Secrets and the Bride

ChapterThree

Glenda

I slept terribly. It’s been a long time since I had nightmares, but every time I would start to doze off, one would start to creep up, and I’d jerk myself awake. It’s the stress of the unknown lurking around me, and it’s starting to feel like my days are numbered. I kick my blankets away because I’m not going back to bed even though I’m exhausted.

There was one silver lining through the night, though. When I would think about Cillian, everything else would be forgotten for those brief moments.

Reaching for my phone on my nightstand, I pull it off the charger and power it on. I’d turned it off after the tenth time I almost texted Cillian. I figured if I powered it off then I would have time to come to my senses if I tried to turn it on and text him in the middle of the night. The last thing I wanted to do was come off needy. You can’t text someone minutes after they give you their number. Can you? I’m not sure what the rules are since I’m not allowed to date.

Since it’s the next day, I would think it’s been enough time. Knowing I’m going to crack at some point, I bite the bullet and send the text. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since he left me last night. Who am I kidding? I haven't stopped thinking about him since the Monarch charity event.

Me: Morning! Thanks again for walking me home last night.

The wedding was the first time I got to officially meet Cillian. He’s always been so mysterious to me. A few times I tried to catch his eye, wondering if he even remembered that we danced together at the Monarch event. I don’t think he does because he hasn’t mentioned it.

I thought we’d had a moment, but I knew I was wrong when he didn’t bring it up yesterday. I suppose we were wearing masks, but I could never forget him. He was the only man I accepted a dance from that night. There’s this darkness that surrounds him, and I want him to pull me into it. Then maybe I could give his world a little bit of light.

I roll my eyes at myself. I’m so silly and naïve. To think that I could light up his world only goes to show how little I know about men. He’d probably laugh if he knew what I was thinking. He didn’t even remember me!

Staring at my phone, I will it to go off with a text alert, but it doesn’t. I try not to get upset when he doesn’t text back immediately, but he’s probably still asleep. What if he was being nice last night and didn’t think I would actually text him? Maybe he was being polite, or worse, he felt bad for me, and it was a pity invite.

Giving up, I abandon my phone to go get ready for the day. Not that I have any plans. It was nice being so busy over the last week and getting ready for my brother's wedding. I got to spend time with my new sister-in-law and her mother, and their family is so different from ours. I really enjoyed hanging out with Amelia’s mom Cora. She was not at all what I thought she would be.

When I step out of my closet dressed for the day, I hear an alert from my phone. Excitement lights up inside of me as I jump on my bed, searching for it. I start to throw my pillows when I can’t find it quick enough, and somehow, my legs get tangled up in the sheets. I try to get up so I can just pull them off the bed, and I end up tripping and falling on my ass.

“What are you doing?” My head snaps up to see my mother standing in the doorway of my room.

“I lost something.” I kick my foot free before I stand. “What’s up?”

“Are you feeling okay?” The way she’s staring at me, you’d think I was an alien from another planet.

“Good morning, Mother.” I give her a smile. “Is there something you need?”

“I was coming to talk to you about something, but now I’m not sure you’re ready.” Oh crap. Is she talking about marriage? I really hope she isn’t, because I’m not ready. I don’t even want to think who my parents might pick for me.

“I mean if—”

She cuts me off, probably not noticing that I was talking over her words. “A trip might be too much for you to do alone.” Her eyes flick around my bedroom, which is a total mess.

“I’ll get it cleaned. With the wedding and everything, I’ve kind of let it go.” It’s not a total lie. The wedding kept me busy, but the reality is, I’m always a hot mess. I don’t even know where half the messes I make come from. I swear they appear out of nowhere.

See, I’d make a terrible wife. I can’t cook either. I’ve even taken a few classes on it, but they didn’t stick. I always ended up burning everything.

“I’ll send the housekeeping over. You’re not going to have time. I already told Cora you’d love to come to their home in the country. They’re having a party.” I stand there in shock. “I’m not sure your father and I will end up making it out, but I see no reason you can’t go in our place. But you’ll have to be a well-mannered guest, Glenda.”

“I’ll be the best guest ever!”

She gives me a skeptical look, and I don’t really blame her. “This is important, Glenda. They’re family now, and your father is hoping to do some work with them in the future. Cora has taken a shine to you.” I can’t help but smile at that.

“She’s lovely, and I want to get to know everyone better. As you said, they’re family now.”

Cillian isn’t. If he was, then the thoughts I’ve had about him are against the law. There’s nothing brotherly about him to me. Oh, gosh. Does he see me as a little sister? Was that why he was so protective and insisted on walking me home? My excitement starts to dwindle.

“All right, I’ll trust you in this. Now pack a bag. You’ll be staying until after the party. Cora said you helped her a great deal with the wedding and thinks you would have some ideas for their son’s party.” That skeptical look returns to my mother’s face. It’s kind of crappy that my brother's new mother-in-law can give me compliments or say sweet things about me easier than my own mother. She wasn’t always that way, but I think my parents' marriage is starting to turn both of them bitter.

“I’ll start packing now.”