I’d grabbed the wine menu and flicked the pages aimlessly. “Something sparkling, please,” I said, pointing at the line on the sheet.
He nodded and poured the drink, filling the glass to the brim. Handing him a ten dollar note, I took my first sip as he cashed it up in the till and gave me my change. Just one and I’d get going.
Not that there was much to go home to.
I closed my eyes and took a second sip. The bubbles fizzed in my mouth, and I swallowed, the liquid warming my stomach.
Gets too hard and you drink. Too much like your mother.
The thought scared me and I put the glass down. I wasn’t a big drinker, but I knew how to have a good time with it. Still, the thought of ending up like her turned that warmth into pain.
I pulled my phone out of my bag. It had been on mute during the meeting and I hadn’t switched it back.
“Shit.” I’d missed Elliot calling me. I put it to my ear as I pressed the message button.
“Hey, Becs. I guess you’re at work. Sorry, I’m so useless at times. I know I haven't called much, not because I don’t miss you. I miss you like crazy. Things have just been really full on here. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.” He paused, the rush of words ending.
“I’m not going away again. This is just too much. I’ll call you again soon. Call me or text me and let me know you’re okay too.”
I put my hand to my mouth, choking back the tears. He missed me enough to stop travelling? More than anything I wanted him back, wanted him with me.
Jumping off the barstool, I left the wine glass on the bar, still filled halfway. The bartender looked at me with one eyebrow raised as I took a step back.
“Thanks so much.” I waved brightly, turning and trying hard not to skip out of the place.
I climbed into the car, and dialled Elliot back.
“Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail of Elliot Franklin …”
Damn it.
I let the words play and when the message tone sounded, all I could say were four little words.
“I miss you too.”
* * *
The house was dark and cold when I got home, and I sighed as I threw my car keys on the coffee table and flopped on the couch.
What was I doing? I could have had the warmth of a man for the evening, one who’d stay for the night if I wanted, but I’d kept him at arm's length because of Elliot.
Elliot who'd told me that he understood I had needs and not to feel bad about filling those needs. And yet, there was no one else I wanted but him.
You love him, Rebecca. Just admit it.
I plucked my phone from my bag on the couch beside me, and scrolled through my messages but there was nothing new.
If you’re trying to make me miss you more, you win.
The mobile rang in my, and my heart was in my throat as I scrambled to answer it.
“Becs.” Elliot sounded tired.
“Hey. I keep missing you.”
“I know. I’m sorry I haven’t been better at keeping in touch. This whole trip has been really crazy. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be back soon, and I really need to see you.”
I hiccupped up the sob in my throat, the words I wanted to hear so badly.
“I need to see you too,” I whispered.
“Man, it’s been forever.” There were sounds in the background, like a distant crowd. A party?
“Sure feels like it.” I sighed.
“Umm, anyway, I’ll be back next week.”
“No chance of you coming back for the weekend?” I asked.
“No, babe. I’ll be home soon after. A friend of mine needs some help.”
A friend. Why did those words pinch at my gut?
“Oh? Anything I can help out with?”
“Just … just be there when I come home.”
Home. Now he had me worried as his voice cracked.
“Elliot, what’s wrong?”
There was some noise in the background that I couldn’t quite make out, and I lost him to it.
“Sorry, Becs. I gotta go. I’ll explain everything when I’m home. Miss you.”
“Miss you too.”
I held onto the phone for a while afterward, as if there was magically going to be more, but he was gone. Gone to deal with whatever he was dealing with.
Whatever he didn’t want to tell me about.
Chapter Nineteen
Say the word, Rebecca, and I’ll stay. I’ll always be here for you.
They were the words I’d dreamed about, the option I’d always wished I’d had with my father when my parents split. And I’d tell him that I didn’t want him to leave, that I loved him, that I needed him. And we’d all be playing happy families, even when we weren’t.
Now they were the words I heard when I dreamed of Elliot.
I couldn’t take him going again. Whatever it took, I’d say the words and make him stay. He had to. I had a cold bed, and a lonely heart and there was only one man who could fill them both. More than ever I knew how I felt about him.
But before that, I had to get through the weekend.
Katya’s wedding.
She'd been planning it well before she'd become engaged, she had the most amazing organisational skills of anyone I knew. Every little detail had been planned to a minute degree. We had our ups and downs, but I loved her and I was so proud to be her friend today.
She’d planned it for a Sunday evening. It wasn’t a conventional time for a wedding, but it wouldn’t be Katya if she didn’t do something different.
I pulled up outside the church and took a look at myself in the rear-view mirror, wondering for the millionth time if I couldn’t have found someone to come with me. Preferably Elliot, but in his absence, maybe I could have brought Olivia. She knew Katya now and would have enjoyed myself.
Then again, I could have ‘borrowed’ her boyfriend. Logan, that soft-hearted oaf, would have helped me out. The thought of that made me giggle. I was sure Olivia would have laughed at the suggestion.
But no. I was by myself, which wasn’t unusual, but it wasn’t fun. Not when I missed Elliot so much.
