Dinner With the Vaughns
1826 Words
Daxon
“Oh…that’s awkward,” Roxanne winced. “What happened?”
“Got married right out of college, six months later, I walked in on her and my older brother f*****g. A year later they got married.”
“I’m sorry, Dax.” Roxanne muttered. “Getting cheated on is shitty enough, but with your brother…that must have felt awful.”
It did. I still remember the pain in my chest when I walked in our bedroom and saw Gideon on top of Eleanor. She was moaning his name and scratching down his back and giving him more enthusiasm than she ever gave me.
I remembered Gidoen’s face when I finally spoke up and they saw me. He looked triumphant like he had finally beaten me at something. I recalled my heart sinking when Eleanor didn’t even try to get me back or properly apologize. She wanted out and she wanted him.
My wife quickly became my sister in law and after that, I just couldn’t believe in love any more. Instead I went through woman after woman, determined to never let myself get hurt again. I would do the hurting.
And I would never get married for love again.
--
Roxanne seemed nervous as hell in the car. She was fidgeting and playing with the hem of her very short, expensive dress that I bought her.
“It’ll be fine, babe.” I assured her. “We have our story straight, we have the ring, we’re good.”
She nodded. “I just have to pretend that this is a role. And it is. So, I can do this.”
“You can,” I squeezed her thigh.
It felt so good under my hand. If she was any other woman, I would slip my hand into her dress and push my fingers inside of her until she was trembling and saying my name.
I definitely wanted to do it too, but I couldn’t come on too strong or scare her off. I actually needed Roxanne and I would not let thinking with the wrong head ruin that…I’d seduce her a little later.
I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell to Gideon’s mansion.
Evan, their butler answered the door and led us to the dining room.
“There they are!” Gramps announced. “I was afraid you wouldn’t show!”
“Oh we wouldn’t miss it for the world!” I smiled. “Everyone, this is my fiancee, Roxanne.”
“Hi, everyone!” She waved.
My family came over to greet us. Gramps kissed Roxanne’s hand before hugging her. Eleanor approached me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I hated that I still felt something when she touched me. She was still as stunning as the day I met her when I was seventeen. Her wavy brown hair was as shiny as ever. Her deep green eyes still burned into mine. Her perfect smile still set my heart on fire.
Sometimes I wondered if I still loved her.
“Good to see you El,” I smiled.
“You too, Daxy.” She smiled back.
“Let’s all sit!” Gramps declared.
I pulled Roxanne’s chair out for her and took my seat next to her.
“Let’s start off with a toast,” Gideon raised his glass. “To Daxon and Roxanne,”
“Thank you for the warm welcome,” Roxanne grinned. “Dax always told me that you guys were very welcoming.”
“Well, he’s told us nothing about you,” Gramps commented. “What do you do?”
“I’m an aspiring actress,”
“She’s brilliant,” I squeezed her hand. “Like the next big thing, I just know it.”
“Daxon is very supportive of my dreams, it’s wonderful.”
“An actress huh?” Gideon asked. “What have you been in?”
“Just a few short films and plays, but-”
“She has a major audition coming up, but it’s very hush hush.” I stated. “And I know she’ll get the role.”
“I have an important question,” Eleanor spoke up. “Can I see the ring?”
“Oh sure!” Roxanne excitedly held out her hand.
I saw jealousy flash across Eleanor’s face. “Oh, that’s stunning. Much bigger than the one you got me, Daxon.”
“Well maybe that was for the best huh?” Roxanne asked. “You know since it didn’t work out?”
“Right,”
“Where are you from, Roxanne?” Gramps inquired.
“Taos in New Mexico.” She answered.
“And what did you get up to there?” Gideon questioned.
“Just high school and then I headed here a few weeks after graduation.”
“Just high school, huh?” Gideon laughed. “I feel like you’re leaving something out.”
“What the hell are you talking about Gideon?” I snapped.
“Well, you didn’t tell us anything about Roxanne, so I did a background check on her.” Gideon smirked. “So tell me, Roxanne, what did you get arrested for?”
Roxanne
I nearly choked on my drink.
I knew Daxon and I had forgotten to go over something.
Everyone stared at me expectantly. I took a little breath, the way I did when I was nervous on stage.
