Love You Always

I reluctantly walk over to the counter where she had placed her keys. I take her house key off of it so that I can lock the door from the outside. There is no way I can leave her without the doors being completely locked. But that’s not the only reason I take it and we all know it.

12

Neily

I huff out a breath, annoyed that my alarm is going off. I never set an alarm. They are terrible things that I got to leave behind in college. I am lucky that my working hours are flexible. I don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to make sweets like Alyssa. Unless you want me to burn the kitchen down.

My eyes reluctantly start to open. Then my mind goes straight to Tomas. I sit up, almost falling off the sofa, having forgotten I’d passed out here. I grab the phone, killing the alarm but not before seeing that it’s named Don’t forget dress shopping is today with Alyssa. I know my mind might still be waking up, but I also know that I didn’t set this alarm.

“Tomas?” I jump up, looking around for him but don’t see him anywhere. Then my eyes go back to the coffee table where breakfast sits. I bite my lip. It’s sweet that he left breakfast. It would have been sweeter if he had been here to eat it with me. It dawns on me that maybe he’s giving me a taste of my own medicine. I’d snuck out on him that first day and now he’s done it to me. I have to admit I don’t like the way it feels. It kind of stinks when you get a taste of your own medicine.

I pick up the muffin from the table. It’s banana nut, my favorite. I will not eat it. He’s one-upping me. When he ditches me he leaves food where I left nothing. Is he trying to get back at me? That doesn't seem like Tomas. But what do I really know about him? I don’t know jack crap about dating either. Aren't there games and rules? This must be one of them. I was never the competitive type. I’m more of a go with the flow type of girl.

My phone dings with a text from Alyssa telling me that my ass better be at the dress shop in ten minutes. I rush to my bedroom, getting ready as quickly as possible, not caring if I look like a hot mess. I grab my bag and keys, slipping out the front door. When I go to lock it back up I can’t find my key.

“Crap,” I mumble. I look back and forth down the hallway to make sure no one is watching before I bend down and flip the mat up. I grab the spare and lock it before I put it back under the mat. If anyone knew I kept a spare there they’d all murder me. But when you tend to daydream as much as I do, you always need a back-up plan.

I’m out the door grabbing a cab in record time. Somehow, I make it to the dress shop before Alyssa. Both our moms are already here, though, and ready to roll with four racks of dresses waiting for Alyssa.

“She can't try on all of these. We’ll be here forever.” I plop down in one of the oversized chairs. My mom, Bree, sips on a mimosa. I have regrets about not eating the muffin. I didn't even look in the bag to see what else was in there. I should’ve taken a couple of nibbles because it looks as though I’m going to be here for an extended period of time. Both our moms are crazy when it comes to love. So this is going to be a whole production.

The muffin should still be good when I get home, but by the looks of it, that won't be for a while. My mom and Jona are not letting me out of this store anytime soon. They’ve been planning this since the moment they both found out they were pregnant with Alyssa and me. I don’t know how they managed to get pregnant at the same time, but it doesn’t really shock me that they did.

“Those two are yours,” Aunt Jona says, pointing to two of the racks.

“This is Alyssa’s day!” I sit up straighter, readying myself for a battle. One I know I will lose.

“You two do everything together,” she reminds me. We do, but this is different. Before now I could do everything with Alyssa. It was just her and me. Now it’s her and Sean. There is another person in her mix.

“We can’t get married together.”

“You’re not marrying Tomas?” my mom asks smugly. I groan, dropping back into the chair. How do they know about Tomas? Alyssa doesn't even know about Tomas.