This story jumps forward a few months after [my first experience with Joey]
My cousin was getting married and my family was driving to Charleston for the ceremony. I wished she had picked a more interesting place for her ‘destination wedding’.
I think that my parents were worried that I was going to have a miserable time because they went out of their way to entice me to go with them. Not that they really needed to. My dad made a point to tell me that he had booked me my own room at the hotel. He even asked if I had anyone I’d like to bring.
I’m pretty sure that was his way of asking if I had a boyfriend. I briefly considered inviting Joey, but I knew that would be super awkward for him so I told my dad that I didn’t have anyone to invite but that I was looking forward to the wedding. It had been a while since I’d seen my cousins and we always got along really well.
The drive was uneventful. I slept through most of it but woke up as my dad was driving through downtown Charleston. He pulled up in front of a large pink building. “Here is our hotel.”
“It’s really… pink.” I said, skeptically.
He turned to look at me and I saw that his expression matched my own. We started laughing and my mom stepped in. “Oh stop it you two. It is supposed to be a very nice hotel and the church they are getting married at is right across the street over there.”
We checked in and I made my way to my room. My mother had been right, it was actually a beautiful hotel. My room was a little cramped but very nice. I stored my luggage and headed to the bathroom. I wanted to freshen up before meeting up with the family. I was a little disappointed by the bathroom to be honest. I had been hoping for one with an amazing shower like Joey had, but this was just a plain old bathtub with a shower curtain.
It was 7pm by the time I made my way downstairs to meet the rest of my family in the restaurant for dinner. I didn’t have a huge family, but all six of my cousins on that side of the family were here. I was the youngest out of all of them and was apparently the only one that didn’t bring a significant other. My one nosey aunt asked if I’d found ‘a nice girlfriend yet’, but other than that, I was spared intrusive questions.
I was happy when the family split up into two groups for dinner. I sat at a table with my cousins while the older relatives got their own table. I sat next to my cousin Grace. She was 21 and we had always been close since we were the closest in age. Our other cousins were in their late 20s and never really enjoyed spending time with us growing up. There were a dozen conversations going on around the table. It got a little overwhelming but luckily I was at the end of the table and Grace was sitting next to me with her boyfriend sitting across from her. The three of us ignored everyone else and had our own conversation.
“Didn’t bring a date huh?” Grace smirked at me.
“No, my dad actually suggested that I did. I think he knew everyone else would be bringing one.”
“Oh, do you have someone and just didn’t bring them?” I couldn’t help but notice she used them instead of her.
“I thought about bringing someone but we aren’t actually dating so it would have been awkward.” I explained.
“Oh, just fucking… not dating.” Grace said nonchalantly while sipping her sweet tea.
I couldn’t help but blush. “Yeah something like that.”
“And does this mystery person have a name?” she gave me a sly grin.
I sighed, knowing she wasn’t going to drop it. “Joey…” I practically whispered.
