chapter thirteen
I walk around the hall and smile at all the people, saying hello to the town. I remember having my first dance with Em here. That’s where we got “our” song from. It was the first song we danced to. Of course, I’m not with Emily at the moment, no I have clingy attached to my side and a death grip on my arm. But I remind myself exactly why I called Cameron up and why exactly I’m putting myself through this excruciating ordeal. I brought her here to make Em jealous, which I know sounds juvenile but I’ll do what I have to when it comes to her.
I scan the room for my baby but she’s no where to be seen. I walk over to a table that’s seating Kris and close enough to Chad to make him nuts, “Hey Kris.”
She looks at me, oddly sad, “Hi Justin.”
“This is my date, Cameron.”
“Hi.” She bubbles over. It’s the most obnoxious thing in the whole world. Sure, it’s cute in the beginning that she’s subscribes to the whole “blue skies and sunny days” theory of life, but sometimes you just want a person to tell you like it is.
Kris shakes Cameron’s hand carefully and smiles as best she can. Then I see Emily come in from the bathroom and come over to Kris. She sits down next to her and looks up at me way< too sweetly, “Hello Justin.”
I wrap my arm firmly around Cameron, “This is my date Cameron, Cameron this is my friend Emily.”
Em leans over and shakes her hand, “It’s really nice to meet you.”
“You too. Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
Emily frowns, “I don’t think so.”
Cameron starts pointing at Emily’s necklace for a second as I see a light bulb go off in her head, “Yes I do, you’re Emily Haywood. I have so many of your pieces it’s unbelievable. I’m only missing four pieces out of all the ones on the market.”
“I’m so glad you like them.”
“Justin, you never told me you knew Emily Haywood, especially when I begged you for a piece of her jewelry last Christmas.”
“It never occurred to me.” I grit out.
Cameron brushes past me and sits down next to Em, “Is there anywhere you know of that I could pick up the Elle bracelet?”
“Oh, they are all sold out. If you give me your number though I can call my company have them make you one.”
“Really!” Cameron squeals.
Emily smiles warmly, “Sure, one more won’t kill them.”
Okay, I brought Cameron here to make Em jealous, not bond with her. Why the hell does everything seem to come back and bite me in the ass?
“Jay, you could get a bracelet as well, Emily does men’s jewelry as well as women’s.”
Emily looks at me as anger and hurt is evident in her eyes. I try to hold my ground and not give any emotion away, “I have enough jewelry, but thanks.”
Em goes back to talking to Cameron and I stand there like the third wheel. Chad stops talking to whoever he was absorbed in and finally makes his way over to Emily, “Would you like something to drink baby?”
“No I’m good. Chad this is Cameron, Justin’s date.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Why does he seem overly happy to meet her?
Chad grins, “You and Justin been together long?”
Cameron reaches for my hand, “Yeah, about four years, on and off.”
“Good for you. Emily and I are getting married.” He says, lovingly pulling her towards him. Jackass.
“Oh that’s so great. When are you getting married?”
“Well I had wanted to get married in November but Em-
Emily interrupts Chad, “We are getting married in November.”
My jaw drops along with Chad’s, though he thrilled, as apposed to me who is steaming right about now.
“We haven’t done any planning but we will soon.” She finishes.
Cameron’s eyes light up, “If you need a planner, I know several people who I could recommend and are fabulous.”
Em shakes her head, “No planner, just us in the local chapel and our parents.”
I feel my tie starting to strangle me as Chad beams, “I wish you two the best of luck.”
Cameron smiles, “Thanks.”
“Em, you want to dance?”
Emily nods and takes Chad’s hand that he held out for her and make their way onto the dance floor.
Cameron starts to gush, “They are so cute together. I can’t believe you knew Emily Haywood and never told me.”
I have tuned her out though because Tim McGraw comes over the speakers in the hall. I feel a piece of my die inside as she dances with him.
Yea yea
Dancin' in the dark middle of the night
Takin' your heart and holdin' it tight
Emotional touch touchin' my skin
And asking you to do what you've been doin' all over again
Oh it's a beautiful thing don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
Better than I was, more than I am
And all of this happened by taking your hand
And who I am now is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together,
I'm stronger than ever
I'm happy and free
Oh it's a beautiful thing,
Don't think I can keep it all in
If you asked me why I've changed,
All I gotta do is say your sweet name
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh, it's your love
Baby, Oh oh, oh,
Oh it's a beautiful thing,
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you konw what it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under,
Oh it's your love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
________________________________________________________________________
I see Justin watch us until the song ends. I listen to Chad tell me how happy he is that I want a November wedding and humor him with talk of getting our parents together to get everything on paper. My heart is broken and my chest aches as Tim McGraw came on and I had to slow dance to it with the wrong person. I finally put my hand to my head and turn to Chad, “I’m not feeling all that well, do you think you could take me home?”
