Everyone lifted glasses into the air, but suddenly it was too much. I wanted to run — needed an escape.
"I'm just going to go use the restroom." I forced a smile and barely made it to the ladies' room without bursting into tears.
It was all wrong.
This was not how the story was supposed to go.
Boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy marries girl. Never once in the story is he supposed to meet girl, tell her he can't like her, admit he'll never marry her, then marry her anyway to save his damn career.
"Honey?" Grandma's scent enveloped me, followed by her arms. "Oh honey, I was afraid you'd be upset."
"Then why did you do it?" I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Give me one good reason."
"He's your match," Grandma said honestly. "I've known him for quite some time. He's lonely, Beth. He's afraid, but he likes you, possibly loves you. Don't deny that you've seen glimpses of what you could have together. I know about high school."
"Don't you get it?" I grabbed a paper towel and dabbed my eyes. "This isn't high school.This is my life!"
"Is that why you compare every man you meet to him?"
"Who told you that?"
"Your sister."
"Damn her." More tears streamed down my face. "And why did she tell you?"
"You aren't the only one with struggles. She had a hard time fitting in the family, always feeling like second best. It mad
e me wonder why you felt the same way. Funny, how we all want someone else's life and always think we're worse off than everyone else in the room."
"Your point?"
"I want you to wear red."
"Like a harlot?"
"No." Grandma pulled me into an embrace. "Like the brave, courageous, beautiful woman you are. Let Jace pull that out of you. Love always asks us to take a chance, and I won't lie to you, sugar. You may fail. But wouldn't you rather try and know you failed than wonder for the rest of your life what would have happened had you taken a little leap?"
"Grandma," I choked on the thick tears in my throat, "my love life isn't a game. I feel like you've ripped out my heart, handed it to Jace, and now everyone's just waiting to see if he's going to keep it or throw it into the ocean."
"Why wouldn't he keep it, sweetie?" Grandma kissed my forehead and smiled warmly. "What use would the sharks have for it?"
I rolled my eyes and managed a small smile. "He'll throw it, believe me. All he keeps talking about is how he can't have me, how he'll walk away."
"I know men," Grandma whispered. "After all God cursed me with loads of them. And I know how they think. I imagine Jace is trying to convince himself more than convince you."
"So where does that leave me?"
"I imagine," Grandma looked thoughtfully into the mirror and fluffed her hair around her face, "it leaves you exactly where you've always wanted to be."
"Stuck on an island with a lying politician?" I joked. "Sorry, Grandma, that was never my fantasy as a little girl."
"Of course not, sweetie. That was mine." She winked. "Your fantasy has always been the white horse, the fairytale, and the happily ever after. No story is ever the same. How boring would that be? To always have a happily ever after? How unoriginal." Grandma tucked my arm in hers. "I want magic."
The tears threatened again.
"I want mischief." she continued. "I want madness. I want red dresses and red lipstick followed by starry nights and fireworks. And Beth, I think you do too."
"You think I want madness?"