Chapter 23

Stefano "Cheers for Ashton who’s going to be part of our club. What’s the name of it again?" Damian asked while snapping his fingers trying to remember the name of their stupid club. "Yes! The-men-who-despises-being-tied-down-and-swore-marriage-now-being-happily-married husbands club." Damian announced animatedly. "That’s a pretty long name for a club, Damian." Mason interjected. "In short, Husbands Club." Damian continued. Brayden laughed. "That sounds better but I’m sure the first one was more fitting." The three of them laughed hysterically leaving Ashton groaning from their childish antics. "That’s far from reality, guys. Sierra and I are two fucking opposites. Have you seen the chick? She’s crazy!" He exclaimed. "Not as crazy as you though. Admit it Ashton you’re the most insensitive womanizing bastard among us." Brayden proclaimed with a teasing smirk. "You know your situation is very very familiar, don’t you think?" Damian asked while looking at Ashton and Brayden back and forth. Brayden just smirked playfully. "I swear, Damian, his is much worse." They laughed. "Ha ha. You guys can’t even throw me a proper bachelor party. What? You guys getting old?" Ashton scoffed. "You guys just took me to a club and drink in a private room. No ***** strippers like the usual stag party." Mason patted his shoulders. "Sorry, man, but we value our wives’ trust. You should start straightening up yourself, too. It’s not only Sierra who’d wring your neck- two sets of parents as well." Mason said. Ashton just groaned again. "Well, not all of us can be Mr. Perfect here." Damian pointed at me. I raised my eyebrow. "This is not my party. Roast him." I said. "We are doing the best as we could." Damian chuckled. "Hey, you’re supposed to be the one who’s going to plan a grand one for me. You’re my best friend, Stef. Don’t be such a bore." Ashton pointed at me. I just raised my brow hiding my amusement from his misery. When Damian realized we have to throw a bachelor party for Ashton, we were just done with our work. All of us we’re in a hectic schedule. Because Ashton is our best friend, we decided to free our schedules before and during his wedding. Though Ashton wanted to have a wild party, the rest of us wanted to avoid that due to the fact that the three have all jealous wives. We ended up drinking at a club in a private room just like old times. And it’s been a long time since we did this sort of gathering. Everyone was already busy with their families and businesses. This was a rare moment for us. Ping! Brayden’s phone buzzed from the table. It appears Camryn was keeping contact with him. She was one of Sierra’s bridesmaids and they have their own party in California. The two were keeping tabs on each other. "Well, well." Brayden smirked. Mischief was written all over his annoying face. "Your sweet pretty driver is... not so sweet after all. You got yourself a pure diamond, Ranallo. She’s hot." Brayden who was sitting next to me showed me a picture from his phone. I looked at it and frowned. My eyes widened when I realized what the picture was. I gulped down an undefined feeling but I forced back my senses right away. Avery was wearing a simple black bikini. She looked ravishing and irresistible. Her curves were gorgeous and all in the right places much like an hour glass. Her legs were long and sexy. Her breasts were plump and inviting. Her body was perfect with just a right amount of meat. She was exactly what men and women desire. The girl would bring sin to all men. "What?" I asked nonchalantly hoping he didn’t see my reaction. The smirk plastered on his face had obvious intentions. "My wife sent it to me. It seems the girl is getting men kissing her feet." I narrowed my eyes at him. "And why would Camryn send that to you? Doesn’t she easily get jealous if you even just glance at a woman?" "Oh please, Stefano. The two of us have perfectly  established that fact she’s your girl. And no one messes with the great Ranallo. Not even us." He wiggled his eyebrows at me playfully. I glared at him. "I don’t appreciate you matchmaking me with that girl, Brayden. My parents are troublesome enough." I drank my whiskey. "Alright. Alright." He replied with a smile. "Who’s that? Didn’t think you’d be cheating on Camryn, Brayden. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." Damian stole Brayden’s phone and stared at the picture. "Damn! Who’s this? She’s hot. She got fine legs, man." Damian exclaimed. The guy always has some fetish on women’s legs. Mason immediately snatched the phone away. "Oh, her. That’s, Avery. She’s Stefano’s driver." Ashton answered coolly with a glint in his eyes while Brayden just smirked letting his phone get snatched back and forth between them. "Your driver?!" Damian exclaimed with disbelief. "You scumbag! You have a hot mother fucking driver!" Damian shouted accusing me. Ashton was our number one playboy. Damian on the other hand was second place. The two would either clash or unite together for the betterment of their womanizing schemes. "Language, Damian." Brayden warned Damian playfully. "Alexa would be so disappointed in