Sydney (Book One) (That Wedding Girl 1) (8 page)

“Are you okay?” I peek up to see Tristan staring down at me. He offers a hand, and I give mine to him. Lifting me up, I grin and lean in to him but he pulls away, releasing his hand.

“I’m sorry. I got rather carried away back there.” He breathes quietly, and I can see anxiety in his eyes. “I meant to hug you, and…I have no words for my actions. I’m sorry for taking advantage of you like that.”

I open my mouth to protest but I don’t. I’m lost for words. Instead I mull over his words and scan his face. So many emotions running through it - confusion, guilt, lust. Did that just happen?

Just like that I’m out of my trance and back into cold hard reality – it’s my wedding day and I was just making out with my brother’s best friend. And he’s just realised the same thing. Forget the fact that I feel so much better, that I’m not bothered in the slightest that I’m so high up, I’m…distracted. I just kissed another man that wasn’t Adam. On the day that was supposed to be my wedding. And I liked it.

“Hansley is the only friend I’ve got right now and you’re his sister. And today was your…” he trails off, tightening his fists. “This was a mistake.”

“Then why did you kiss me?” I challenge, my voice tight.

“Because I couldn’t help myself, I couldn’t not kiss you once I had you in my arms,” he blurts out, his voice raw.

I blush at his words, at how authentic they are.

He runs his hands through his hair, and laughs to himself. “Shit, I messed things right up didn’t I?”

“It’s okay, I’m not annoyed at you,” I force the words out, but my voice is weak. I swallow the lump in my throat, my stomach all in knots. I’m unable to speak. My head is full of scattered thoughts.

“No one can ever know about this okay? This was a mistake.” He’s serious now.

My scalp prickles at his comment. He’s the most fun I’ve had in ages. But now it’s gone completely south and things have taken a turn for the worst. I need to leave, now.

“I won’t say anything. I promise,” I say dryly, eager to hide my disappointment at how this has all unfolded. “I’m gonna go.”

“Didn’t you need the bathroom?”

“No, I don’t need it anymore,” I mutter. 

He starts to say something but he stops himself. Instead he watches me as I turn around and open the door.

“I can’t wait to work with you, Miss Straight-laced,” he gives me a wide smile, but I can tell it’s forced. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Looking forward to it,” I say quickly. Without looking back I open the door, step out and, slamming it behind me, push the fire exit and dash down the stairs, ignoring the elevator. Never mind that it’s six flights, I just want to get out of here and for the first time in a while, I don’t feel scared.

I don’t get it, what happened? Everything was going great. We were having a great time just hanging out. And then all of a sudden he kissed
me
and said it was a mistake?  I’m confused – not because of why he did it, but why I enjoyed it so much.

He made me feel something I never have before and then he snatched it away from me. Gabe, chocolate, and tea is all I need right now.

I’m thinking milk coffee crunch.

“Jesus Christ Lace, here I was about to send out a search warrant for you. And you were just busy shoving your tongue down some hot guy’s throat. I
suppose
I can forgive you,” Gabe’s teases with a naughty grin.

Sitting on Gabe’s glass dining table, my feet are firmly planted on the black chair as I rest my face on my knees. Gabe put on a pot of Turkish apple tea, and it smells wonderfully aromatic. All is forgiven, considering I just left in the middle of the night, with his car no less, and didn’t tell him when I was coming back. I’ve had chocolate, too, but nothing is helping to make me feel better.

“We didn’t make out. We kissed…I mean he kissed me…” my face flushes at the memory of his full lips caressing mine. Those hands on my body. How can one kiss be so damn good? How could I just fall into the arms of another man, even if it was the most amazing thing to happen to me in…you know what? I don’t want to compare it to anything.  There was nothing like it, which is embarrassing considering I’ve just broken up with the only man I’ve been with. He was just trying to help, and boy it worked. Because I ran down those steps without a second thought, something I haven’t done in a long time.