I climbed out of the car and looked at the building in front of me. It was beautiful—very old, very traditional, and very much like Katya to find somewhere dramatic to hold her ceremony.
“Rebecca.” Dad’s voice carried on the breeze and I looked in the direction the sound came from, my eyebrows raising at the sight of him with my mother.
“Dad.” I reached back into the car, grabbing my bag and pushing the door closed. The alarm beeped as I set it and walked off to see my parents.
“Mum,” I said, as she opened her arms and I went into them.
“I’m surprised to see you both here. Together.”
Dad smiled. “Your mother and I were both good friends with Katya’s parents. I wanted to make sure she could get here.”
In one piece. Without being off-her-face drunk.
I nodded. Mum smiled at me, then hugged me tight. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you, sweetheart. How are you? Are you here by yourself?”
“Just me.”
“Oh, that’s a shame.”
Dad’s mouth twisted into a faint smile. Some things never changed. She wasn’t trying to get at me, but the way she said things often left me feeling that I’d disappointed her.
“Yeah. It just worked out that way. Never mind. I get to see you, and Dad.”
Mum nodded, smiling sweetly at Dad. Now there was no part of me that wanted them back together, even if they were my parents, and I knew my father well enough to know it didn’t matter how sweetly she smiled, today would be a one off for a friend.
“It’s good to see you too, pumpkin,” Dad said.
Mum let go and I went into Dad’s embrace. It didn’t matter how many times I’d let him down, he always made me feel safe.
He let go enough to look at me, his eyes full of affection.
“Let’s go inside and see everyone.” He looke
d at his watch. “Not much time to go and I’m sure Katya will want a big entrance.”
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
Watching as they walked toward the church door arm in arm, I wondered just how different things would have been all those years ago if they hadn’t broken up. If we’d kept on being that happy family tucked away in the recesses of my memory. Before things went bad.
For today though, they seemed happy to be in one another’s company. They might drive one another a little batty, but they’d made an effort for people who were very dear to me, and I loved them both for it.
“Rebecca.”
I turned to see Alexander walking toward me, a willowy blonde on his arm. His fiancée.
“Oh, hey.”
“Clarissa, meet Rebecca.”
Clarissa looked down her nose at me, wrinkling it as if I smelled of dog poop. “Nice to meet you, Rebecca.”
“It certainly looks like it.”
“Pardon?”
I smiled sweetly. “Nothing. I’m just anxious to get on in there and see my friend marry her Prince Charming.”
At that she softened, smiling at Alexander. “It’s wonderful when that happens.”
And then they end up with their dicks covered in orange soft drink.
“I’m sure it is. I wouldn’t know. Oh well, better get going.”.
Who introduces their fiancée to their former lover?
I couldn’t judge. If Elliot was there, I’d be showing him off to anyone watching. Including my ex.
As the time was drawing closer to the ceremony, I turned and made my way toward the church door and stood for a moment just watching everyone filing in.
I moved out of the way so people could get past me, taking in the beauty of the surroundings. It was amazing, very peaceful, with large pews on a polished wooden floor, and huge stained-glass windows that refracted the light giving the room an tinge of colour.
And then I heard them on their way through the door. Alexander and Clarissa arguing.
I clamped my lips together, trying to shut out the noise. I had no idea if she realised just how loud she was, but in the still of the church the sound carried.
“Why is she even here?” Clarissa hissed the words.
Alexander took a deep breath. “Because the bride is one of her best friends. Look, babe, I’m not walking out on a friend’s wedding because my ex is here. We share a group of friends and that’s not changing.”
They came through the door, completely oblivious to my presence. I tried desperately to turn away, but I found myself drawn to the conversation, meeting Clarissa’s steely glare as she turned to look for seats. She sat down, her arms folded as Alexander sat beside her, pleading with her to stop being so crazy.
“Rebecca.” Gemma waved, and I made my way to the front, just behind the family seats. She pointed at the very good-looking man beside her. “This is Justin.”
The hunk waved at me and I nodded. “I’m so glad to see you. Nicola is here somewhere; I heard her before. God knows where she’s got to,” Gemma said.
“I’m sure she’ll turn up later.”
I tipped my head toward Tim, standing nervously, waiting for the ceremony to start. “Wonder how he’s doing.”
“Oh, he’ll be fine I’m sure. Katya will have him organised. He just has to stand there.”
I giggled, and Tim raised his head, winking at me. I gave him the thumbs up, nodding, and he grinned.
“I can just picture the timetable. Reception until ten pm. Sex between ten and midnight.”
Burying my face in my hands, I shook my head. “Stop it. I know she’s organised, but …”
“Do you remember high school? There was the school timetable and the Katya timetable.”
I looked at my watch. There were two minutes until the ceremony was supposed to start and people were still filing around. Maybe it was tradition for the bride to be late, but this one wouldn't be.
As the music stated, the guests scrambled to their seats and Tim stood up straight. He’d played very little part in setting up everything, of that I was sure, but he did look beautifully dressed and ready to meet his bride.
