Chapter 31

The bridal shower did the trick. I had heard nothing from Mel or my mother since that night. It was bliss, not being bothered by either of them, and although the pain I was feeling showed no signs of going anywhere soon, it was made more bearable by the lack of contact with either of those two.

Word did reach me however, that she had decided against a hen night, supposedly trying to pass off the shower as having been her hen night to save embarrassment. She of course tried to get a little payback for the whole evening, in the form of the dress she selected for me to wear, which had been delivered to my work by courier a week before the wedding.

"She can't be bloody serious!" I sighed, looking in the mirror at the hideousness of it.

"Come on, let's see it." Evan called from the living room.

I walked around the corner and he immediately burst into laughter.

"You look like a fucking flamingo!" he exclaimed, practically rolling around on the sofa, laughing his ass off.

I winced as I caught sight of the near neon pink dress in the mirror above the sofa. The off-the-shoulder sleeves were puffy round cuffs, that fitted around my arms like arm bands, and the big, poofy bottom was made up of feathers over what looked like three hoop ring skirts.

"Well you'll be escorting this flamingo to the wedding." I said playfully with a cheeky smile, throwing myself down on the couch, and rolling my eyes as several hot pink feathers floated up in the air.

"If there's any of you left." He smirked picking a loose feather from the side of the dress and blowing it across the room.

"Oh don't worry, if I run out of feathers, I'll just go naked. It'll be Mel's fault anyway."

We exchanged looks, and I could tell that he was imagining Mel's reaction too, before we both dissolved into fits of laughter.

I continued to stay with Evan up to the wedding, I didn't want to be at home alone, over thinking everything and seeing the flashbacks of moments I spent with Sean in my house. The morning before the wedding, I had just gotten out of the shower, music blasting through the house as I tried to banish all thoughts from my head, when I caught sight of my phone screen flashing with an incoming call. I groaned as I saw the number of my parent's place on the display. Throwing the towel that I was drying my hair with, onto the table, I picked up the phone and slid my finger across the screen to answer the call.

"Yes mother." I said with as little energy that I could manage.

"It's not your mother." Came the deep voice of my father.

"Huh, well, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?" I replied, slumping down onto the chair and muting the music.

"Roxanne, could you manage to speak with a little less attitude." He snapped.

I pretended to think it through for a second before answering:

"Nope, could you just answer my question please, I have things to do."

"You do indeed, you need to get ready."

"What?" I sat upright, confusion and dread coursing through my veins.

"You are to be here this evening at five thirty sharp."

"Why would I be coming there tonight?" I asked, already dreading the answer and trying to think up a way out of it.

"It's Melody's rehearsal dinner, the whole family will be here, and so will Sean's. Everyone has to attend, yourself included, there's no way out of it Roxanne."

I rolled my eyes, cursing internally.

"What about if I have plans?"

It was worth the try, I attempted to keep the anger and resentment out of my voice as I addressed him.

"Friday night clubbing can wait. This is your sister's wedding, and after your behaviour as of late, I hope that you will strive to make things right this evening and apologise."

I couldn't stop the burst of cold laughter that exploded from me.

"I've got nothing to apologise for. You say I have to be there, fine, but that's all that anyone will get from me."

My father went to continue his tirade, but by then, my patience had gone and I disconnected the call, leaning back in my seat and rubbing my hands over my tired eyes and through my hair.

"So I just got off the phone with Ritchie, he has an opening in the VIP area tonight with free drinks from ten til midnight."

I looked up into Evan's bright and smiley face and shook my head.

"What's up?" He asked, taking a seat on the corner of the bed and slouching forwards, his hands hanging loosely over his knees.

"My father just called." I replied.

His eyebrows instantly rose and he let out a low whistle.

"That serious huh?" he asked.

He knew that my father only ever got involved if it was a huge drama somewhere along the lines. His call this time meant that there was definite hostility from my mother and sister. This dinner was going to be so very enjoyable. Not.

"Yeah, one more night of torture to add in." I sighed.

"What is it?"

"Mel's rehearsal dinner this evening." I spat the words out with added venom.

"Rehearsal dinner? Why does it need to be rehearsed?" He groaned, leaning backwards and rolling his eyes.

"Because everyone has to do it twice."

Evan cursed, jumping up and leaving the room, calling back over his shoulder.

"There better be booze!"

My parent's house was crammed when we arrived that evening. Caterers had been brought in and were wandering around carrying silver platters with hors d'oeuvres and champagne flutes. As I navigated my way through the crowd with Evan, I felt a shudder coursing through me. I knew that feeling, it was one I'd had before, caused by him. The one person that I was desperate to avoid and yet longing to see. He was here. I turned around and, as if in slow motion, Sean walked through a doorway, coming to a halt a few steps away. He looked sad, hurt, like everything that I had felt since we broke up. He turned his head, and that's when he saw me. I felt my breath catch as his eyes seemed to ignite and there was an instant change to his expression. The pain of a moment ago now being rapidly replaced by hope and passion. His eyes raked over my body, drinking in the sight of me, from my black stiletto heels, up over every curve, that was perfectly defined in the cream pencil dress I was wearing, lingering over my chest and then fixating on my face, which he hadn't seen for weeks now.