“I thought you had taken the car for a long drive to gather your thoughts and re-evaluate your life and shit, not stay over at some random guy’s place and have him make you breakfast. Which I’m uber jealous of, by the way,” he adds.

He’s more than some random guy.  “I’m so sorry about taking it like that, there’s no scratches or bumps right?”

He raises an eyebrow, amused. “No, it’s in perfect condition, thanks for asking, but I’m not interested in talking about the car, if you know what I mean.”

I raise my head to peek up at him. “I’m
so
embarrassed.”

“Why are you embarrassed? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I was supposed to get married today, but instead I kissed my brother’s best friend, and instead of feeling guilty or remorseful, all I can think about is how much I liked it. In my book, that is definitely not right.

“Girl, you just broke up with the biggest jerk-off. This was a good distraction, maybe you should have slept with him too.”

I blush at the thought. As if that could ever happen… “What? No way!”

“Girl, you need some double D.”

“Huh?”

“Delicious Distraction. Best way to move on from Adam,” he bobs his head enthusiastically. 

Adam
. Oddly enough, hearing his name doesn’t spark anything in me. No heart flip, no sense of anxiety. Nothing.

“He kept saying that he was bad news.”

Gabe looks even more impressed.

“Ooh a bit of a bad boy, eh? They’re the best in bed.”

“Gabe!”

“What? It’s true!”

I shake my head whilst grinning at him, “Anyway, sorry again for taking off in the middle of the night. And to think you also had to deal with cancelling everything for today.”

Gabe puts his hand over my knee, his perfectly manicured and moisturised hands on display.

“Pish posh, that was easy. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

I’m not okay.
I kissed Tristan Keys, and I have to pretend it never happened.

“Not to mention you hooked us up with an amazing business opportunity. Well done, girlfriend!”

Gabe wasn’t the least bit hesitant when I told him Tristan’s proposal. He all but gave his verbal ‘hell yes’ to the idea, but until anything official happens its business as usual. And to be honest, I’m not exactly comfortable with talking to Tristan right now.

“Anyway, I think I’ve had enough drama to last all year. I just want to check my emails and—”

“Sorry but you’re not going to have much chance to unwind.”

I give him an inquiring glance. “What are you talking about?”

His grin is wide. “Ooh, I can't hold it in anymore!” He stands up to reach forward for his white laptop and props it open in front of me. “Read this.”

It’s an email from Amelia. What? The girl I worked with at the frozen yoghurt shop? I pull the laptop closer to read.

Hi Lacey,

Gosh, it’s been a long time, hasn't it? 
You can thank your sassy friend for this email coming your way because, as you know, life gets in the way and we both moved onto better things. When I mean better things, I mean away from you. Haha. 
Anyway, since we lost contact details and I decided to run away to London with my love, sassy Gabe found me on my Instagram. You're a wedding planner now? And a very successful one I might add! So proud of you, but do I get some credit? Perhaps a discount when you plan mine? 
Say yes, please say yes. 
Oh and it's only three weeks away so please say yes real soon. I really want you to be here.

Love,
Amelia
Xx

I peek up at Gabe, flabbergasted. You could literally pick up my jaw off the floor. “In case you weren’t sure, I did say yes.”

“You what—”

“Pack your bags, we're going to Italy baby!” He grabs my shoulders to shake me but I'm like a flimsy rag doll.

Italy? Amelia? My friend from University is getting married, and I’m flying over to plan her special day? Is he being serious or is he just trying to be funny?

“What?” I whisper. 

He clicks his fingers in front of my eyes. “Italy. Pack your bags. Also if you didn't notice, that email was sent last week so we're hopping on the plane very soon. Tomorrow, as a matter of fact.”

“WHAT??” I rasp out, learning of yet another unforeseen development. He really can’t be serious.

Gabe rolls his eyes, completely unfazed by my shock. “Relax, you have plenty of time to pack. We're going early to check out the venue, which by the way is at a five-star hotel! So get your stuff packed and we can get the rest sorted once we're there.”

