Chapter 10
Bailey
I’ve been avoiding Wes like the plague since the night of Sutton’s “bachelorette party.” I hoped that maybe everything that happened through the window was just an illusion or some insane dream. Unfortunately, realizing it was very much real had me wanting to hide away for the foreseeable future.
Since that’s not possible, I’m doing the next best thing and just avoiding the one and only person who bore witness to my moment of weakness and insanity. I try to be out of the house early and quickly before work, and when I get home, I race from my car inside as fast as I can.
It’s worked for a couple days since I saw him with his new dog, but I know it’s going to end sooner rather than later. Especially since Jameson and Sutton’s wedding is quickly approaching. The rehearsal is tomorrow and I’m sure he who shall not be named will be there.
“Before you even ask, yes, Wes is going to be there tomorrow. And no you can’t skip. But yes, you’re not sitting next to each other,” Sutton says like she can read my mind as I help her put together the bouquets for the wedding.
I groan while Lily chuckles behind some leaves.
“You,” Sutton focuses on her, “on the other hand do have to sit next to Parker.”
“What? Why?” Lily complains, throwing the flowers down on the table.
“Because that’s how it is.”
“But Mo-om,” Lily groans.
“Don’t ‘Mom’ me, I’m only five years older than you. If anyone is Mom here, it’s Bailey.”
“Whoa, don’t bring me into this like I’m the one making the seating arrangements.” I raise my hands up.
“Maybe you should be. You wouldn’t put me next to my arch nemesis,” Lily says.
Sutton just rolls her eyes with a scoff.
“That’s a little dramatic. You dated him for how long?” I give her a pointed look.
“Exactly, that’s even worse! He’s my ex and my arch nemesis.” Lily looks back at Sutton again. “Put her next to Wes so she can see how it feels.”
“He really is my arch nemesis, so no let’s not.”
“Yeah okay,” Lily mocks in a deep voice. “Have you seen the way you two look at each other? The sexual tension is so strong it practically makes my clothes fall off.”
“She does have a point.” Sutton shrugs.
“Now whose side are you on?” I narrow my eyes.
“The one where you both get over yourselves and admit you like the guys.”
“Never,” I state firmly.
“Not gonna happen,” Lily says at the same time as me.
“Fine.” Sutton sighs. “But the seating chart stays how it is.”
Lily grumbles something under her breath, and we continue working on the arrangements. Then, Sutton speaks up again and I’m pretty sure it’s purely to cause more chaos.
“Though Wes did look really cute with that dog of his.”
“Oh my God.” I shake my head. “I’m just waiting for the dog to realize who it’s living with and start to pee in his shoes.”
“That reminds me of this stray cat I took in.” Lily perks up, and I brace myself for some insane story because that seems to be how she is.
I’m not sure how so many crazy things happen to one person, but apparently she’s just lucky in that regard.
“My dad did not want us to keep the cat, and I think she knew that which is why she would make sure to pee on his ties he laid out for work. Every. Single. Day.”
That is probably one of the tamest stories I’ve heard her tell.
And shortest.
“Did you keep the cat?” Sutton asks.
“Of course we did, her name is Petunia.”
“Does she still pee on your dad’s ties?” I clarify.
“No, he learned to not lay them out anymore.”
I’m still waiting for more to the story, but she goes back to arranging flowers, and I think that may actually be it.
“Oh that reminds me, when I came back from class one day and learned my roommate was a furry.”
There it is.
Brynn: I miss you.
I sigh, looking at the text for way longer than necessary before scrolling up through the dozens of unanswered texts from my sister. I used to give her simple responses, but when she mentioned she was going to be in Washington and wanted to meet up, I just couldn’t do it.
And I haven’t answered her since.
I don’t want to throw her life off balance. I don’t want to go back to the dark place we both escaped from. I don’t want to be the reason any more of my siblings lose their lives because they remember where we came from. It’s just best if I stay away.
That’s why, even though I want to answer her and tell her I miss her too, I don’t.
It’s better this way for all of us, even if she doesn’t see it. She’s always seen the best in people. She’s positive and bubbly. She just wants us all to be together again, but that’s something that can’t happen.
I lock my phone and finish getting ready to go to the rehearsal dinner, hoping the smile I paste on my face is believable and that no one around knows how deep and dark my thoughts can go.
Tonight, I’ll be the Bailey that stays quiet and is happy for her friend before I slip away to my quiet, lonely house once again where the thoughts can swallow me whole.
