” the owner asked politely.
“I’m with them,” Kensley pointed towards the partition.
“Since you’re all here, I’ll bring out the food and drinks.”
Kensley smiled and thanked the older woman before walking to join his party.
The other three merely acknowledged his arrival with a head nod as Kensley sat next to his brother without taking off his cap or sunglasses. The four pulled out their phones and started to browse the internet until their afternoon tea was set up in front of them.
Kensley gestured to the three-tier tray and asked the two Jacques brothers, “Do you know what Ida likes?”
John blinked, then raised a brow in confusion. “Is this a bachelor party or an information-gathering session?”
Kensley merely studied the tray of food and shrugged. “Can’t it be both?”
Jason scoffed and rolled his eyes. “If nobody knew any better, they’d think you liked Ida.”
Kensley glanced at Jason and sipped his tea.
Jason froze. “No way…”
John scowled and jabbed his brother with his elbow. “What’s wrong with Kensley liking our Ida?”
Jason looked at John incredulously. “Bro, are you serious?! We’re talking about Ida! The short-tempered imp!”
Kensley’s head suddenly lifted from his drink, his eyes were hidden behind the dark lenses but his face was taut with tension. His tone was low and his words slow, “Don’t speak about her like that.”
Jason’s head swiveled towards all the men at the table. “What the f**k. Have I been teleported into the Twilight Zone? You guys were all making fun of Ida with me for years, what happened?!”
Kensley defended himself quickly, “I’ve never made fun of her since I was eight.”
Harry, who was unusually quiet, was the first to pick up the inference. “Wait… wasn’t that when you and Ida disappeared into the woods and Dad nearly beat you to death?”
Kensley glanced at his brother. “Dad only smacked my ass once.”
John pursed his lips. No one knew what happened that day since Ida lost her memory and Kensley was tightlipped; but by the sounds of it, Kensley had developed feelings for Ida. He nodded slowly as if understanding. “Alright, I can tell you all you want to know about Ida but you have to promise to take care of her and never hurt her. Can you do that?”
Kensley’s lips curled upward. “Yes.”
John snorted and the rest of the short party was just eating and summarizing Ida’s preferences.
***
At last, Saturday came around and it was already well past breakfast time when Ida lazily made her way downstairs in her pajamas to pilfer a snack from the kitchen. This was her last week of freedom and she intended to loaf and make the most of it before her three years of bondage.
Finding a plate of unattended chocolate muffins, she quickly filled a cup with milk, stuffed a muffin in her mouth, and took another for later.
She dashed back out and headed towards the stairway, chortling with mirth. Her eyes were glued to the full glass of milk and she didn’t notice a man in front of her until it was too late.
“Mmph!”
The cold milk splashed across her hands and onto the front of the bulky man in front of her. The sudden impact made her chomp down on the muffin leaving her with only a mouthful while the rest plopped pitifully on the floor.
Ida’s eyebrows furrowed and she mourned for her breakfast. Despite her full cheeks, her lips drew into a pout and she raised her eyes to berate the giant in front of her.
“Pfft.”
Ida nearly choked when her eyes met Kensley’s smirking face. She chewed quickly and forced it all down her throat and took a swig of milk before addressing the man.
“Why are you here?” she squeaked.
“Your grandpa called me over to talk.”
Ida grumbled then stuffed her backup muffin in her mouth and bent down to pick up the one on the floor.
Kensley raised an eyebrow and followed her to the kitchen where she quickly disposed of the barely eaten baked treat.
Ida rolled her eyes when she turned and found Kensley waiting for her leaning on the doorway.
She sat down at the counter to eat with her back to Kensley, making short work of the muffin and when she looked back up, he was already gone.
- Writer
