Love You Always

A husband, a father, and so much more.

14

Neily

“You’re acting weird,” Alyssa says as I fidget in my seat. It has been non-stop wedding talk all day. It was beginning to wear me down a bit. Everyone knows my attention span isn’t the greatest so to focus all day on one thing has been tough. Plus my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Tomas and what is happening between us.

“Don’t I always act weird?” I pick up my cherry soda, taking a giant sip.

“I think she means weirder,” Mom answers for her. Jona nods her head in agreement. Was I? Probably. I am all over the place.

“Just excited about the wedding.” That was part of it. I am excited. Alyssa is so in love.

I’m thankful when the server shows up with our food. I peek over to see if Tomas and Sean are still sitting at the bar. They are. Tomas doesn't look like he’s going anywhere without me. My stomach flutters at his attention. He really doesn’t notice anyone but me.

“Double wedding,” my mom corrects. Again Jona nods in agreement. It would be annoying that they are always on the same side if I didn't have the same kind of relationship with Alyssa.

“We aren't even dating,” I huff, picking up my fork. I don’t know what we are. I don’t date. I don’t do anything really. I thought I was going to be in this for the sex, but it doesn’t seem to be working out that way.

I am already growing attached and I will end up getting hurt if I’m not careful. Worse, I could hurt him too. I know how I can be. I’m crazy about something one second and the next I never want to see it again. It’s how I am. I wasn't built like the rest of my family.

“Neily. He’s your one. You know how it works.” Alyssa pops a fry into her mouth.

“You’re buying into it now?” Okay, this might be the first time we aren't on the same side of something.

“Buying into it? It’s true. Look at all of us.” Alyssa motions between the three of them. My mom and Aunt Jona have been telling us this story since the beginning of time. When they were nine years old they cast a spell. I know it’s ridiculous. How does a nine-year-old know spells? I’m twenty-two and I don’t know any. But they insist that their love spell, as they call it, had led them to find their soulmates.

“Our love spell will work for generations. We passed it on to the two of you.” I almost groan out loud but I don’t because I love the moms and they truly believe that their little spell had actually had a part in them finding love.

“Alyssa and I never cast this spell, though.” I swear the moms roll their eyes at me.

“Of course you didn’t, sweetheart. We knew the two of you would probably be skeptical so we went ahead and did it for you.” Of course they did.

“Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t know that something was different about Tomas the moment you laid eyes on him?” Mom asks smugly. I had. I felt an instant pull toward him. “We know Alyssa did when she saw Sean. She stalked him.”

“We said we weren’t going to call it stalking.” She lets out a groan. I can’t help but laugh.

“Are you ready to come back over to my side?” I ask Alyssa, wiggling my eyebrows.

“They’re right. Why are you fighting this?” She picks up another fry, shoving it into her mouth. I don’t know why I’m fighting it, to be honest. It’s all happening so fast. I steal a peek over at Tomas, who is watching me. Everyone else in the place is trying to watch him. I keep forgetting that he’s famous. Being with him you’d never know it.

“What if he’s not my one? You know how I am.” I take another bite of my food.

“Of course we know how you are, honey.” Mom gives my elbow a squeeze. Is that pity I hear in her voice? I’m not sure anyone really believes that I can take care of myself. “And we love you just the way you are.”

“I know,” I say with a mouthful of food. It’s not that I don’t think that everyone loves me. That is one thing I would never doubt. They have to love me. They are my family. They don't have the option of growing tired of how I am. But Tomas does. He may think this aloof thing is adorable now, but in time it could become wearing to him. That would only mean one thing for me: a broken heart.

“He’ll be good for you,” Aunt Jona adds in. Is she saying that because there will be someone to take care of me? I put my fork down, not feeling so hungry anymore. Alyssa stares at me, giving me a look that silently asks me what is wrong. The moms have been on me all day about Tomas. Alyssa can see I’m at my breaking point.