Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
I watch him walk away to the other side of the room, and I look around at the beautiful room and then I see a familiar figure talking with a group of men.
The blood drains from my face.
Dylan.
What the fuck is he doing here?
He catches sight of me at exactly the same time, and his face lights up in surprise, he makes his way over.
“Hi, baby,” he gushes as he kisses me softly on the lips. He's wearing a tux.
“What, what….. are you doing here?” I stammer.
“I’m a groomsman, I knew you had a family thing on, I can’t believe it’s the same wedding as mine.”
Oh.
My.
God.
I awkwardly fake a laugh.
“You look breathtaking.” He puts his arm around me and kisses my temple, “I just got your text, I missed you today too,” he whispers in my ear.
“Dylan…”
Oh no.
“Who's this?” Mary asks.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I look between them.
This can’t be happening.
“This is Dylan. Dylan this is Mary.”
She fakes a smile as she looks him up and down, she knows something is up by our familiar greeting.
Please earth, swallow me up.
Dylan smiles proudly over at me, and I feel the blood start to drain out of my face.
“You're in the bridal party?” I ask.
“Sure am.”
“How do you know the groom?” I squeak as I try to think of an escape plan.
“We went to the Police Academy together, been best of friends ever since. What’s your connection?”
I hesitate,
“Dylan,” I hear a familiar voice yell with a laugh.
“Rodney,” Dylan smiles, he and Rodney shake hands.
Oh fuck, it gets worse, they know each other. This can't be happening.
“This is my mother, Mary, and I see you've met my girlfriend, Zoe,” Rodney smiles as he puts his arm around me.
Dylan's face falls as he looks between the two of us.
“I'm not your girlfriend, Rodney,” I say uncomfortably as I step out of his grip. “We’re friends, we're just friends,” I stammer in a panic.
Dylan takes a step back as if hit by a physical blow, his eyes flick between the two of us. “So…. you are here together on a date then?” he asks.
“Just as friends,” I snap.
“Now, now,” Rodney smiles. “Zoe and I dated for six years and we're just getting back together. Aren't we, Zoe?” He puts his hand around my waist, I inwardly die a little,
Dylan tips his head back and drains his glass. “Excuse me,” he says before rushing out of the room. I stare after him as my heart races in my chest.
“Rodney,” someone calls from behind us, Rodney turns and shakes his hand, and my eyes go to Mary.
“This isn't how it looks.” I whisper.
She raises an unimpressed eyebrow, “How do you think it looks, Zoe?”
My eyes dart to the door to where Dylan has disappeared, I need to speak to him. “Excuse me,” I say.
I rush out and look around, it's just on dusk and getting dark.
My heart is hammering hard in my chest.
Where is he?
I walk through the car park over to a Gazebo.
I catch sight of him in the garden staring out over the pond, and I tentatively walk over.
“Dill?” I say softly, “I can explain.”
“Don't.”
“He's my ex, and I was going to tell him tonight that we're not getting back together and it's just…… complicated.”
“Okay.” He looks straight ahead, cold and hard, seemingly unaffected.
“What do you mean, okay?” I ask.
“It's fine, Zoe, go back to your date.”
“What do you mean?” I stammer as I begin to panic. “I'm with you. I just.”
“Have you told him that?”
“I haven't had a chance to yet, his mother was in the car.”
“Well…. that just sounds like a great family date, doesn't it?” He smiles sarcastically, “See you around, yeah?” He walks back into the reception area.
“Dylan,” I call, “Can we talk about this?”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Dylan.”
He disappears into the function center without another word.
I put my head into my hands, “Oh my god.”
I walk back to the ballroom to see Dylan sitting alone at the bridal table and my heart breaks. I can’t talk to him up there and I don’t want him to have to watch me all night while I sit at a table with Rodney and his mother.
What do I do……? What do I do……?
I’m going to leave, I have to. It’s the only way.
I weave through the crowd and up to Rodney, “Can I speak to you for a moment please?”
“I’m talking.” He frowns, annoyed at my interruption.
“Now,” I whisper angrily. Fucks sake don’t give me your crap Rodney, you asshole.
He follows me outside, and I turn to face him. “I’m leaving.”
He screws up his face. “What?”
“I’m sorry, I just don’t feel the same way about you as I used to.”
He stares at me.
“And I shouldn’t have come here tonight, but I wanted to end it as friends.”
“Has Dylan got anything to do with this?”