“You look beautiful as always,” I tell her.
“I’m gonna get this guy a beer,” my brother announces stealing Enzo away and leaving me on my own with this bitch.
“Hurry back. I miss you already,” she coos after him.
I smile and try to think of something nice to say to her. “The décor is beautiful.”
Her eyes narrow into slits like that of a wild jungle cat stalking its next meal. Her hand goes to my stomach. “Is this why you’re glowing? I don’t know if we will have time to make so many alterations to your bridesmaid dress.” She feigns shock and I grab her twig of a wrist wishing I could snap it.
“We both know I’m not expecting.” I lick my bottom lip and lean in close. “One day my brother is going to find out what a shallow and ugly fake bitch you are.”
She pulls away from me making a face. “Like he’d believe you.”
“Everything okay here? You two look a little tense,” Darin interrupts, saving us from making a scene.
“It’s fine,” I answer. She glares at me as Darin looks me over, concern etched on his face.
“I’m just disappointed is all. Faye just told me she didn’t want to be my bridesmaid. I know Eddie wished it but I won’t force her to share in our special day. You know Faye never has been too fond of me.” This is what she does. She insults me and then plays the victim.
“That true?” Darin asks as though he is challenging me to say otherwise. Everyone always trusts her and her little miss innocent act.
“Afraid so.” With that I spin around and go in search of Enzo.
Darin is following closely behind me. I see Enzo chatting with people I don’t know by the bar and Eddie is making his way over to Claire. She will make me out to be a monster to him and he will side with her as always. I don’t know why I don’t tell him what a troll twat she truly is. I guess part of me doesn’t want to see him heart broken or demand he chooses between the two of us, but if they have children I don’t know how I will ever love the little monsters if they are like their mother.
Before I make it to Enzo, Darin is tugging me behind a pillar. His grip on my wrist is too tight but I don’t pull away. I don’t want to attract an audience. “What’s going on? Why don’t you want to be in the wedding party?” He demands. My eyes search his wondering what has gotten into to him to today.
“Don’t worry about it,” I hiss through my clenched teeth.
“Faye, talk to me. Don’t shut me out.” His hold on me loosens.
“Now isn’t the time. Today is about Eddie and Claire.”
>
“I was looking forward to walking you down the aisle.”
“What is this today, huh? You’ve not ever showed this much interest in me unless you want something. So, what is that you want? Are you lonely, Darin? Don’t have someone to warm your bed, so what? Now I am on your radar? Is that what this is? You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me?”
“It isn’t like that, Faye.”
“Then enlighten me. What’s it like?”
I wait for him to answer but he can’t look me in the eyes. I follow his gaze, landing on Claire and her best friend. I scoff and shake my head. “Grow up, Darin.”
With his attention elsewhere, I go find Enzo. Before I can find him, Eddie grabs my arm and leads me out to the hallway.
“Claire told me you are refusing to be her bridesmaid.”
I shrug at him.
“You’re going to be standing up next to her, Faye. You’re my sister, you have to be part of my wedding.”
I’m done. “Look Eddie, I love you, you know that, but you also know I do not like that woman you’re marrying. I refuse to stand up next to that fake bitch. I’ll still go to the wedding, but I’ll be there under protest.” His face is so angry and I know he’s about to say something that will hurt us both so I put my hand up and cut him off. “Don’t, you’ll only say something you’ll regret. I’m not being in the wedding party, and that’s that.” I walk off. Feeling good about myself for once and spot Enzo looking around the room, finally his eyes land on me.
I go up to him and smile, grabbing his arm. “Let’s get out of here, I’ll call a cab.” We move through the room and ignore both Eddie and Darin calling my name, but I don’t miss the ugly smirk Claire sends me.
DARIN