Cassie laughed and looked around the empty boutique. There wasn't anyone there to judge her and it would be fun to see herself as the bride. “I'll do it.” She replied as she reached for the dress she was looking at.
“The try on room is over in the corner. Let me know if you need anything. My name's Crystal.”
Cassie smiled, “Thanks.” She couldn't believe she was about to put on the dress, but she was still waiting for Courtney...so it wouldn't hurt anything. She closed her door to the room and quickly removed her clothes and pulled on the white dress. Looking in the mirror, it brought her a sense of excitement and she almost forgot it wasn't her wedding she was planning. She opened the door and came out into the room, “Crystal? Can you help me with my zipper?”
“Woo hoo...” her face turned red and she turned to face the man that was whistling.”
“Seth...I...” she could feel her heart beating hard in her chest.
“Wow...you will make one beautiful bride.”
She turned away; her face was red for sure. “I...thanks. What are you doing here? Actually, hold that thought.” She hurried back into the room, carefully to back up so he couldn't see her exposed back. She let out a breath as she removed the dress and hung it back on the hanger. Pulling on her clothes she waited for a moment before leaving the room. With the dress in hand she finally descended from the room. Crystal was standing by the room as she exited. “Did I hear you call me?”
“Yeah...thanks for letting me try this on.”
“You're welcome,” she grabbed the dress and then left Seth and Cassie in an awkward silence.
Finally Cassie turned to his expectant stare and laughed. “So, that was embarrassing. Why are you here?”
He chuckled, “No need to feel embarrassed, but the more important question is why you were trying on a wedding dress?”
Cassie snickered and playfully hit him in the arm. “Can we just please forget you saw that?”
“As you wish. I'm here because Brad called and asked me to try on my Best Man tuxedo.”
“You're Best Man?”
He nodded, “Yep, is that okay with the Maid of Honor?”
Cassie shrugged, “Doesn't matter to me. It's their wedding.”
She moved away from him and headed to the front door. “Courtney never could tell time.”
“Are you sure you just weren't really early? According to my watch...they have 5 minutes to get here.”
“I stand corrected,” Cassie replied quietly, but was careful not to look at him.
“Cassie, I think we need to talk.” Cassie turned around and was startled to see that he had moved closer to her and was only inches from her.
“Seth, we were both caught up in last night. There's nothing to talk about. You're getting married; you can't worry about old feelings.” She quickly moved away from his closeness.
“Why do you always pull away from me?”
“Old habits die hard.” Cassie replied with a giggle.
“That's not funny.” His voice was sharp and filled with pain.
“Seth, I'm sorry. You have to understand how awkward this is for me. I didn't anticipate coming back and seeing you here, let alone...” her voice dropped and her eyes fell to the floor.
“You feel it too?”
Seth, it would be hard not to. We never really resolved our relationship, but that's all there is to it. We both have moved on and I don't want either of us to get hurt. Do you understand that?”
He nodded, “I do, but there's only one thing that I have to tell you. Rebecca and I, we...”
“I'm glad you both could be here.” Cassie looked over at Courtney and Brad, who had just arrived. She looked back at Seth and she could tell he was discouraged that they were interrupted.
“Hey Courtney, the note didn't say Brad and Seth would be here.” Cassie replied, trying to put emphasis in it that she wasn't pleased.
Courtney shrugged, “Brad just said that Seth needed to try on a suit and I figured this would be perfect.”
“I'm sure you did,” Cassie mumbled under her breath.
Courtney ignored her and continued talking. “So, the colors are Lavender and black. I've picked out a gorgeous Lavender sleeveless dress for you Cass.”
“Sleeveless? Won't it be cold?”
We can find a shawl to go with it. The wedding will be outside, but the reception will be inside. You should be fine.”
“Okay.” Cassie figured it would be stupid to argue, so she just nodded and left Courtney to continue talking.
“Seth, you will wear a black tuxedo with a lavender tie and lavender cummerbund.”
“Okay, sounds good.” Cassie looked at him and realized her decision to stay away from him, wasn't going to be easy.
“Hey Courtney...Bradley.”
“Hey Crystal, this is my sister Cassie and our best man Seth.”
“Okay great...I have the dress and tuxedo pulled out. Just follow me.”
They followed Crystal to the dressing rooms where she handed them their outfits. “Thanks,” Cassie mumbled. She was just ready to get the day over with. As she changed into the dress she realized that she was prolonging the inevitable. She was going to have to face Seth sooner or later with the dress; it might as well have been sooner. “Courtney?” She waited for a moment, but she didn't answer. “Courtney?” She peeked out the room, but she didn't see anyone in sight. She went out the room and tried to find Courtney through the mounds of racks, but there was no luck.
“Here, I got it.” She tensed up, when she heard Seth behind her. He slowly zipped up her dress and when he was done, she turned to face him.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” he smiled and her throat caught. He was standing there in his tux and Cassie didn't think he could have gotten more handsome than he was.
She tried not to laugh, because his tie was crooked but it made him look even more dashing. “Since you helped me out, turn about fairs play.” She undid his tie and then redid the knot. “There,” she stepped back and nodded. “Not bad I must say.”
