Chapter 6

The sudden silence in the room was deafening. I couldn't take my eyes off of Sean, as my brain tried to process the sight of him sitting here in my parents' house. My sister's arm entwined with his, her hand clutching his knee. Her hand, which was sporting a large glittering diamond ring sat on her finger. I felt my stomach flop, I didn't even register that my mother had begun talking again.

"Oh and this, Sean, is Evan Daniels." I felt Evan nudge me slightly as he acknowledged my mother's words, snapping me out of my frozen state as she continued: "You'll find that he and Roxanne are inseparable."

Sean narrowed his eyes a touch, directing his gaze at me. "Are you two dating?" He asked. His voice was low and it sounded like he was trying hard to keep it steady, but there was a hint of something like anger there.

Evan wrapped his arms around my waist from behind pulling me against him in a tight embrace. I knew instantly what he was trying to do but I didn't care as I finally felt some kind of comfort for the first time since I'd walked into this room tonight. I was safe, Evan was here.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Evan's tone was mocking and I felt myself smile, knowing the smirk he was giving Sean right now.

"No honey. They aren't a couple, not these days anyway." Mel snuggled against Sean as she winked in my direction.

Although I and Mel weren't close, there was no hostility there between us, just the acknowledgement that we aren't alike and that we, therefore, live different lives, ones that in general do not cross. Apart from occasions like tonight.

My mother made a slight sound of disapproval while my father shifted awkwardly. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I knew she was only teasing but she just opened another can of worms for my mother to use against me.

"They never were a couple actually, sadly Roxanne doesn't know a good thing when she sees one."

"Well true they weren't an official couple but they had quite the-" Melody began.

As I silently pleaded with her to shut up I noticed Sean, out of the corner of my eye, watching me intently. I fought against the desire to look back at him, keeping my gaze fixed on the bar in the corner, longing to just head on over for a drink. Before I could move I felt Evan tighten his arms around me slightly. Just like him, he'd managed to anticipate my move and was stopping me, knowing just what drama would ensue if I were to act on my impulse.

"Now now Melody, Sean doesn't wish to hear the ins and outs of your sisters... Personal life." She added emphasis on the last two words. Her tone cold and firm before instantly brightening as she continued. "Why don't we go on into the kitchen, darling. I've picked up some wonderful bridal magazines, I and you can go through them while your father does dinner."

Melody looked in my direction as she rose from her chair to stand next to our mother. She looked awkward, nervous even at my mother's reluctance to invite me along. Something, for once, I was grateful for. My mother wrapped an arm around my sister steering her towards the doorway, pausing on the way out to speak to Sean.

"I'm sure Evan will gladly keep you company, dear. You men can talk, can't have you seeing anything dress related now can we." Her familiar theatrical laugh rang out as she disappeared around the corner.

The second she was gone Evan whispered into my ear, so low it was almost inaudible. "You good?"

"Yup, just let me at the bar," I muttered.

Evan chuckled and released me. I instantly headed in the opposite direction to the rest of my family, making my way to the trusty bar in the corner and grabbing the whiskey bottle.

"Shouldn't you be going with your mother and sister?" Sean asked looking at me awkwardly. A burst of laughter erupted from me as I poured an extra-large glass of whiskey.

"You're kidding, right? Did you hear me asked me to go with them?" Pouring out another glass I handed it to Evan, "Nope, I'd be interrupting the special mother and daughter time."

I lifted the glass to my lips, taking a large drink from it. I felt some of the shock I'd been feeling since walking into the room, subside a little. I only met this guy once, I shouldn't even care about this. Sure it's a strange coincidence but why does it bother me so much?

My mind travelled once again, back to the night I met him. I felt that strange flutter in my stomach, the one that I have only felt since meeting Sean. That slight tingle that flows through me when his eyes are on me. I remembered that hunger and longing I had to touch him and to kiss him. And when I looked straight at him it all hit me full force once more, just like that first night. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. But I can't, he's not mine...

He, just like my parents, prefers Mel. He chose her. He belongs to her. With that thought I downed the last of the drink, feeling Evan watching me closely. He knows what happened, he knows how I've been since meeting Sean. He also knows that this situation is hurting me more than I am showing.

Slamming the glass back down I began pouring another. "So, congratulations." I lifted the glass in a slight toast, trying to keep the shake of sadness and anger out of my voice.

At Sean's reaction, I was sure I hadn't managed it completed successfully. "Roxy, I didn't know, how could I?" Sean spoke up, rising from the sofa and walking towards the bar. I could hear the sincerity in his voice but it was no consolation.

I knew it wasn't his fault, I had no right to be pissed with him. It's not like we did anything, we danced, he didn't lead me on but I felt something. For the first time in my life, I felt something more there with a guy. I had hoped he felt the same. Hoped that the next time we saw each other something more might happen. I could have taken the chance to get to know him, maybe ask him out properly.