“It was very silly, actually!” I laughed. “Some friends and I set off some fireworks on Fourth of July and Sheriff Alan wanted to teach us a lesson. I didn’t even actually go to jail that night, just the mugshot you probably saw.”
Daxon laughed. “Yes, I remember you told me that story. Roxanne liked to have a bit of fun when she was a teenager.”
“So…Gideon, is there anything else you learned about me?” I hoped I sounded casual and not terrified about what he possibly found out about my family.
“There was shockingly not much in your little file. Almost like it was wiped clean.” Gideon chuckled.
“I don’t get up to much. I come from a boring family.”
Gideon seemed like he didn’t believe me. That made me nervous, but it was fine. He wouldn’t find anything.
“So what’s your family like?” Gramps asked. “We’ll be thrilled to meet them.”
“Actually, my family won’t be attending the wedding unfortunately.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there,” Eleanor commented.
“There’s not,” I said quickly. “My siblings and I were just never that close and my mother didn’t want me to become an actress, so we don’t really talk. Normal family stuff.”
“Are you guys done interrogating her now?” Daxon asked. “This is supposed to be fun.”
“I’m having fun,” Gideon smirked.
“Me too,” I forced a smile. “Why don’t you guys tell me some things about Daxon. I’m sure he’s not forthcoming with everything.”
“I can give you some pointers about him,” Eleanor assured me. “As you probably know, he’s a workaholic. Oh and he can’t cook and will not learn. Ugh, and he talks during movies, so annoying right? He’s also really pretentious about his coffee and his pasta.”
I glanced over at Daxon who looked down at the table. It must be horrible to be told exactly what was wrong with you by the person you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with.
“I love all of those things about Daxon,” I said firmly. “In my eyes he’s perfect.”
Daxon looked at me gratefully. “I think you’re perfect too, baby.”
“So what made you fall for Daxon?” Gramps questioned.
“Well, meeting Daxon was kind of like being hit with a car,” I laughed. Daxon squinted at me. “It was totally unexpected and changed my life forever.”
“Well I’m so glad I ran into you,” Daxon chuckled.
“Yeah, me too.” I winked at him.
Before I was worried this wouldn’t work, but I thought Daxon and I were wildly convincing.
“So how did you two meet again?” Gideon asked.
“Remember that camp I used to go to that you said was grimy?” Daxon questioned. “Well Rox used to go there too. We ran into each other some months ago and there was just this crazy spark.”
“Roxanne, is your family rich?”
I snorted. “Definitely not.”
“So how could you afford to go there? It was kind of swanky.” Gideon stated.
Shit.
“At the end of the school year, my mother would let us do one thing that was usually a little out of our budget. Camp was mine.” I shrugged.
The best thing about that statement was that it was true, except I had gone to acting camp and it was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
“Are you a golddigger Roxanne?” Eleanor asked bluntly. “No offense, but this relationship is happening quickly, you want to be an actress, you don’t come from money. It’s just all a little suspicious and we want to make sure anyone we bring into this family is legit. We don’t want Daxon to get hurt.”
“I won’t sleep with Gideon, if that’s what you mean.” I blurted out.
Daxon looked at me in shock and awe.
Eleanor scoffed. “What did you tell her about me, Daxon?”
“The truth,” He shrugged. “Look, Roxanne is with me for all the right reasons. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Well you’re at least signing a prenup, right?” Gideon questioned.
“Sure,” I answered.
“No,” Daxon said firmly. “I don’t need one. My marriage is going to last and Roxanne and I will be ridiculously happy.”
He sure was convincing!
“So, when’s the wedding?” Gramps asked eagerly.
Daxon and I exchanged looks.
“Soon!”
--
The rest of the night went much more smoothly. Gramps seemed really sweet, but I was not a fan of Gideon and Eleanor. Daxon swore that when I met his younger brother, Barron, things would go better. Apparently he’s the nice one.
After dinner, we had champagne.
“I would like to make another toast,” Gramps proclaimed. “To Daxon and Roxanne! May they have a long and prosperous marriage and many children.”
“Not too many,” I laughed before taking a sip.
Everyone looked at us expectantly. “Well, what are you two waiting for?” Gideon asked.
“What do you mean?” Daxon questioned.
“We’re having a toast, you two should kiss.”
- Writer