He laughed, “Thank you my dear, but I must confess...this dress you’re wearing is nice, but I preferred the wedding dress.”
Cassie shook her head, “I told you, let's forget that dress.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot.” He laughed, but then she noticed he gave her a once over.
“I don't know where Courtney and Bradley went.”
He shrugged, “I haven't a clue. Cassie, I really have to tell you something. I have been trying to get it out, but every time I go to say something about it...someone interrupts. Rebecca and I....”
“You guys look amazing.” Courtney replied as she came around the corner.
“Seriously...” Seth couldn't have looked more frustrated if he tried to convince someone that the sky was blue and they were insisting it was pink.
She tried to give Seth an apologetic look, but she knew it fell short. The truth was she wasn't entirely upset he couldn't finish what he wanted to tell her. It worried her that whatever it was could be bad news and she wasn't ready to face that. “So, do we pass the test?”
“Most definitely.” Courtney smiled, “What do you think babe?”
“I think that we'll have to worry about the guests looking at the Maid of Honor and Best Man, more than us.”
Cassie laughed and she saw Seth looking at her out of the corner of her eye. “I don't think that's going to be the issue. You guys make a beautiful couple.”
“I have to say, I don't think we're going to have to do much in alterations.” Crystal responded with enthusiasm. “It helped that we had sizes prior to picking out the dress.”
“So, I will leave you guys and we'll make sure the outfits are pressed and ready for the wedding.”
When she left the atmosphere got quiet. “Why don't you both get dressed and we'll go out for lunch, for a celebration.”
Cassie shot Courtney a look. She didn't expect Seth to go along and she didn't know if she cou
ld stand spending even more time with him. Courtney just smiled and pushed them to their rooms. As Cassie was getting dressed she was determined to get out of the predicament she was in. Courtney wasn't going to make a fool of her, by pushing them together when Seth wasn't available. She hung up the dress and then left the room. Seth had just gotten out of his room and he appeared as uncomfortable as Cassie did. “Courtney, I think I'm going to pass on lunch.”
“What? Why? Come on, it won't be a celebration without you.”
“I'm just not into it. I have a headache and I would just rather go back to the house. We can do it some other time.”
Without waiting to hear any objections she left, hurrying out of the boutique and further away from Seth.
____________________
Seth watched as Cassie left the store, he could tell that she was uncomfortable. He wanted to save her, but he didn't know what to do. He was just irritated that he couldn't tell Cassie the truth, especially if what Scarlett had said was true. “Well, I guess it's going to be just the three of us.” Courtney replied quietly, he saw her looking towards Cassie who was fleeing through the parking lot, as if she was being chased by someone.
Seth turned to Courtney and held up his hand. “I'll be back,” he ran out of the building and made his way to the parking lot. He saw Cassie, just as she was about to get in her vehicle. “Cassie, wait.” She turned to look at him, her face showing an odd expression. He was out of breath as he reached her. He wanted to push her up against the car and tell her he loved her, ending the scene with a kiss. However, this wasn't a movie and he had to approach the subject at a different angle. “I know today didn't exactly turn out the way you planned. You expected it to just be the two of you, but I would feel bad if you leave because of me. I should be the one to go. Spend the day with your sister and future brother-in-law.”
Cassie stared at him for a moment and then smiled. “Actually, you're not the reason I'm leaving. I suppose wedding talk has suddenly started to get to me. I need a break, so please go and enjoy. I can spend time with them later.”
“Are you sure? I really feel awful about taking a place that is rightfully yours.”
“I am serious. Its fine, you just enjoy yourself.”
“Okay, but I still need to talk to you...it's very important.”
Cassie nodded, “We'll talk. I promise, but it might have to be somewhere where someone can't interrupt us.”
Seth laughed, “You have a point there. We could have a picnic lunch tomorrow after church.”
“I could pack us one of those.”
“I meant I would provide the lunch.”
“You?” Cassie laughed, “I'm sorry, but I don't remember cooking to ever be one of your strong suits.”
Seth tried to act hurt, “I have you know...I keep telling you, I've changed.”
“Okay, I'll look forward to it.”
“Good, see you tomorrow.”
He waved goodbye and went back to the boutique. He had to make sure nothing got in his way to tell her the truth. “Is everything alright?” Courtney asked as he approached the outside of the store.
“I think so.”
“Okay, we were thinking we could go to the Pizzeria down the street.”
“Sounds fine with me.” They walked to the small restaurant and it was packed, but they didn't have to wait long to get seated. As Seth was looking through the menu, he had a feeling that Courtney was watching him. He thought if he ignored her, she would go about focusing on something else. He was wrong. When he looked up she was looking right at him. He smiled, “I know what I want.”
“Do you?” Courtney asked, with a touch of laughter.
“I know what I want to order,” he looked at Bradley...begging for some help. Bradley just shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the menu. He motioned for the waiter and quickly placed his order, it probably wasn't the brightest idea to go along with Courtney and Bradley, and he was soon going to find that out. “So, how's the wedding planning coming?” He asked, desperate to talk about anything but what Courtney wanted to say.
“Fine.”