I couldn't hold back the burn that was building in my throat and stinging at my eyes. Somehow it hurt me that he had chosen her, it hurt even more than the pain my parents' cause by choosing her. I won't let him see just how much though.

"I was just as shocked as you when you walked through that door, I just want-" Before he could continue my father's voice came from the doorway, in perfect timing for him to witness me throwing back my drink.

"Roxanne, what are you doing? That is hardly appropriate behaviour when there are guests here."

"I'm just being me, living up to expectations." I smiled as I tilted the empty glass towards him.

"As difficult as always, why can't you just be more like your sister?" My father sighed, shaking his head slightly before looking towards Sean. "I apologise for her attitude Son, you're lucky you picked the right daughter." He laughed.

I felt the familiar stab of hurt at his words but this time it hit harder in my already battered state. I saw Sean's expression of confusion at the way he had spoken about me.

"Dinners ready, the girls have hidden the wedding magazines so it's safe for us to go in now." He smiled broadly as he waited for Sean to walk towards him. "Evan, could you grab a bottle of wine please?"

"Sure." Evan rose from the sofa, heading towards the wine rack in the other corner.

"Roxanne, I think it may be best if you stick to water this evening." My father narrowed his eyes at me.

"I'm good," I replied pushing the blossoming hurt inside of me down, hidden underneath my thick layer of stubbornness. Instead, I grabbed the whiskey bottle and made my way right past him and Sean, bracing myself for another painful few hours.

The smell of roast beef drifted through the hall, it smelled delicious and in normal circumstances would make my mouth water. But tonight, it simply did not affect. Any ounce of hunger had evaporated earlier.

When I entered the kitchen my mother looked up, the second she saw the whiskey bottle clutched in my hand. Her face instantly pressed into a determined scowl. Before she could say anything my father, Evan and Sean all entered the room. So instead, she shuffled back into her seat and indicated everyone else to take their places at the table.

I expected my parents to sit in their usual seats at each end of the table, something they always did when we had guests for dinner. Not including Evan, as he is basically family by now. But instead, my mother and Mel remained sitting on one side of the table and my father sat at the end next to Mel.

Just as I was about to take a seat at the other end Evan stepped in front of me and sat down. I glared at him, realising I'd now be forced to endure this dinner with Sean sitting right beside me. Evan gave me a pointed look, then nodded towards the only remaining seat. It was clear he was trying to force a conversation between us. I knew he had good intentions but right now, it was just too much.

Shaking my head slightly I sunk into the seat immediately catching the warm, woody, seductive scent of his cologne. My parents and Melody were already tucking into their dinner. Discussing colours, themes and wedding locations among themselves. I rolled my eyes and filled a new glass from the bottle.

"I was wondering if you could help me with some of the planning Roxy?" Melody spoke up. "The company you work for is one of the best after all and having some help from my little sister would be nice." She smiled sweetly at me before looking at the nearly empty glass in my hand, her expression saddening slightly.

I didn't even know what to say. The thought of planning her wedding to Sean felt like I'd just swallowed an ice pick but I need not have worried as barely a second passed before my mother cut in.

"Oh sweetheart, we can do better than that. You will get the best, nothing less."

Melody gave me a small shrug before continuing talking with our parents. Reaching once more for the bottle, I intended to get so drunk at this point that I couldn't even witness the rest of the evening. I didn't even care that anyone would have to see me in that state but before I could reach the bottle Sean's hand closed over my own.

The moment his skin made contact with mine I felt a shockwave run through me. I glanced to the side, taking in the beautifully handsome face that had haunted me day and night since we met. He was looking at me sympathetically, he gave a small shake of his head. I understood what he was asking of me and for some reason, my stubbornness subsided as I stopped reaching forward.

Realising that we were practically holding hands in the same room as his fiancee. I quickly pulled my hand away, missing the contact the second we parted. Swallowing hard I continued to pick at my dinner, trying to tune out the wedding conversation as I savoured the remaining tingle across my hand from his touch and his deliciously seductive scent.

The rest of the dinner passed with continuous wedding talk. I was surprised that there was no grand questioning of Sean, time to learn everything about their future son in law. That was until I remembered that he was here before I was. I probably missed all that already.

Once dessert was finished, we all filed back into the living room. The exhaustion of making it through dinner relatively sober and without allowing my emotions to show was taking its toll on me. Evan took a seat on the large oversized armchair and pulled me into his lap. I sat back, leaning into his warm, comforting embrace.

This was one of the many reasons I love Evan. He's my best friend, he's always there for me, he knows me inside out. And at times like right now he knows just what I need and takes care of me. I wanted more than anything to just go home but I knew that wasn't an option yet. So instead I made myself comfortable snuggling closer to Evan and laying my head on his chest.

