Something Forever(41)

Dinner was delicious and the conversation was light. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and surprisingly, even Becky. She was flirting with a guy she was paired up with to walk down the aisle. It didn’t help that he was heavily flirting with her as well. I knew she was enjoying the attention, especially with what was happening with Matthew. She was trying to forget him.

“Who are you walking down the aisle with tomorrow?” Max whispered into my ear.

“His name is Andy and he’s sitting right across from you,” I whispered back.

Immediately, Max let go of his hand from mine and wrapped his arms around my shoulder. Pulling me closer, he planted a kiss on my lips that made the other women gawk with jealousy. Max had no idea they were drooling; he was too concerned about letting Andy know that I was his.

“Max, what are you doing?” I asked softly so that only he could hear.

“I’m letting Mandy know that you’re mine.” Max nibbled my ear.

“His name is Andy...Andy,” I stressed. Max had a habit of making up names. Laughing to myself, I played into his game. “You’re just jealous because he gets to walk me down the aisle first.”

Max snarled. Thank goodness everyone was holding small conversations, so hopefully no one heard, but I knew Becky did when she flashed her eyes to Max. “Mandy, Sandy, I don’t care what his name is. I don’t like the way he looks at you, and I don’t like the way he smiles at you. And you’re right. I don’t like the thought of anyone walking you down the aisle besides me.” Max leaned forward, smiling, pretending our conversation didn’t take place.

“He’s just being nice.”

“He better be nice to you, but not in a way I wouldn’t like.” Max guided my left hand out across the table, letting my engagement ring shine against the candlelight, making sure Andy got a clear sight of it. Little did Max know that Andy had already seen my engagement ring during the wedding rehearsal, but I didn’t stop him.

I loved how Max was being jealous. I was the one who was observant of how women gawked at him, but Max seemed to never notice…either that or it didn’t faze him. He didn’t care. Seeing how he acted around other women when they tried to get his attention only confirmed that I could trust in his love for me, that it was genuine. I was the lucky one, the one who was carrying his child. I couldn’t be happier.



Matthew

As I washed up to get ready for bed, I looked up from the sink to see a tired face in the mirror. What happened? Becca and I were so happy one minute, and the next thing I knew, we were apart. I couldn’t believe I was at this low point again. This only confirmed how much Becca meant to me. How much I’d fallen in love with her in such a short period of time.

Becca still would not take my calls or texts, nor would she open the door when I came by her apartment. When I used the spare key to enter, the other lock was set and I couldn’t get in. I’d made a big mistake when I left her. Knowing Becca, she had taken it the wrong way, but in that heated moment, I was not thinking clearly.

At first I thought I should give her space, but that was not what she needed. What she needed was for me to comfort her, to make her feel less guilty, to let her know that I still loved her. Now, it seemed as though she didn’t want anything to do with me.

It was Nicole’s wedding rehearsal and there was still no call from Becca to remind me to be there. Even when I texted her asking about the location, she didn’t respond. This confirmed that Becca didn’t want me in her life, and that hurt me more than anything. I’d hurt her big time, and I had no idea how to fix this. I also knew that guilt was eating at her. She was most likely thinking that she’d killed Tessa, and that she and I shouldn’t be together.

Recalling that day, I should have gone back to her place and patched things up, but when I met up with Teresa, she gave me the shock of my life. Then I’d needed a couple of more days to myself; a little more time to grieve...a little bit more time to let go and heal so that I could give Becca all of me again.

“Matthew, I have to tell you something,” Teresa said.

I snapped out of my thoughts of Becca and focused my eyes on Tessa’s gravestone. I didn’t say a word; instead, I waited for her to continue.

“Tessa didn’t want to tell you. You were both so young, and she knew you didn’t...the reason why she insisted that you got married so quickly …” Teresa let out a heavy sigh. “I promised I wouldn’t say a word. She was supposed to tell you the day she was in the accident. I’m not telling you to make you feel guilty. I know how much you loved her.”