Ignoring Liam, I walked out of the forest and headed towards Kix; I needed a beer. I also needed to think through what I planned, because I sure as hell didn’t want to screw anything else up. Once was more than enough in this lifetime.
Unsure about what to do about my screwed up relationship with Thalia, I hoped to drown my guilt in beer, but one thing I was sure about and that was having Thalia wear my ring. I loved her and was going to damn well fight for her. I’d screwed up big time. I sure as hell didn’t want to do it again.
We pushed our way into Kix and found Donovan and Reece sitting at the bar, both sipping beer. They’d heard the door slam back into place; Reece turned and saw us, nudged Donovan.
“What happened?” Reece asked.
Sitting down at the bar next to him, I reached for the beer Suzie passed me, and downed it in one. I tapped the empty bottle on to the bar top, and then took another large drink of the new one Suzie passed me.
“That bad?”
“She said...goodbye.” Shit my voice broke. I finished the second bottle off then reached for the third.
“Wow, bro. Take it easy.” Liam grabbed my wrist.
I turned and scowled at him. “Mia wouldn’t like you having a black eye in your wedding pictures.”
He backed off slightly.
“Talking about wedding pictures...Mia admitted the real reason for getting rid of Rebecca as a bridesmaid. She did break her arm, so Mia used that as an excuse, but the truth was Rebecca, um, had a thing for you, and once or twice the things she came out with frightened Mia.”
I nodded, taking another drink, and then remembered Reece and Callie. I turned to him, grinned, and asked, “So what does Dahlia think about you doing the horizontal with Callie?”
“Fuck,” he whispered under his breath. “You really are looking for a fight.”
“Callie is Thalia’s friend. I don’t want you screwing her over.”
Donovan snickered. “Too late for that.”
“Fuck. Get off my back. You’re a bunch of fucking assholes,” Reece shouted, storming out of the bar. The next minute we heard his bike start.
“What the hell.” I looked to Donovan for an answer.
He shook his head, standing up. “He likes Callie more than what I think he’d like, and she likes him. That’s why I stepped back. All I know is that Dahlia rang him first thing this morning when he was with Callie. He said she was awake when he took the call, and that he left without saying anything to her. Something’s going on with Dahlia. He’s not having sex with her. In fact I don’t think he ever has, because he treats her like a sister. There’s something between them, but now it’s come between him and Callie, someone he really likes...Personally I think he’s screwed it up. He should have at least spoken to her after Dahlia called him, but he didn’t...I guess you’ve both fucked up today. Right now, you both make me thankful I don’t have a girl...too much damn trouble. I’m outta here. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
I watched Donovan leave, finished my beer then got Liam to take me home, while I prayed I didn’t screw anything else up.
Chapter 62
Thalia
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Two days ago I never thought I’d ever be standing in Jack’s house again. Mia had persuaded me to stay and act as her bridesmaid; she’d also explained the real reason behind getting rid of Rebecca, which was real creepy. No wonder Rebecca had asked Lewis to use my name. Get rid of me – clear the path to Jack.
Jack. Over the past couple of days I’d missed him like crazy. I’d missed his voice. I’d missed his body. I’d missed the look in his eyes when he’d look at me. I also couldn’t forget how he looked when I’d told him goodbye. I’d broken his heart, like he did mine, and it made me feel worse than I already did.
In thirty minutes Mia and Liam would be saying their wedding vows with Jack standing for Liam, and me, the only bridesmaid for Mia. I had to walk back down the aisle with Jack after the vows had been said, which I was dreading. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to walk beside him without touching him, or without breaking down in floods of tears.
I’d cried buckets. I’d even broken down on the phone speaking with my dad. He wanted to get the next plane down to me, but I wouldn’t hear of it and I promised him and Mom that I’d go home next week. Dad had told me they were supposed to be flying to Hawaii, but he was going to get the flights altered and they’d go a week or two later, depending on what flights they could get. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I was shocked to hell.
I’d also come to the conclusion that although I’d been the one wronged, it was stupid to punish us both the way I was. I loved him. I loved him with all my heart and wanted him in my life if he still wanted me. Mia had laughed when I’d asked her if she thought he still wanted me.
After the wedding I planned on getting Jack on his own and telling him how much I missed him and still loved him. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.