Chapter 13

Panic began flooding through my veins as I stared ahead at the screen.

"Why is she skyping you?" I asked, pulling the sheets around my body and scrambling to the edge of the bed.

"How am I supposed to know?" He pushed his fingers through his hair, looking around the room.

"Quick, hide in the bathroom."

He waved his hand in the direction of the en-suite, hurrying towards the bed to tidy the sheets.

"Are you fucking crazy? Don't answer it!" My voice came out half yelling, half pleading.

"Yeah, because Mel is really the type to just give up." He spat her name out with venom.

It was clear that he wasn't just stressing, he was pissed, but he had a point. I knew my sister, and there was no way in hell that she wouldn't keep trying. Especially with her fiance. Our eyes locked, and there was a pleading look under the golden surface.

"Fine," I muttered, pulling one of the sheets around me and hurrying towards the bathroom, the sound of him tidying the bed followed me as I slipped inside.

I was about to close the door when I heard the ringing stop and Mel's voice. I froze in place, the door still ajar. My breathing was still slightly erratic, my head swimming with all sorts of thoughts and worries. Curiosity at what Mel wanted won out as I pressed myself against the door, listening through the gap.

"Why haven't you answered your phone?" I knew that tone, it was the one she adopted when she was scolding me for doing something that she deemed inappropriate.

"What are you on about? My phone hasn't rung all morning."

I heard more shuffling, which I assumed was Sean searching for his phone.

"I have called you at least six times. Why haven't you got your phone with you? You pretty much always have it glued to your hand."

"Give it a rest Mel. What's so urgent anyway?"

"We need to get moving with the wedding plans. There's so much to do already. There's the venue, the cake, the dress, so much stuff. I should probably ask Rox to help me put together a list for the planner." Her voice trailed off in thought. I felt my blood simmering, anger and hurt bubbling up inside of me, I didn't even realise that I was gripping the door handle. My knuckles were white against the crystal handle.

"You can't do that!" Sean snapped in response.

"Why not? She's a party planner, this is her job, besides, I'm her sister. She's meant to help."

I heard a sigh and then Sean's voice picked up once more.

"But you didn't hire her, so discuss it with the planner that you did hire. Not that it matters anyway."

"Of course it matters, I want this wedding to be perfect. Not only our families will be there, but most of our colleagues, and fri-"

"Just how big are you intending on this wedding being?" The irritation was back in his tone. I could practically see his expression in my mind.

"A wedding should be big, it's a special day."

"Yeah, for most people. We aren't most people, not on this day anyway. This isn't a real marriage Mel, you have got to stop making such a huge deal out of it."

A moment's silence greeted the end of his words. It was one that I could tell was filled with tension. When Mel spoke again, her tone was one of measured calm, with an edge of sweetness.

"I was hoping to check out a couple of venues this afternoon. I can be there in half an hour?"

"I can't today, I've got some stuff to take care of. Why don't you go ahead without me? Just pick wherever you want."

"How will that look, the groom not even bothering to show up, not giving his opinion too? Come on make some effort Sean, please?"

"Why don't you just take someone else with you, say I'm caught up at work, and that we will discuss it together."

"You can't just ignore all of the arrangements, we need to keep up appearances at least." I heard Mel mutter something that I couldn't quite catch, under her breath, before continuing. "Maybe I'll call Roxy, see if she can take me to see a few places. I'll just tell her that it's to get some ideas before we go together."

Making a mental note to ignore my phone for the remainder of the day, I tore myself away from the door, walking to the sink on the opposite side of the room. I looked into the mirror, my eyes were watery, glistening in the light from the window, I hadn't realised how close to tears I was at that moment, but there was no way I was going to be that girl. I wasn't about to hide out in the bathroom crying my eyes out. I straightened up, shook my hair and fluffed it up with my fingers, before filling the sink with water and splashing some on my face. I couldn't hear any voices anymore and wondered if the call was finished. I continued to freshen up as quietly as I could.

"Roxy?" Sean called through the door.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice level and calm.

"Be right out."

I heard his retreating footsteps, and grabbed the mouthwash from the shelf near the sink, I rinsed my mouth and stepped back, taking a look at myself in the mirror. I was pleased to see the vulnerability from moments ago was now gone. Replaced by the mask I so often wore. I would not be seen as a weak, pathetic girl. As much as I was a wreck inside, confused, conflicted, upset, angry... you name it, I felt it. But I wouldn't walk out there to face him with tears rolling down my cheeks.

When I left the bathroom, Sean was sitting on the edge of the bed, he was half-dressed, shirtless still, but had pulled on a pair of light jeans that were hanging low on his hips. The sight was enough to wipe all thoughts from my head and have me climb back on top of him and fall into the bed once again. He seemed to read something in my face as he smirked at me. I couldn't let myself go there, not now. Before I could reach the bed, I bent to gather my clothes and began pulling them on.

"Where's the fire?" He asked, standing up and looking at me curiously.

"I shouldn't be here."

"Why not?"

I stopped what I was doing, looking up at him with shock.

"Are you serious? My sister is your fiance. Even if that had slipped out of my mind whilst we were," I waved my hand in the direction of the bed, my mouth refusing to form the words of what I had just been doing with the man engaged to my sister. "I just got a brilliant reminder, with her video calling whilst I was in your bed." My voice had risen to a near shout, the emotions bubbling up to the surface. I shook my head and looked away. Sean seemed to know what I was feeling as he stepped up to me, placing his hands on my shoulders and turning me to face him.

"She's not my fiance. Not really. There's no need to take off."

His golden eyes found mine and I felt my resolve melting away. I didn't want to go, I just wanted to feel his lips on mine again and replay last night. But I shook myself and started for the door.

"But she wants you to be."

He followed after me, catching up as I reached the front door.

"I can't help that, but there's nothing there with her, not for me. Not like with you."

I knew he was telling the truth, but the whole situation was too much for me to get my head around at that moment. As much as this was one-sided between them, me being with him would still hurt Mel if she found out. I needed some space. His eyes roamed my face as he tried to read what I was feeling, and about to say. I managed a small smile and cupped his cheek. He brushed his fingers over the back of my hand in response as I closed the gap between us and kissed him softly on the lips. It was hard to pull away as every bone in my body sought to deepen the kiss, but I pulled back and before he had a chance to say anything, I retreated out the door.

By the time I got home, my brain was tired of the confusion and frustration of the situation. I threw myself down on the sofa and picked up my phone. Sure enough, there was a missed call from Mel. Deleting the notification, I pulled up the number of the one person that I needed right now, and after a quick text and a short wait, the front door opened and closed, and there he was. He lifted my legs from the couch, and sat down next to me, letting them fall back across his lap.

"Spill it Rox," Evan said as he patted my shin.

I groaned and planted a cushion over my face.

"Why is he fucking engaged?" I moaned into the cushion. "And why to her?"

Silence greeted me, as the cushion was removed from my fingers and Evan pulled me into a seated position to face him.

"Because he's an idiot?"

I sighed and filled him in on everything, the full story about the arrangement, the great night together, and nearly getting caught by Mel. When he was finally up to date with the situation, he leant back against the cushions and blew out a sigh that turned into a whistle.

"Well, you always did have a knack for trouble."

I swatted him across the chest with a cushion and he erupted in laughter, leaning across and swiping me up into his arms, holding me tight to his chest.

"So if he's marrying her, what are you going to do?"