you." Brayden teased. Our friend froze just the mention of his wife. He settled down with silence. I smirked inwardly. "Trust me, Damian. It’s a long story why a hot gorgeous girl like her is in his hands." Ashton winked at me. My eyebrow raised challenging him. "So did she drive you in bed?" Mason asked with a teasing smirk. Brayden spat out his drink from his mouth. "What the ****, Mase!" Brayden laughed wiping the liquor from his lips. The others laughed hysterically. I glared at Mason. "I’m sure Uncle Marco would be happy enough if you actually impregnate a girl, Stefano. I say Avery would be a winning candidate for you." Ashton joked as he winked at me. When I glared at him furiously, he shut his mouth and wiped out his annoying smirk. "The girl’s name is Avery?" Mason asked. Ashton nodded. "She’s beautiful, Stefano. I don’t know how she became your driver. It’s unlikely to have a woman like her to be a driver. She seems more than that." Mason said seriously. I scoffed. "The girl is born to be a driver, Mase. She fucking drives me crazy all the time." "I’d like to joke about her being a better driver in bed. I don’t think Alexa would be happy about that." Damian said with a straight face. I just smiled while the rest laughed. The guy could actually keep his perverted mouth shut. The rest of the night, we talked, drank and laughed. We recalled our memories since high school when Ashton and I were just the two of us. The five of us found each other during college in England. From then on, it was hard to be apart. Not until Brayden had an arranged marriage with Camryn and Damian and Mason decided to marry their wives. Ashton and I are still close but I think it would change soon when Sierra finally puts a ring on his finger. "I can’t believe you made yourself drunk and I’m the groom here." Ashton complained while he was supporting me with his arms and his body dragging me to my hotel room. He searched for the key card from my pocket. When he finally got it, he swiped it while struggling to keep me balanced. When we got in, he immediately threw me on the bed. I didn’t feel good at all. The ceiling was swirling and I feel like vomiting. "What’s wrong with you, man?" Ashton asked with worry. He was the type to always kid around but when he’s concerned about something, he cares and he gets serious about it. "Is this about Avery?" My eyes perked up and for a moment I forgot being drunk. My eyes move to him. He was sitting on the side of the bed. My arms were sprawled on the bed while my legs fell on the floor. "Because I saw you two kissing at my engagement party. I wouldn’t have seen it if it weren’t for Sierra asking what relationship you two have. We saw you two dancing so intimately... You were unusually closer to each other." He said it calmly. He then looked at me with eyes I couldn’t quite get but I wouldn’t pass the still concern in his face. "We were just caught in the moment." I looked away trying to control my dizziness but really it was more than that. "I know you two have a problem with each other. The girl hates your guts. I would say you don’t hate her but you never like her either. What happened made me curious... more so you’re acting this way." The way he spoke intended to squeeze something out from me. This means of his is exactly why he became a powerful businessman. Ashton knows how to put everything in place. He knows when to play and when to get serious. He then extract everything that he needed. His charm is one of his cards to manipulate people. But I know better than that. It doesn’t work on me. "It was nothing, Ashton so I suggest you shut up before I make you." I growled. "I know what you’re thinking. But it doesn’t work on me too." Ashton said calmly. I sighed deeply. "What do you want? To tell you that I’m in love with that woman?" I sat up abruptly. It took a toll when it worsened my state and my head swirled even more. I immediately fixed myself so Ashton wouldn’t notice. "I think you already established the fact that you’re not interested in having relationships, Stef. What I want to know is why you are not being yourself." His face was painted with worry. I scoffed. "Stop being a manipulative asshole, Ash. I know what you’re up to." He just chuckled. "Alright. You got me. You always got me. But as your friend, I’m sure I have a say in this. Don’t lead her on, Stef." I frowned and he noticed that. "Oh yeah? Because from the looks of it, you’re clearly enjoying our predicament." I spat. "I really don’t get what you want now, Ashton. Just get out of my room. I’m drunk and I’m tired." I stood up and took off my suit. "I was just trying-" "I said get out." I said coldly. He just stood and sighed. "Alright. Good night, man." He shook his head and left my room. I thought about the kiss that almost happened that evening a month ago. That’s not going to happen ever again. I was just careless and tempted... caught by her charms. ****! Yes, the girl would bring sin to men but I don’t think I want to be one of those men. What I felt towards her would be no more than desire and lust. This feeling would just pass. And I’m sure as hell about it.