We stood.
The flower girl came first. Tim’s niece made her way up the aisle, led by Katya’s elder sister. The other two sisters followed, all of them dressed in this wishy-washy beige colour.
I knew when Katya had appeared from the look on Tim’s face. His jaw dropped as his beautiful bride made her way toward him, wearing a figure-hugging white dress which sparkled in the rays of the fading sun shining through the stained-glass windows. Katya was like a glittering rainbow as she moved toward him, and I fished in my bag for a tissue before Gemma handed me one.
“She’s beautiful,” Gemma said.
“As if she’d be anything else.” I leaned on her, and she rested her head on my shoulder. Her date forgotten, the two of us stood, clinging to one another as Katya drew level with her groom and the ceremony started.
“Shove over.” Just as we sat, Nicola appeared, squeezing into a spot that didn’t exist, cramming the three of us into a space for two. “You can sit on his lap,” she said to Gemma, pointing at Justin.
Justin looked pretty pleased with himself as Gemma snuggled closer.
“Where did you get to?” I whispered.
“I got tied up talking to someone. I’m here now.” Nicola squeezed herself against me.
The ceremony was beautiful. Katya had everything planned with the military precision she was famous for, and I wiped my eyes as she exchanged vows with Tim.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I resisted the urge to look at it right away.
Please let it be Elliot.
Distracted, I lost concentration, but stood and applauded as the minister pronounced them married and introduced them to the congregation.
I hugged my friends, walking arm in arm with them out of the church. Justin trailed in Gemma’s wake like a puppy. It was kind of adorable.
“You’ll be next,” I said to her.
She giggled. “We’ll see. I decided to follow in your footsteps and let go a little. Just enjoy it all instead of being so wound up about what everyone else thinks.”
“Good for you.” I grinned.
Gemma let go of me, hooking her arm through Justin’s. “What was it you said? Live a little?”
I laughed as she disappeared off toward the car park.
Good for her.
* * *
The reception was at a beautiful old house with a huge veranda around the outside. There was a huge garden where the photos were being taken, and a large marquee with a buffet table for the feast that was about to happen. Outside the tent was a pig on a spit, and the smell of roasting pork made me drool and think of bacon.
Bacon.
Crap.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I flicked it on to check for messages.
I need to be home.
That was all it said, but I clutched my phone to my chest, warmed by thoughts of Elliot being with me again. This time I’d hold onto him and never let him go. Maybe I didn’t want the big princess wedding, but he was my Prince.
My stomach rumbled as I tapped out a reply.
Good. I need you.
And I did. It wasn’t even about the sex, even though after all this time our physical reunion would be earth-shattering. His arms around me would do. I’d snuggle down and go to sleep for days, as long as I was with him. No more of this half-a-night crap.
I barely heard the speeches, sipping wine and eating food until I was floating, quite happily and bloated. When the music started, I let out a loud burp, Gemma laughing beside me as we sat back to let our stomachs settle.
As day turned to night, I decided to get up and move. The car would have to stay here for the evening; I’d already had too much to drink.
“Rebecca.” Katya ran straight at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, her half empty wine glass slapping me in the back.
“Hey, wifey
.”
She giggled, sitting down next to me.
“I love you,” I said, leaning on her shoulder.
“Love you too. Thank you for being with me today.”
I raised my head, smiling at her. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. We’ve been through some crazy times together, haven’t we?”
She nodded. “Crazy, fun, sad … everything really.” Katya pursed her lips, nodding toward Gemma, now dirty dancing in the middle of the marquee with Justin. “What do you think of that?”
I shrugged. “She’s having fun. He seems to hang on her every word. Maybe she just needs a fairy-tale ending to sort her out.”
“She needs a good hard screw against the wall, that’s what she needs.”
I laughed. “At the rate she’s going, it’ll be happening in the middle of the dance floor. Who needs a wall?”
Katya spat out the wine she’d just sipped, snorting as the liquid went flying through the air. “You know, I might think you were being bitchy if it wasn’t so true.”
I hadn’t laughed so hard in ages. Elliot hadn’t been on my mind for all of five minutes, but the thought of Gemma and Justin, and Katya and Tim brought all those feelings to the surface again. In that moment, I’d have given anything to have him there with me.
“I should stop drinking so much or my big sexy night isn’t going to go that great.” Her eyes widened. “I should go and check on Tim. If he drinks too much, he’ll never get it up.”
Without thinking, I waved my hand at her. “As if you’re ever going to notice.”
She stiffened beside me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I was too far gone to even realise for a moment what I was saying. “It’s not like he’s hung like a horse, Katya.”
She stood, her nostrils flaring as she stared me down. “How would you know?”
Shit.
“I didn’t mean anything. I’m sorry. Come and have another drink. I was just being a dick.”
“No. What would you know about how well Tim is or isn’t hung?”
I put down my glass, holding out my hands to her. Stupid me drinking stupid alcohol. “Years ago, before you two got together, we had a little thing. And I mean really little. I’m not talking about his penis, but it was one tiny blow job.”
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