Lynda turned and started to walk back into the building. I rolled my eyes and then followed behind her.
For the first time since I’d started dating her, I felt sick to my stomach at the idea of having to go home with her.
We got back into the reception hall, and I saw Jeff and Gunner both eating cheeseburgers. When I let out a laugh, Lynda turned around.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I’m gonna walk over and talk to Jeff and Gunner for a bit.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to run to the ladies room. Be back in a few minutes.”
I nodded my head and walked away.
If I’m lucky she’ll get lost.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
HEATHER
I splashed some cold water on my face and forced myself not to cry. Fucking Lynda. What was Josh about to say? Damn it. I needed to find a way to talk to him, and I needed to do it without that bitch seeing. Maybe I could have Brian keep her occupied. I was doing him a favor by letting him escort me to the wedding. His father worked with Ari’s and kept getting on him about not having a date for the wedding. Little did his dad know, Brian wanted to keep his real relationship a secret.
I looked up at myself in the mirror and let out a long, loud sigh. Christ, I look like shit.
Just then, I heard someone come into the bathroom. When I turned to grab some towels, I came face to face with Lynda.
“Well, fancy seeing you again so soon!” Lynda said in her chipper fake-ass voice.
Ugh. I dislike this girl very much.
“Hey Lynda, I was just freshening up. I’ve got to get back to Brian. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Oh yeah, sure. Hey, did Josh tell you our good news?”
I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to look at her.
“Um, no, I guess he didn’t.”
“Oh well, we really haven’t told anyone. We’ve been talking about marriage.”
I felt sick to my stomach. All I wanted to do was run into a stall and throw up.
“He asked you to marry him?” I said, a little too shocked.
“Yes…well not officially with the ring and all, but yeah, we pretty much have started talking and planning it. I’m beyond the moon.”
“Don’t you think y’all should date a little longer before you talk about something like marriage?”
Lynda just laughed. “Gesh, Heather, you sound like my parents. Don’t get all elementary school teacher on me. Josh and I are great together, and the sex is pretty fucking awesome.”
Oh god.
“I need to go, Lynda. I’m sure Ari and Jeff are planning on leaving soon. It was a pleasure talking to you.”
I turned and walked out of the bathroom. I headed back over to where Ellie and Ari were talking to Jeff, Gunner, and Josh. Josh looked up at me, and his smile faded. I was sure I looked awful and I felt even worse.
Ellie took one look at me and stopped talking.
“Heather, are you okay?”
“Actually, I’m not doing so well. I think I’m going to head home. Ari and Jeff, congratulations, y’all, I love you both, and I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon.”
I hugged Ari and Jeff, and then Gunner and Ellie. I looked at Josh, who looked confused as hell. I saw him look behind me, and I guessed the troll bitch was walking up.
“Hey baby, miss me?” she said as she walked past me up to Josh.
She went to kiss him, but he turned his head to the side, so she kissed his cheek instead. He never took his eyes off of me. I was so confused. He was looking at me like he wanted to tell me something, but he held Lynda in his arms.
“Okay, well, I’m going to go find Brian and get him to walk me out.”
“I can walk you out,” Josh said.
“No, Josh, it’s best if you let her date walk her out. Don’t you agree, Heather?”
I couldn’t even answer her. I turned around and walked away.
My heart was beating a mile a minute by the time I found Brian. I asked him to walk me to my car. By the time I got in, he was a little concerned, but I assured him I was okay. I drove about two blocks before I pulled over and cried my eyes out.
He’s going to marry her? I almost couldn’t believe it. The way he was looking at me tonight was the exact same way he had looked at me the day I begged him to make love to me at Ari and Jeff’s house. His eyes looked like they were filled with.
No, I’m dreaming again. It was so obvious that Josh had moved on.
“You lost me…”
The moment I’d slept with Jerry I’d ruined any chance with Josh. I lost him.
Just then, my cell phone rang. I pulled it out of my purse and looked at the caller ID.
Josh.
My hands started shaking. Should I answer it? I hit ignore and threw my phone back in my purse. As I put my head on the steering wheel, I started to cry even harder.
He’s getting married.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
ARI
Thank God it was time to go. If I had to talk to another person and say thank you, I was going to go off on someone.
I looked over at Jeff while he shook someone else’s hand, giving him his fake-ass smile. I let out a little laugh. I looked over to my right and saw Emma and Grace walking up. I started to head toward them when Lynda stepped in front of me.
“Before ya say goodnight to Grams, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?”
No, bitch.
“I can try.”
“Can you apologize to Heather for me?”
I felt the heat rushing into my face. I’ll kill this girl if she hurt Heather.
“For what?”
“Well, I’m not sure what happened, but I think Josh must have upset her. When they came back from McDonald’s, she was clearly hurt when they were walking in. Then, when I ran into her in the bathroom, she was crying. I know Josh can be a bit of an ass at times, and I know they’ve had a different kind of friendship.”
“Um, okay. Well I’m sure Heather will be fine. Thanks for your concern. I’ll let her know what you said the next time I talk to her.”
Just then, Emma and Grace walked up. Emma hugged Lynda and talked to her while Grace gave me her congratulations.
I kept looking over at Lynda. There was something about the bitch I didn’t trust. Heather seemed fine when she brought me my cheeseburger, but was clearly upset after running in to Lynda in the bathroom. I don’t trust that bitch as far as I can throw her skinny ass.
Jeff and I said good-bye to, I swore all 150 people at the wedding.
We made our way out to his truck, and after my mother and Grace helped me to get my dress inside the truck we took off.
“So, where are we going, Mr. Johnson?” I asked as I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.
“The W.”
“Oh wow, the W and Paris? I do believe you are going to start off this marriage by spoiling me.”
“That is my every intention, Mrs. Johnson.” Jeff said with a smile.
***
After we got to the hotel and checked in, we were standing outside our room. Jeff had told the bellhop to just leave the bags, and he would bring them in later.
Standing at the door of our room, Jeff turned toward me and cupped my face with his hands.
“I will always do whatever I can to make you and our baby happy. Do you believe me, Ari?”
My heart was in my throat. How can he say something so simple and make me all crazy?
“Yes, I believe you, Jeff.”
Reaching down, he scooped me up into his arms as he tried to open the door and hold on to me. I started to laugh when I felt he was losing his grip on me.
“Shit! This dress is making you slip.”
“The dress, huh? You haven’t been working out that much lately. Maybe you’re losing your brute strength,” I said with a giggle.