“Okay,” the table grew quiet and then he looked at Courtney and cocked his head. “I know that you want to say something, so go ahead.”
Courtney shot a look at Bradley and he just raised his eyebrows. “What happened between you and Rebecca?”
Seth looked at Bradley; he was worried about the awkwardness of the situation. “I don't know what you want me to say.” His eyes never left Brad's.
“Yeah, I think I would like to hear this too.”
Seth looked around the room, hoping to find an escape route. However, he didn't see an easy way out and knew that he couldn't avoid the questions much longer. “I didn't want Rebecca hurt, you have to believe that. It was the last thing that I would have planned on. Rebecca is a great girl and knowing that I could hurt her...I would hate to be the cause of her pain.”
“Did you break up with her, or was it the other way around?” When Brad asked the question, Seth wanted to crawl in a hole and die.
“Actually, she broke up with me.”
Courtney smiled, but Brad just nodded. “That's great, right Brad?”
Seth shook his head, “gee thanks a lot.”
“I just meant if she broke up with you she probably isn't heartbroken. If you would have been the one to end it, then things might be a little uglier between the families.”
“Okay...I guess I understand what you're saying.”
“I don't,” Brad replied, surprising Seth. Courtney looked surprised as well when she turned to him. “Let's face it, a breakup is a breakup. Either way someone ends up hurt, but I don't think Seth seems too emotional about it. Why did she breakup with you?”
Seth swallowed hard. He didn't know how to respond to that question. As he was thinking about it the waitress approached their table. “What can I get for you today?”
“Actually, I think we need a few more minutes.” Courtney replied; Seth saw that her eyes never left Brad's.
“Okay, take your time.” She left them to their discussion, but Seth really wanted to leave the table too.
“So, why?” Brad asked, clearly not wanting to drop the subject.
“I...I...I guess she realized it wasn't working out. I don't know Brad.”
“She realized it wasn't working out? Do you think that that has anything to do with Cassie?”
“Brad...stop!” Courtney pleaded, but he continued to look at Seth.
“I don't know, maybe...I suppose so. I just didn't...”
“You didn't think; that's what happened. You didn't think about anyone but yourself. You didn't worry about hurting her feelings.”
“Whoa, I told you Rebecca is the one that broke up with me. It was her decision.”
“Yes, I get that, but she did it so she wouldn't get hurt. She didn't want you to be the one to break her heart. Anyone can see that.”
“Brad...” Courtney began to speak, but he shot her a look.
“Courtney, you're just thinking about your sister. Hoping that this can end well for her. It's not all about what they once had. They both need to realize that time has passed and stop holding out for the past. Until then, neither one will be happy. You need to butt out and mind your own business.”
Seth quickly glanced at Courtney; where her mouth was wide open in shock. “Brad, I get your frustrated. You don't have to take it out on Courtney or Cassie. This is between your sister and me and I'll...” his voice trailed off when Brad stood up. “Where are you going?”
“Brad, please sit down. People are starting to stare.” Courtney begged him, but he didn't budge.
“I have to get out of here.” He threw some money down on the table. “Enjoy the pizza.” With that, he was gone.
“I can't believe this.” Courtney replied quietly as Brad walked away.
“Courtney, I am so sorry. This has nothing to do with you or Cassie. This is between me and their family. I shouldn't have done som
ething to stop him from leaving. Made him see that he wasn't right about everything.”
“Was he right about Rebecca and you breaking up over Cassie?”
He didn't have to think about the question, he was well aware of the answer. “Rebecca...I think she always knew that my heart was leaning more towards Cassie. I would have made her happy, if we were to get married. I would not have let her down. It's just that she's a smart girl and at some point she just realized she wasn't ready to try to be Cassie.”
“When did it happen?”
“Saturday night. It was our year anniversary,” he chuckled. “Some celebration, huh?”
“I am sorry that it didn't work out. I guess, in my heart, I have always hoped you would get back together with my sister. I would never want Rebecca to get hurt in the process.”
“Neither would I.” Seth looked to the door where Brad had left a few minutes earlier. “I hope this doesn't put a rift between you two. I would never forgive myself if it did?”
“I'm sure everything will be fine,” she shrugged. “I'll talk to him later.”
The pizza arrived as Seth was about to say something. “Thank you,” he replied with a smile. “We have plenty of pizza.”
Courtney laughed, but her apprehension was inevitable. “I don't have a ride home.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
She nodded as they ate the pizza. Most of their conversation, he attempted to keep lighthearted. He didn't want to think about Brad, or he didn't want her to think about Brad. It wasn't the best situation to be in, but he prayed that Brad would come around and the wedding would go on as planned in just two months. When they finished their food Courtney handed Seth the money. “I guess Brad's buying.”
“Hold onto the money for him. I'll take care of the tab.” He grabbed the bill and headed up to the cashier. Courtney waited for him by the door. When he got back to her he noticed a tear creeping down her cheek. “Oh Court, come on.” He wrapped his arm around her and they headed towards his truck. Once he had opened the door for her he turned to face her. “Do you want me to talk to him again? I can get him to understand that he has this all wrong. I know I can.”
Following Your Heart (Love Conquers All) Page 11