I nod quietly, trying to absorb this all in. I’m going to Italy. I’m going to one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I’m going to plan the wedding for my old friend. This feels all so sudden – I have to switch gears and go back to wedding-planner-Lacey, and out of bride-to-be-Lacey mode. I know I asked to work as soon as possible but I never said it was going to be easy, but it’s Amelia. I have to be there for her, not as her planner but as her friend.

“Let's do it.”

“Really? If you don’t feel ready…”

I give him a limp smile, “No, I want to, especially if it’s Amelia. This will be fun!” I say in an overly enthusiastic tone, but it’s helping to brighten my mood. I will perk up once I’m there. In fact, the sooner I get out of Sydney the better. Some distance away will do me a lot of good, give me some perspective. Besides, Tristan’s business proposal can wait for a little while.

“I know, right? Girl, I’m looking forward to some fun adventures ahead. I can’t wait to see where we go. We’re going to see the world!” I can practically feel his enthusiasm brimming.

“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves alright? We're there to work, not take advantage of the surroundings,” I add.

“And the hot men, don't forget,” he says cheekily.

“So what are we going to do about the business?”

“We’ll figure it out, we can update the website when we know.”

“What about our Australian clients?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“What about—”

He grabs my hand, commanding my full attention. “Girl, listen to me. Enjoy every moment that happens, live in the now.  I know you, and I’m going to be honest, Adam was only dragging you down. You sacrificed a lot for him but no more. This is your time to take on the world, the sky is the limit!”

I breathe silently and nod, thankful I have such an amazing friend in him. “Alright, let’s get the chocolate. We should celebrate; let’s go out to dinner tonight. My shout.”

Gabe grins. “That’s my girl! I have just the thing for this occasion.”

He gets up and quickly goes to the kitchen, coming back with a box of Swiss handmade chocolates, the really good stuff. He knows me too well. “I've been saving this for a while, but what the hell!”

He lifts the red lid to reveal a selection of beautifully wrapped chocolates, all in different shapes.

“We'll just have to buy more when we're abroad.” I wink as I take out a green foil wrapped chocolate.

Before Gabe grabs a chocolate, I lean into his shoulder. It’s so warm and comforting.  “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you.”

He puts an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “Likewise. Don’t ever change a thing about yourself, alright?”

Everything is going to be okay. In fact, better than okay. It’s going to be fabulous; filled with spectacular scenery, wonderful people and unforgettable memories. 

Despite the crap I’ve been through in the last forty-eight hours, I’m not going to let it get me down.
No way
, life is too short to let setbacks stop me from enjoying myself, not even my fear of heights. Everything will make sense someday.

Until then I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. As long as I have my laptop, a bottle of Xanax and three milk hazelnut blocks at a time, I’ll be fine.

Grabbing the handles of my overnight bag tightly, I step out of the plane relieved to be in the tropical climate. I made it! I’m back on flat land again. I did have some episodes on the flight, I’m not going to lie. Turbulence freaks me out, a lot. Take-off freaks me out. Landing on the tarmac freaks me out.  Fortunately the Xanax and chocolate helped. In between eating, napping, chatting with Gabe and working on the laptop the day long journey went by fairly fast.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, a grin emerges on my face as we step out of the airport and into the splendour that is Italy. Of Rome specifically. I’m in Rome, all the way on the other side of the world! Gabe is standing next to me, his hair still perfectly coiffed, his white scarf still tightly fastened around his neck. I, on the other hand, feel like absolute crap with my frizzy hair and dry skin. As we stand outside the airport waiting for a bus, Gabe taps my shoulder, his eyes focusing on a spiky haired young looking man.

“Hmmm! He’s tasty,” he eyes him up and down before spotting a muscular blond guy walking behind him. “Oh my, he’s pretty delicious too!”

I smirk at him. “I take it you’re here to enjoy the beautiful landmarks and scenery?”

He keeps his vision focused gorgeous men walking around. “Well I have plenty to admire, don’t I? I think we’re going to have a lot of fun here. Don’t you think?”

I think so.

Bring it on, Italy.

End of Part One