A Broken Forever(107)

"I'm not, mom." Breathe, jump, smack Stefan's hand. "Why don't you just tell me what's going on?"

"You are supposed to get your dress today! I paid extra for the minimal alterations to be rushed. You go in and try it on and make sure it is perfect! It damn well better be but you still need to get there and be sure. You'll leave today with the dress if it is as it should be. Oh, and don't worry about the payment, they have your father's credit card information."



       
         
       
        

I reached out and grabbed Stefan's wrist. He stopped playing immediately and mouthed the word, what. Holding up a finger to him to wait, I returned to my mother.

"I can't go today, mom. Can't I go tomorrow? I don't remember you talking about this before. Are you already there??"

"Well, you have no choice. They are closed tomorrow and they have many appointments this week. It is peak bridal season, you know. You need to be there within ten minutes and try to make someone go with you to be sure it is right. Your father refuses to let me leave the house."

Stefan pulled the car over to the side of the road and watched with nervous curiosity as I desperately tried to get out of this. "Why mom??" Panic bubbled up and suddenly I felt like I was about to begin hyperventilating.

"Oh, he claims I have a stomach flu, but it's just a little indigestion."

I knew my mother better than I cared to admit sometimes. She frequently claimed to be in perfect health when something drastic was wrong. When she was in labor with my brother she put off going to the hospital for so long. He ended up being born just thirty minutes after she was on the hospital bed.

"What does a little indigestion mean?"

"Oh I don't know, your father thinks it is food poisoning from our dinner last night. It's his fault though, he picked somewhere new and now I am paying the price!"

"Mother! Yes, please, listen to dad! Stay in bed and try to get better, don't blame him. I promise I will be at the shop in ten minutes."

"Thank you, Grey. Please let me know when you are done. Keep me posted!"

"Will do. Listen to dad." I reiterated before hanging up.

This was not okay. I couldn't just reschedule and I absolutely could not bring Stefan along. Being friends was one thing, but making him come along to watch me try on my wedding dress to marry Richard was unbelievably wrong.

"What's going on, Grey? Is everything okay?"

"Yes … no." My flustered mind couldn't decide which.

"That's not helpful." He said with a single dry laugh. It was obvious he knew something was up but didn't know exactly what it was.

"Well, um, I need you to drop me off somewhere. You can just leave after … I'll take a cab home." I refused to meet his eyes and instead focused on the chipping pink nail polish on my fingers.

"Grey, what is going on? Where do you need to go?"

I groaned knowing there was no way around telling him the facts. Even if I tried to keep my answers limited, there would be no mistaking the large bridal sign or dresses in the display window.

"That was my mom. Apparently I had an appointment today that I was not aware of and I need to be there in ten minutes." 

Stefan seemed relieved as if this was nothing compared to what he imagined. "Not a problem, pretty girl. Where are we headed?"

Giving him a fleeting innocent smile I gave the information I dreaded. "Amelia's Bridal Boutique."

His head whipped my way, and for a few moments pure terror danced upon his face.

Hurriedly I added in, "I had no idea about this appointment. And I just need to pick up the um … dress. But, you can just drop me off, and then I'll take a cab home. So, it'll be just fine."

For an excruciating minute he didn't respond. Didn't blink. I wondered if he was even breathing.

"No, it's fine." The cautiously steady words sounded like he was testing them out. Unsure if the answers he gave were going to come out the way he intended. "I'll bring you, and I'll take you home after. You can't let something that important sit in the backseat of a cab."

"Are you sure?"

Slowly he gave a single nod. "Yes." He signaled his blinker, and pulled back into traffic.

The entire drive to the shop we never spoke a word or looked the other's way. He found a spot two stores down from Amelia's and I hastily undid my seatbelt. Just as I was about to tell him I'd be right back, he shut off the car and reached for his belt.

"You don't have to come in, Stef."

A dull, lifeless grin forced its way across his lips. "I know, it'll be alright. Don't worry." Not likely.