Payback's A Bitch (Awkward Love 6)

“And when you kissed me?” I ask.

“That was real,” She stands up and steps closer to me.

“When you touched me?” she continues, her fingers touching my arm. “What I felt was real. So were the feelings I felt when you were inside me.” She pauses and looks into my eyes. “All of that was real.”

I stare at her, my heart racing hearing.

“Darcy—”

She shakes her head and lifts her finger to my lips.

“Don’t say anything now,” she whispers. “I want you to really think about it. About us and whether that’s something you want to explore, because I'm not sure I can handle any more games.”

She walks over to the door but looks back at me before she leaves.

“I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding, okay?” she smiles at me.

“Okay,” I say. “Night, Darc.”

“Night.”

She walks out, and it takes everything I have not to chase after her and tell her that I don’t need to think about it, because I know she's what I want. Maybe what I need to do is prove that to her. I smile, because I think I know just the way to do it.“You want me to do what?” Lewis stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Are you kidding? I mean, have you heard me sing?”

“Come on, man. Do it for me?” I plead with him. “I can’t think of anyone I’d want up there with me, more than you. I need you to be part of this. I need to have my back.”

He groans and then shakes his head.

“Fine. Whatever. Just let me know what you need me to do.”

I grin and clap him on the back. I knew he wouldn’t let me down. “Instead of going out and getting drunk, do you mind if we do something else tonight?” I ask.I leave Lewis, because there’s one other person I need to speak with. Dad looks surprised to see me when I knock on his front door. He shifts awkwardly as he looks at me.

“If you’re looking for Mack, he’s at a friend’s house,” he explains.

“No, I’m looking for you, actually.”

He frowns at me and looks surprised, but then he stands back to let me in. I follow him down to the living room and sit down, accepting his offer of a drink when he offers one. I sigh, using the moment to myself to be sure this is what I want. I look up and smile, accepting the glass of scotch when he hands it to me.

“So, what can I do for you?” he asks.

I shrug. “I just wanted to apologize,” I mutter. “For the way I’ve been acting and the way I’ll no doubt act in the near future.”

“It’s fine,” he murmurs.

“No. It isn’t. I’m really sorry. I wasn’t going to tell you this…”

I sigh, I’m not sure I could’ve picked a worse time to bring this up, but I don’t want him standing up there tomorrow, thinking that I don’t care or that I don’t support their marriage, because I do.

“What is it?” he frowns. “Cameron?”

“Tomorrow.” I press my lips together and then look up at him. “Three years to the day since Mom got her diagnosis.”

His frown deepens. He looks at me, confused, then he shakes his head.

“What?” No. I’d remember something like that.” He looks at me. “I remember you calling me to tell me. It was…” His voice trails off as his eyes meet mine. I can tell by the look in them he knows.

“How did I not realize?” he mutters. “That’s why you’ve been so distant?

I nod. “It was never about me wanting to rebel against you, or anything like that. I just wasn’t sure how I would manage.” I laugh. “But I don’t have a choice.”

I stand up, remembering how much shit I still have to organize if I’m going to pull this off tomorrow.

“One more thing,” I say to Dad. “How are your dancing skills?”Chapter EighteenDarcy“Well?” Mom asks.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her, squeezing her hand.

She smiles at me and looks at her reflection in the mirror. The dress is perfect. Everything is perfect, right down to the little teardrop pearl that hangs around her neck, that was my great grandmother’s.

“It’s perfect, isn't it?” she asks, as if reading my mind. She laughs, a puzzled look on her face. “It’s still annoying me that I haven’t worked out what happened to the other one. I mean, how could it just disappear like that?”

I lean forward and hug her, mainly so she can’t see my smirk.

“Quit worrying about it,” I whisper in her ear. “Just be glad it went missing in the first place.” I pull back and study her. “Now, are you ready to go?”

She takes a deep breath and nods. “I think so.”

“Good,” I grin.

I take her hand as we walk out the front, to the car, which is waiting to take us to the gardens where the ceremony is being held. It's just immediate family attending, which is all Mom and Jim want. Something intimate and small, with minimal fuss. Then later, we’ll move to the ballroom of The Intercontinental Hotel, for a party that all their family and friends will be attending. I climb in the back of the fancy Mercedes, along with Mom. When I’m buckled in, I reach for her hand. She smiles at me, then laughs.