Happily Ever After (9 page)

“Sean’s friend
s pissed me off.”

“What did they do?”
Ryan asked.

“They just said a few things.  One of them said I wouldn’t need a boob
job because my rack was so big.”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “What? Did Sean beat the shit out of them?”

“No, but he yelled at them. I did too.”

“Let’s go,” Ryan said to Cortland.

“Oh no, you don’t,” I said as I grabbed my brother. “Don’t make any drama at this rehearsal. Please, I’m begging you.”

Ryan sighed and came back to me.
“I’m not letting anyone talk to you like that.”

“Sean took care of it. He said they would be asked to leave the premises if they continued to behave that way.”

Ryan pulled his arm away. “Let us know if you change your mind.”

Cortland still looked pissed.

“Calm down,” I said to both of them. “You guys are like high school teenagers, I swear.”

“We’re just very territorial,” Cortland said.

“Well, get over yourself.”

Sean came back to me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “I threatened to kill them if they said anything else to you.”

“Why are you friends with those creeps anyway?”

“Scarlet, they used to be my roommates. I admit they’re jerks, but I had a lot of good times with them. And I also thought they wouldn’t be jackasses here. They’re rich and snooty kids that vacation in the Hamptons, have moms with breast implants, and marry just to keep their pos
ition in the social hierarchy.”

“So that makes it okay?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just explaining. And I told them to leave. If you don’t want them here, I’ll kick their ass and haul their bodies onto the lawn.”

“No, Sean. I don’t want that.”

“Then what’s bothering you?”

Ryan looked awkward. “Cortland, help me move on
e of these tables.”

“I’ll help,” Mike said.

They walked away.

“It bot
hers me that you made that pact,” I said.

“What pact?”

“To fuck forty women during your bachelor party.”

“Scarlet, that was a long time ago.”

“You were still planning to cheat on your fiancé before you even got married. That’s disgusting, Sean. I knew you did a lot of bad things, but that has to be the worst.”

“First of all, I was nineteen when we made that pact. Second of all, I never thought I would fall in love. I was with Penelope for years and I never cheated on her. I never even looked at another girl. With you, I’ve
been nothing but faithful. I’ll always be faithful to you. Lastly, I didn’t invite them to my bachelor party because I know how they are. I love them as friends, but I’m not like them anymore. I stopped hanging out with them after I got with Penelope because I knew what they would want to do. I was wrong for making that pact, but I never followed through with it. That’s what counts.”

I fell silent, watching the people walk around the party. They were drinking from their crystal flutes and grabbing appetizers from the butlers that came by with trays. It was loud in the room, lots of conversation
s floated in the air.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I’m very sorry for everything. I’ll ask them to leave.”

“No, Sean. I’m just disappointed in you.”

His eyes fell as he listened to me. “You’ve never said that to me before.”

“I’m not trying to be mean.”

“I was a piece of shit when I was younger. I’m not that man anymore. I’ve proven that to you. There should be no doubt, Scar. I’m madly in love with you. I want you every day for the rest of my life. If you need any reassurance, just think about our past year together. I’ve never been happier in my whole life. When I think about my past, it makes me want to cry. Not because I’m just ashamed, but because I was so miserable. You’re the light in my life, Scar. Pl
ease don’t ever leave me in the dark.”

I looked at him, feeling horrible for hurting him. “I’m sorry. I take it back.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry all of this happened. It’s my fault.”

“It’s okay.”

He grabbed my face and kissed me. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Diane tapped her flute with a fork. “Let’s begin the rehearsal.”

Sean grabbed my hand and led me outside behind the artificial wall that had been erected. It was sunset, and the fading light highlighted the particles floating in the air. The sound of the waves was in the distance, mighty and powerful. The smell of Sean’s cologne tickled my nose as it combined with the salt in the air.

Diane pulled Sean away. “Let’s start from the beginning.”

Ryan grabbed me and pulled me back behind the wall with the other bridesmaids. “Are those the heels you’re wearing tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“You should practice with them tonight if you are. That way you don’t trip and fall.”

“You aren’t supposed to let me trip and fall.”

“I won’t,” he said with a smile.

Diane held her clipboard as she orchestrated the flow of the wedding. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle with their groomsmen. Cortland was a member of my wedding party because I refused to leave him out, so he walked down the aisle side by side with a groomsman.

“Cue the bride,” Diane said.

Ryan extended his arm and I took it. He walked me around the wall then down the aisle. I looked at Sean’s face as I walked. His groomsmen stared at me with approval. I heard his grandmother say how beautiful I was.

Sean grabbed my hand when I reached the end and we stood in front of the pastor. My hands were shaking, soaked in sweet. My feet hurt in my heels. The sun suddenly became too hot, making the sweat drip down the back of my neck. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would give out.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

Sean looked at me. “You’re supposed to repeat what Pastor Dave said.”

“Oh sorry.
I’m just nervous.”

The members of the crowed awed.

“Don’t be,” Sean said with a smile.

I repeated the lines of the ceremony and Sean did his.

“We can practice a few times before it gets dark,” Diane said.

We did the ceremony three times and every time I felt the sickness in my stomach, the pain deep in my gut. I couldn’t stop sweating and I couldn’t stop feeling faint. Something didn’t feel right. In that moment I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t marry Sean.

10

Scarlet

I texted Ryan.
Come to my room.

I was just with you all night.

Ryan, just do it.

I didn’t realize maid of honor was a twenty-four job.

Shut the fuck up and get over here.

He didn’t respond.

A minute later, he opened my bedroom door and walked inside. “What’s the emergency? You need me to braid your hair or something?”

I was sitting on the floor and leaning against the bed, my feet pulled to my chest.
All my luggage sat next to me, ready to go.