"You okay?" He whispered to me tightening his arm on me slightly.

"Yeah, I'm good," I muttered back. I could tell he knew I was lying. He let out a small sigh and gave me an affectionate kiss on the head.

There was a momentary silence as my parents and Melody sipped their coffee, the longer I sat there the more my curiosity peaked. The night in the club, he certainly wasn't acting the way a happily engaged man would act. If his phone hadn't ruined that moment, I'm almost certain we would have kissed.

Even this evening, there's been something off about them. While Melody has been quick to touch him and cuddle beside him, he's been strangely distant. I haven't seen him lay a finger on her, not to mention the lack of love and adoration in his eyes that you would usually see on a man who is looking at the woman of his dreams. The look I've seen many times in my line of work. Perhaps it was wishful thinking or perhaps there's something else.

"So how long have you two known each other?" I spoke up breaking the silence.

My parents looked slightly taken aback at my question. Almost as if they'd forgotten my presence, which I wouldn't have been surprised if they did. Melody smiled brightly, turning to face me, Sean looked up, seemingly confused by my interest after this evening.

"Three years, we work in the same building actually."

So he's a lawyer too, no wonder my parents are so thrilled with the sudden news that she's getting married. Their daughter is fulfilling their dream, a replica marriage of theirs.

"When did you two get together? Last I knew you were still single."

Melody shifted awkwardly before composing herself and replying. "Not long actually. We've only been dating for four months."

"Wow, are you pregnant?" Evan laughed at my outburst while my mother spluttered as she choked on her coffee, Melody's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Of course not!"

"Whoa, no nothing like that!" Sean spoke up, he looked almost panicked as he spoke them directly to me.

"Roxanne! Apologise immediately," my mother snapped.

"For asking a question?" I shrugged.

"For presuming such a thing."

"Oh for fuck sake, mom. It's the twenty-first century, it happens."

"You can't blame her for asking, it's pretty sudden." Evan chimed in.

"Love can be sudden, perhaps Roxanne might learn that if she tried to settle down." My mother snapped.

"Roxy won't settle down, not when she's too busy throwing herself at any random guy she meets." Melody spat her words with venom.

I couldn't help be taken aback at first, hearing that come from her I didn't expect it. She had never really shown the same hostility as my parents. I guess she was thinking it through. The room went deadly silent, even Melody was shocked by her words. Sean looked at her with pure fury.

"What the hell, Melody?" He shouted. "How could you talk to your sister like that?"

Melody's surprise was clear, she leant back distancing from him and his anger. "You don't know what she's like," She replied stubbornly.

Before Sean had the chance to reply I stood up, Evan moving to stand with me. "You know what, it doesn't even matter. I already know what you guys see when you look at me. I guess I shouldn't disappoint you further. Time to get out of here and go find 'a random guy' to throw myself at."

As I turned to leave the room I caught sight of Sean, there was a strange look on his face at my response. But right now... I didn't care enough to figure it out, instead, I striding off through the house. Evan's stern voice with his angry words directed at my family followed after me.

****************

That night, I lay in my bed unable to sleep, the day's events swirling through my head. After the disastrous ending to the family dinner, Evan had brought me home, where we sat together huddled on the sofa, watching movies in silence. I didn't want to talk, didn't want to go out, didn't want to do anything. He knew that and just sat with me giving me the support that I only ever got from my best friend.

As it got late I sent him home, he was reluctant to leave at first saying he'd stay with me. But I managed to convince him that he should go home, saying I was going to just curl up in bed and go to sleep. Which is something I've now been attempting for two hours. The clock on my bedside table had just hit quarter past one when my phone began buzzing like crazy. Figuring it was Evan checking up on me I reached out to pick it up, not even bothering to check the caller ID.

"Ev, I'm fine I-"

"Roxy?" The voice on the other end took me by surprise.

"Sean? What do you want? How did you get my number?" I reeled off the questions, bolting upright in bed.

"I took it from Mel's phone, I had to talk to you."

"What about?" There was a small silence, where his breathing echoed down the phone.

"Please, tell me you didn't go out tonight." His voice was almost pleading.

"What's it to you, Sean? It doesn't matter what I do."

"It matters to me, Roxy, tell me the truth."

"I didn't go out. I stayed in with Evan, even went to bed early."

"Is Evan with you?" He asked, sounding tense.

"No." I heard him let out a sigh.

"Good."

"Sorry? What is that-"

"Meet me tomorrow? please, I need to talk to you." He cut me off, his words coming in a hurry. I paused, unsure what today when he asked again. "Please?"

"Fine," I sighed. "Meadow Park, Two O'clock."

"I'll be there. Night, Roxy."

"Night, Sean."