As soon as I walk into the large farmhouse, Lily’s voice is the first I hear. “I just don’t understand why the males always have to be the pretty ones.” That sentiment has me shaking my head and forgetting about everything else for a little while.
“Because we’re all just naturally better looking, obviously.” Parker stands up straighter and flexes his arms which has Lily loudly groaning and dramatically rolling her eyes at him.
“You look like a rat dragged you out of the gutter after you passed out there for two years,” Lily retorts and I really question how she comes up with the things she says.
“Why would a rat drag me out of the gutter? Wouldn’t it want to keep me there?” Parker smirks, folding his arms across his chest.
“I wouldn’t know, I don’t speak to rats like you do.”
“Aw, come on, Lil. You miss slumming it with me, don’t even lie.”
“Having fun?” A deep voice comes up behind me, and I hide my small jump at the sudden appearance of the man I’ve been desperately trying to ignore.
“I was.” I turn my head to the side slightly. “And then you appeared.”
Wes crowds my back, and I look around to see who’s paying attention, but when I try to step away he clamps a strong hand on my hip, stopping me. His mouth dips close to my ear, his hot breath tickling my skin as he speaks.
“This is your last warning, Angel. The next time you give me attitude I’m going to punish you, and trust me when I say it’s not going to be fun.”
My jaw drops. I’m not able to say anything before he’s walking over to Jameson, and I’m being surrounded by Sutton and Lily, who’s apparently no longer engaged in her face off with Parker.
“You okay?” Sutton asks, and I do my best to school my expression.
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your face is so red it looks like you’re sunburnt,” Lily adds unhelpfully.
“Maybe I am.”
“No, I think it has to do with whatever Wes just said to you.” Lily smirks.
“Are there drinks here?” I look around, trying to completely divert all attention from me and my supposedly red face.
“You think alcohol will save you?” Lily teases and I ignore her because I know she’s just trying to goad me.
“Of course we do, come on.” Sutton leads me into the kitchen where I’m able to pour myself a drink.
Emily announces we’re going to run through the ceremony. We all make our way behind the house to where a beautiful floral arch is set up at the end of a small aisle flanked by a couple rows of chairs.
Jameson and Wes are instructed to stand by the arch while Lily and I are paired up with Jameson’s coworkers, Parker and Dave, and told when to walk down the aisle together.
“Trade me.” Lily nudges my arm.
“I don’t think it works that way,” I tell her.
“I don’t want this one,” she insists.
“I can hear you,” Parker whisper-yells.
“Good because I wanted you to,” she whisper-yells back.
“Everyone ready?” Emily announces.
Dave and I nod while Parker and Lily continue to bicker behind us.
We’re instructed on when to start walking with the timing of the song that’s playing.
Even though we start several feet before the other two, I swear I can hear their quiet arguing the entire time before they finally separate to stand on opposite sides of the altar.
Sutton and Emily walk together, and I watch Jameson the whole time. The way his eyes never leave his fiancée, the way the love between them is so palpable it’s almost hard to watch. The way they smile at each other, lost in their own little world where no one else even exists.
“Then we do the ceremony and everyone lives happily ever after.” Emily smiles. “You guys will pair up again to walk out after Jameson and Sutton.”
“Do I have to or can I walk out solo? Actually, can I change jobs and be a flower girl or something?” Lily asks.
“No, actually, I think she should have to jump on my back or I’ll just fireman carry her out,” Parker adds.
“If you try to lift me, I will drop-kick your ass.”
“Think you can? I’ll give you a free shot to try, Lil.”
“I think we got it down, who’s hungry?” Jameson cuts off their bickering.
We all end up inside at the dining table, and I wish I could say it’s a peaceful dinner, but it seems nothing with this group ever is. Throughout the entire meal, I focus on not paying attention to Wes, but when my eyes accidentally look over, I find he’s already looking at me.
I want to say something snarky and antagonize him like I usually do, but then I remember his threat from earlier and bite my tongue, holding back. He tilts his head like he knows I want to say something.
“I swear to God, Parker, if you keep trying to play footsies with me I’m going to jam one of my heels into your big toe,” Lily threatens and it’s enough to pull my attention away.
As the night continues, Wes’s threat lingers in my mind, and I struggle to figure out if it’s even a threat at all. Or if it’s exactly what I want to happen.