I began to panic as I saw him begin to make his way forwards, his destination was clear, as he aimed right at me. I felt my body humming as it longed to reunite with his. My heart danced in my chest, fluttering like a butterfly's wings and making me feel light headed, my skin burning with the intensity of his gaze.

"Evan, I can't." I managed to mutter in a pleading tone.

Before Evan could steer me away, the woman of the moment appeared from the living room, perfectly presentable in a powder blue peplum dress and nude strappy sandals. She quickly slid her arm through Sean's, pulling him to her side and walking towards his parents who they then engaged in conversation.

"Thank fuck for that." I sighed, snatching up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, and downing it fast.

"Let's get some food in you, before we have an issue on our hands tonight." Evan whispered as I grabbed another flute. He swept me under his arm and marched us through the crowd, finding a whole collection of food in the kitchen, to which we helped ourselves to. Staying clear of the guests and my family for as long as possible.

When it came time for dinner, myself and Evan left the kitchen, each of us clutching a glass of whiskey, as we took our seats together at the table. Mel's eyes narrowed as she spotted me disdain and judgement plastered across her face. My parents looked about ready to snatch the whiskey from my hands, but upon the sound of Sean's mother's voice, as she happily called my name, they seemed to think better of it, and let me pass to take my seat.

"Roxy, it's lovely to see you again!" Isabella smiled, reaching across the table to clasp my hand.

"It's a pleasure to see you again too." I replied, shaking her outstretched hand.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, and small talk, the dinner began to make its way towards us. I tuned out the majority of the wedding chatter. Keeping my attention absorbed on Evan, as we sneakily watched the sports channel on his phone, under the edge of the table. Every now and again though, Mel's smug and gloating voice carried through my invisible barrier, striking me in the heart as she joyfully spoke of the wedding tomorrow, making my fist clench with anger and sorrow, and an array of further emotions that I couldn't even begin to determine. Glancing up, I noticed Katarina, her gaze flitting from me to Sean and back again. Curiosity was clear on her face, and I wondered how much, if anything, she knew about what was going on. As Mel spoke up again, I saw Kat giving her a dirty look, not making any effort to hide her dislike towards her.

Thankfully my family and Sean's family were too busy talking to each other to pay much attention to me, I was able to disappear into the backdrop and participate very little to the proceedings. Even though I felt Sean's gaze on me for most of the night, he was unable to make any actual contact what with everyone else so close around him. By the time the meal was done I had taken in enough knowledge of the wedding plans to want to microwave my brain. I couldn't wait to get out of there, preferably without getting stopped by Sean before I could escape. If Mel saw us together, she'd go ballistic, and I didn't think that my heart could take the pain of having to keep my distance from him. Being this close had been torture as I craved him more and more with every passing second. Being so close to the man that I loved, and not being able to be with him, was screwing with my head.

I got up from the table, heading to the kitchen intending to grab another drink, when I heard footsteps behind me. I spun around, terrified that Sean had taken that risk. But it wasn't Sean who stood behind me. It was Mel.

"You haven't exactly been making an effort this evening." She said, crossing her arms, and glaring at me.

"No? Oh well, forgive me, but there's no strippers and cock shaped balloons to have fun with this time." I smiled with a half hearted shrug, pouring the whiskey into a glass and lifting it to my lips.

Her face reddened with fury at the memory of the evening. That moment alone had already made this evening worth it. Cancelling out nearly every down side, just to relive the one up I got on the bitch that stood in front of me.

"I wonder how Sean would feel if he knew about you dancing with those strippers." She grinned with evil delight at the threat.

I rolled my eyes, and continued to drink. I wouldn't put it past her to tell him I was practically screwing the stripper, just so that she had a way to break us apart entirely. I knew it was a risk, but the best way was to play that against her, make her think that it would serve no purpose.

"Well, you gotta do what you gotta do," Her face fell slightly and I knew it worked, that she now was questioning how much it was worth it.

"There's no need, he's marrying me, not you." She grinned, sitting on a bar stool at the counter.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, pouring another drink.

"To remind you how tomorrow is going to go."

"That's sweet of you, but I already know."

"Well you best keep in line, or you know what will happen."

I slammed the glass down on the bar, and stepped forwards, getting up in Mel's face as the anger began to course through me once more.

"I will keep my end of the deal. Like I said I would. But a word of warning, if you even think about going back on your word, I won't just give you a black eye next time."

Mel swallowed, clearly alarmed at my threat. I smiled with satisfaction and swept from the room, wanting more than anything to get out of here and go home. Dreading what tomorrow would bring, and how I would be able to watch as the man I love promises to love my cold hearted bitch of a sister.