He stopped and looked at me, his joking demeanor seizing immediately. “Scar, what’s going on?”

When I spoke, my voice cracked. I tried to keep the tears back but I couldn’t. They fell. “I can’t marry him.”

Ryan was speechless. He stood by the door for several minutes, processing that simple sentence. He put his hands on his hip
s then stared at me, opening his mouth every few seconds to be speak. Nothing ever came out. Finally, he said, “What?”

“I’m leaving. Get a cab and help me with my things.”

“Hold on,” Ryan said as he sat across from me. “You’re getting cold feet, Scar. That’s totally normal. Calm down.”

I shook my head, seeing my vision cloud. “I don’t want to marry him, Ryan. Please get me out of here.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t. I’m not going to do it.”

He sighed. “What happened?”

“I just realized I made a huge mistake. Sean isn’t the right person for me. I’ve been so stupid.”

“I know you love him,” he said gently.

“He doesn’t love me.”

“You know that isn’t true.”

“Please get me out of here.” I covered my face while I cried. “I don’t want to be here tomorrow morning. I don’t want to see his mother’s face. She’s always hated me. I don’t want to see Sean in pain. Please get me out of here and back on the quickest flight home.”

He grabbed my hands. “You’re scared. I get that. I really do. But you’re making a mistake, Scarlet. Let’s just relax for a few hours. I’m sure you’ll feel better in the morning.”

“No, I won’t. Ryan, I’m not going to ask you again. Either help me, or step aside.”

“You know I’m always on your side.”

“Then grab my things.”

“Hold on a second. Where is this coming from? Why are you doing this?”

“I shouldn’t even have to answer that.”

“Tell me.”

“I’ve always been second best with him. Even in the beginning, it was Theresa, not me.”

“Who’s Theresa?”

“My college roommate.
Sean wanted her before he wanted me. Then he wanted Penelope. Even when he had me, he still went back to her. I’ve always been the lesser choice. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being the girl he settled for because he couldn’t have who he really wanted.”

“Scarlet, we’ve been over this. Sean only went back because she was having his baby. There was no other reason.”

I shook my head. “No.”

“This is in the past. You said you forgave him for it.”

“I thought I did.”

“Don’t leave him because of that.”

“And he slept with me just to get laid. Even when I was second best in terms of relationships, I still wasn’t important to him as a friend. He used me.”

Ryan sighed. “Let the past go. Why is this coming back now?”

“Because I don’t think he’s changed. When he gets bored with me, he’ll go back to his old ways. I was never the one he wanted. He’ll find someone else better then forget about me.”

“We both know that isn’t true.”

“Yes, it is.” I felt myself start to sob. “He’s a jerk. He lied to women and tricked them to sleep with him. He’s just like his pathetic groomsmen. He made a pact to sleep with forty women during his bachelor party. How disgusting is that?”

“Once again, that’s in the past. Secondly, I used to be the same way. I’ve slept with more women than I can count. We’re the same. You see me with Janice. I’m different now. I’ll never grow tired of her. You know that.”

“It’s not the same. You’ve always been honest with your partners. Sean lied and manipulated them. And then he slept with his brother’s girlfriend, ruining ten years of their relationship.”

“Mike made
mistakes too.”

“His mother
treated me like shit and he chose to defend Penelope instead of me.”

“He had good intentions. He eventually told them the truth when he couldn’t let it go on any longer.”

“His family doesn’t like me or respect me.”

“Andrew loves you.”

“His mother thinks I’m a whore. I’ll never be anything different in her eyes. When everyone arrives tomorrow, they’ll be gossiping about me.”

“His mother wouldn’t tell anyone about the video.”

“But I’m sure their neighbors told everyone.”

“And that isn’t Sean’s fault.”

“It’s still a reason why I don’t want to marry him.”

Ryan sighed. “You’re being unfair. What about the way Sean treats you now? He was the one who said he didn’t want to have a bachelor party. He wanted to spend it with you. He’s different now. You’ve changed him.”

I shook my head. “Only on the surface.”

“You are holding his past against him when he’s clearly changed. I’m your brother. I would never tell you marry someone else
if I thought he wasn’t the right guy for you.”

I didn’t have anything to say to that. “And I’m sure Mom will try to ruin the wedding tomorrow.”

“No, she won’t. She’s not coming. And if she does, I’ll take care of her. Don’t run out on Sean because of that. You could have rescheduled the wedding at any time. Sean always gave you the option.”

“I’ve made up my mind, Ryan.”

He looked at me, holding my gaze. “Scarlet, don’t do this. You’re making a mistake. Sean is an amazing guy. He loves you more than anything. I see it every day. Everything that makes you doubt him is in his past. We all have shit to hide. You’re just fortunate enough to see everything from the past ten years. He’s always been honest with you about who he was or what he was going to be. I know he loves you. He’ll be a great husband and father. Don’t throw this away because of your emotions. They’ll be gone tomorrow. You’re just getting cold feet.”

I held up my hand. “I’m tired of being hurt all the time. I want to find someone who loves me from the beginning, doesn’t see me as a friend, and gets it right the first time. Sean will just hurt me again like he always does. I can’t handle it anymore. If he breaks my heart again, I’ll never recover.”

“I’m begging you not to do this.”

I wiped my tears away and grabbed my bag. “Are you coming or not?”

He ran his fingers through his hair, the stress etched on his face. “I’ll follow you everywhere.”

“Get Janice.”

“Cortland will take care of her.” He grabbed the bags from my hand. “I’ll get the cab. You wait here.”

I sat back down and cried to myself, hating myself for what I was about to do. I was leaving Sean. Everyone would know the next morning and I would already be gone, on my way back to Seattle. I could get my belongings from the apartment before Sean could catch up to me. Then, I would disappear.