I stop, look at her, then sit at one of the tables. “Yes,” I reply, holding the bottle of sugar in my hand.
“Okay, I know you have to. You’ve told me since we met that it’s your family’s way. And that if you didn’t, you’d be disowned, but honestly, would that really be that bad?”
I gasp at her. “It absolutely is, May. It is. In our traditions, family is what comes first, always. Everything in life is for them. Everything we do is about them. Family is life.”
“Okay, okay. I see. I won’t talk you out of it. How about we plan your wedding then? Make some excitement.”
“I want you in the wedding.”
She manages to smile even though I know it’s forced. “I would have pushed my way in anyway.” She winks.
“My mother has almost everything planned. She has for years. Where it will be and how many people on the guest list. Seeing as I don’t have many friends, I’m sure it’s not going to be an issue.”
“Okay, what about the hens’ night?”
I shrug. “The women don’t usually have one.”
“Well…” she waves her hand in the air, “… we sure as shit are. You and me, we’re going to get fucked up. No Gunner allowed.” I laugh and a smile I’ve been missing all day appears on my face. Her hand covers mine as I look up at her. “If you want to run… if it’s all too fast… you say the word and we run, okay?”
I nod. She is the best friend anyone could ask for. “Thank you. But it could have been worse. He could have been a douche and not attractive at all. At least I’m marrying a man I love, even if I’m not sure he feels the same way.”
“A marriage with a one-sided love is a hard marriage, Ev.”
She knows, her mother always loved her cheating father more than he deserved. Even when he left her for someone the same age as May. Her mother would still take him back today if she could.
“We aren’t going to be like that. He’s different with me.” I can see she wants to say something, but she bites her tongue. Have I become that silly girl, that stupid one who’s blind to what everyone else can see? Can I not see anymore? Perhaps my love for him is blinding me.
The thing is, I don’t know the difference. I don’t know how I’m meant to be. How could someone you want to be with, someone you beg to be around, not be good for you?
I crave him.
“This weekend, then. You and me. Tell Gunner I want you for one whole night.”
I nod. I haven’t seen him since I left my place yesterday, and he hasn’t called. Neither have I.
Our sex that night was amazing. The best we’ve ever had together. Then he left.
He messages me, a few days later. Tells me he’s busy and I won’t see him until Sunday at my parents’ house for lunch. I don’t reply. He doesn’t seem to care because he doesn’t call.
Saturday comes around fast, and May picks me up. We go to her house to get ready and have some pre-party drinks. She shares a house with two other girls, who she doesn’t really like but associates with to stay on good terms for her living arrangements. They’re also coming out with us tonight. Penny grabs my hand and looks at my ring. It’s his mother’s ring, and because of that, I’m reluctant to take it off to show her.
“Wow! He must be rich?” is all she says as she drops my hand and smiles.
“He is,” May says, pulling me into the room and sitting me down as she starts on my hair. My chocolate brown hair goes half up and half down with a high ponytail and curls for the half-down portion. She then places hoops through my ears and does my makeup flawlessly.
“What did Gunner say? He fine with not having you tonight?”
“Yep,” I reply as she does my lips then stands to throw my black leather pants at me with a pink rose-gold sequined top. I get changed and slide on my heels.
“Okay, that sounded enthusiastic. What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Oh, Alec might meet us out tonight as well.”
Her cheeks go instantly red. “No way! Are you joking?” She fans her face.
“You need to get whatever it is you have for him under control.” I laugh at her.
She waves me off. “Oh, please, you’re way worse with lover boy.”
“If you say so.”
I turn to look at her and she’s still bright red. Sliding my phone out, I text Alec where we will be, and he replies with a happy face emoji.
“You’ve had enough, squirt.” His hands grab hold of my hips and they pull me down from the table I’m standing on and he deposits me on the floor. I look up to Alec who’s now standing in front of me as May creeps up and entwines her fingers around mine.