He puts his hand on the small of my back, “Of course honey. Just let me get your coat for you.”
Chad goes to retrieve my coat and I lean against the closest wall. Kris comes over to me after handing Chad my jacket, “Are you going to be okay?”
“No.” I say, smiling through the pain.
Kris nods taking my hand as Chad comes back and hands me my jacket, “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I murmur.
We got in the car and the only one who spoke at all was Chad going on and on about November. I just hide the severe pain I’m in and nod every once in a while. Chad drops Kris off as she hugs me from behind really tight. I kiss her hand as she gets out of the car and waves sympathetically towards me and goes inside her house. Chad then drove us to my house. I unlock the door and go inside. Chad tosses the keys on the counter and hands me a glass of orange juice and some advil, “Take these.”
I pop them in my mouth and take a sip from the glass. I put it in the sink and let Chad pull me upstairs to bed.
________________________________________________________________________
I wake up the next morning to a empty bed, which I wasn’t about to complain about. If I had to listen to one more thing about the wedding I swear I was going to lose it. I lay back against the pillows as a few tears trickle down my cheeks. Whether bombarding myself with work is a good or bad thing, I do have to leave for California this afternoon which will get me far away from Justin. I understand him telling me that he wanted to be with someone else, but did he have to parade her around like that? Like the perfect girlfriend, one who doesn’t want a commitment or a label as to what they are. Or maybe he’s willing to give her the girlfriend status that I don’t measure up to.
I wipe away my tears and get dressed, pulling my packed suitcase out of the closet and wheeling it downstairs to put in the car. After I’m sure I have everything I need to leave, I pick up the phone and dial Kris’s number. After a few rings she picks up, “Hey you.”
“Hey. I’m leaving and I just wanted to call and tell you.”
Kris searches for the right words to say, but really, there aren’t enough words in existence to cure the hurt, “Maybe a trip away is a good thing. Think of it as a mental health break.”
“Kris, I can’t stay in this house anymore, so I’m looking at real estate while I’m out there.”
“What? You’re moving?”
“I’m trying.”
“But what about me?” Kris says sadly.
“I’ll still visit, but I just can’t stay in Memphis any more.”
“I understand.”
I smile although I know she can’t see me do it, “I knew you would. It’s not the end, I just can concentrate on work more and be productive instead of sitting at home and mourning my loss.”
“Have a good trip, we’ll talk more when you get back.”
“Okay Kris, love you. Take good care of Abbey.”
Kris laughs, “I love you too. Abbey will be fine and don’t forget about me.”
“I could never do that. Who could I call at two in the morning to discuss the drama in my life?”
“No one. I’ll see you.” Kristen says.
“Bye.”
I hang up the phone and grab my keys and head to the airport. It’s actually nice because the company pays for the flight so I get to ride first class. After my bags were checked by security, I boarded the plane and the flight attendant showed me to my seat. I look through my purse for my ipod when someone sits down in the seat next to me. I find my ipod and sit up coming face to face with Justin.
My mind is going a mile a minute, “What the fuck?”
“Now now, should we use that kind of language on a plane with other people.”
I glare at him as the pain resumes in my heart, “What are you doing here?”
Justin gives me a condescending smile, “Cameron wants one of your pieces, so I told her I would fly out to California to pick her up one at the opening of the new store.”
“No.” I protest.
“Oh on the contrary, yes.”
I think this is what it feels like to hyperventilate, “How did you find out what flight I was on?”
Justin moves a piece of my hair behind my ear as I pull away from his clutches, “I have my way.”
“Shouldn’t you be with your girlfriend?” I spat.
“Shouldn’t you be with your fiancé?”
“I’m working, you are here solely to piss me off.” I point out.
“I’m doing what I was asked to do, so why don’t you just relax and enjoy the ride. After all, it will be a couple of hours before we reach LA.”
How can I relax with him parked right next to me? I pray to God he can’t hear my heart beating out of my chest. This is my punishment for n not telling Chad, I know it. Karma’s a bitch. Karma must be a man. Figures.
14