Chapter 28
Shelby
"So once you get set up here," Clarabella says to the bride that we are doing a walk-through with, "we get you and the wedding party ready for the day."
"It's beautiful," the bride gushes. "Absolutely stunning. Would it be possible to have a party here the week before?" She looks at me for the answer, and I have to admit I'm not even listening to what she's saying. I was doing the walk-through, and the only thing I could think about was how much I didn't want to be here. Which was killing me since I love my job. Love it. I wanted to love it again, but everything in my life is a mess, and there is nothing that I can do, which makes me even more crazy.
"I'm sorry," I say, shaking my head.
"Marcela was wondering if we can do a party here the week before for her bridesmaids' trial," Presley fills me in with a smile on her face and a “what the fuck” look in her eyes.
"I would have to check the dates," I try to cover up. "But I think that should be okay." I look at my sisters. "If you will excuse me, I have a call," I say, smiling to all of them when I walk away. The sound of my heels fills the corridor as I make my way to the bar. I grab a bottle of water, turning and walking to my office.
"What the fuck was that?" Clarabella questions, coming into my office and pointing at the door the minute I sit down and open my bottle of water.
"I was going over a list in my head,” I lie to her and avoid looking at her because she’ll see right through me.
"Listen, I don't know what's going on with you," Clarabella says. "But you need to go home and get that shit sorted out."
"You are not going to kick me out of my office." I stand up, angry.
"I'm not kicking you out of your office, idiot." She rolls her eyes. "I'm telling you to fix your head when you go home."
"Oh." I sit down. "Well, then, I admit I was not on the ball today."
"Well, the first step is admitting it," she says. "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing," I say, but my head is screaming everything is wrong. I keep driving by Ace's house, and there has been no one at his house, which means he's out of town. "I'm just off, maybe."
"Maybe you are suffering from PTSD from your wedding," Presley suggests, coming into the room. "Maybe you need to take more time off."
"I'm going to be fine, you two." I look at them.
"Well, it's a good thing we have the weekend off so you can take the rest of the week off and feng shui yourself," Presley says, sitting down on the couch. "Maybe go get a facial."
"Spa day." Clarabella nods. "We should have a spa weekend."
"I'm down," Presley adds. "I have this kink in my neck that has been bothering me all week."
"Sex," Clarabella says, looking at me. "You need to have sex. Maybe that will make the cobwebs go away."
"From her brain or her vagina?" Presley laughs. I get up and grab my bag.
"I'm leaving," I declare, walking out of the room with their laughter lingering behind me. Once I get in my car, I make my way home, but of course I stop by Ace's, seeing that his car isn't there. I get out of the car anyway and walk up to his front door. I ring the doorbell, hoping that by some miracle, he answers the door, but no one is there.
I try to swallow down the lump in my throat as I get back into my car and go home. Arriving home, I open the door, tossing my purse on the floor and slipping out of my shoes. I make my way upstairs to change out of my dress pants. I look at the bed that I haven't made since he left me in it. The pillow he slept on is in the middle of the bed because I held it last night. I turn, walking to the closet and putting on shorts and a tank top.
I stop in the kitchen for some ice cream before going over to the couch, and as soon as I sit down, the memories come back to me. Every single time I've gotten home, it's like my brain knows that I miss him, so it shoots out every single memory I have of him. I look over at the counter, and I can still picture him sitting there after he made me breakfast, telling me that he wanted to take me on a date. The way my heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest to the way my eyes stung when I heard him slam the door behind him. It was almost as if the nail sealed the coffin shut. I turn on the television, and my phone beeps from the hallway, where it’s still in my purse.
Getting up, I hear it ping again, and when I take it out of my purse, I see it's my sisters.
Clarabella: Let's get together for dinner.
Presley: I'm down. Where?
Clarabella: What about Pete's Brewery?
My hands move before I even have a chance to register.
Me: Is that safe?
Clarabella: Jesus Christ, I don't give a shit if Luke is there or not.
Me: Fine. I'm in. What time?
Clarabella: Five.
Me: See you guys there.
Clarabella: Reservation is under my name.
I regret it as soon as I put the phone down, but I know I have to get out of this house or I'll go crazy. Running back upstairs, I take a shower and get ready, going to the closet and grabbing my white jeans. I slide them on, grabbing a white sleeveless shirt, and I almost laugh, thinking about Ace moaning about everything being white. Just thinking about him again makes my chest hurt. I slip my feet into my brown sandals, then go into the bathroom and make sure my hair is okay. I brush on some mascara and see the bags under my eyes, and I see my eyes are not bright like they were the last week. "Dammit, Ace," I curse and turn to walk out of the bathroom.
I make my way to the restaurant, pulling open the door and hearing people talking. The hostess stand is empty with a sign that says please wait to be seated. I look around seeing if maybe my sisters have arrived. I see no one that I know and then take my phone out and text the group text.
Me: I'm here.
"Hi,” I hear the hostess say while I'm looking down at my phone waiting for my sisters to answer. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, for Clarabella," I say and look down at my phone seeing that they haven't answered me.
"Right this way," the hostess says, walking all the way to the end of the place in the corner. The table is high as I sit down in one of the chairs looking toward the bar. I can see out both windows from my seat. "Someone will be by to take your order."
"Thank you," I reply when she puts two menus on the table. I grab one while the server comes over.
"Hi, I'm Todd, and I'll be your server," the young man says, smiling at me. "Can I start you off with something to drink while you wait?"
"I'll have a glass of white wine, please." I smile at him, and he nods at me, turning and walking away. I grab my phone and text them, seeing as no one has gotten back to me.
Me: I'm sitting on the right side in the corner.
Me: I ordered white wine.
Me: Should I order appetizers to share?
Me: Where the fuck are you?
I put the phone down, looking up and seeing that people are starting to come in since it's quitting time. The tables around me quickly fill up as the sound of dishes clanking and chatter fills the room. "Here you go," Todd says, putting down my drink. "Still waiting on more people?"
"Yes," I confirm, and he nods, walking away from me. I take a sip of the white wine when I see a guy walking toward my table. His black hair is brushed to the side, and his brown eyes are fixated right on me. I avoid looking at him as I turn to take another sip of my wine.
"Shelby." I hear my name and turn back to see the guy stop by my table.
"Yes," I respond, thinking to myself if I've met him before.
"Sergio." He says his name as if I’m supposed to know who he is. He pulls out a chair and sits down.
"Um," I say, about to tell him that my sisters are joining me. "Sorry, that chair is taken."
"I know," he says, smiling at me, and I look around so confused. "Clarabella said to tell you just go with it." Everything inside me turns to ice, and the only thing that I can think of is I'm going to fucking kill my sisters, especially when he says the next words. "I'm your blind date."