Morning After

BECCA

Before we were able to leave John’s parents’ house, we all had lunch together. I stayed near Liam. He was entertaining me because he felt that I needed that.

I saw Logan glancing in my direction, but I tried not to think about it. He was grim, and his smile looked forced. Even Mr. Dencen felt it too. This lunch was torture for both of us.

Liam walked me to my car when it was almost 4 pm. I placed my bag into the trunk and leaned my back on the front door. I sighed heavily. I had no makeup on, and I was wearing a floral skirt with a white t-shirt.

“Rebecca, what happened yesterday? The change of air between Logan and you is too obvious.”

“Nothing.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Rebecca, it’s not nothing. You look sad, and so does he.”

“I am telling you the truth. Nothing happened. Logan was very busy with his date, while I was spending time with my ex.”

“Drew Milton was all over you. It honestly looked desperate.”

“Don’t remind me.” I closed my eyes.

I needed to talk to someone. I needed advice. I knew that I shouldn’t bother Chase and Jenny. He would be worried about me, and it would ruin their weekend. “He decided to tell me something, and it spoiled my night. Well, that, and Lily’s decision to invite Logan’s girlfriend.”

“Do you mean the model?” Liam arched his brow at me.

I nodded and saw his smile grow bigger. “Rebecca, at the wedding, he stayed with her. Almost the whole evening. But what I saw this morning, when I was walking back to the house from my guest house… Well, they didn’t look like a happy couple to me.

“He helped her get inside the taxi, but she was barely looking at him. No hugs, no kisses. He stood near the house with his hands in his pockets, watching as the car drove off.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I stepped out of my car, intending to open the door.

“Forgive me for prying, but I think you’re lying to me.” I stared at Liam with wide eyes. “You didn’t spend last night alone. That hickey on your neck is proof.”

“It’s not what you think.” I laughed. If only he knew about Riley and me! “Listen, Liam. I want to thank you. I have no idea how I would have survived this wedding without you. You helped me a lot.”

“Helped, yes…” He shook his head and stepped towards me, wrapping his arms around me. I hugged him back, burying my head in the hollow of his shoulder. He smelled like something very sweet, like raspberries or strawberries. Must be some girl’s perfume.

“Thank you, Liam.” I stepped back and observed him. “May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.” He tucked his hands into his pockets.

“Did you spend the night with Kelly?” Who knows why I said her name, but I saw his cheeks blush, and my lips stretched into a big satisfied grin. I was so happy for them. “Liam, she’s a very nice girl! Kind and beautiful.”

“Well, she came to my house with Jason, but he kind of brushed her off… He liked Riley while she wasn’t interested in him at all. Kelly stayed with me. We talked… And well, yeah, she’s a nice girl…”

“Oh, Liam!” I stepped towards him and kissed his cheek. “Give her a chance. You might be surprised.”

“We are planning to go on a date on Tuesday, as soon as the newlyweds leave for their honeymoon.”

“Liam, you are a great person. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to meet you. Who knows when I will see you next.”

“Who knows,” he kissed my cheek, too, and stepped back. “You will be in town until Monday?”

“No, till Wednesday. I will be staying at Tim Wallace’s place. He and his wife are waiting for me.”

“Maybe we will see each other. Bye, Rebecca!”

“Bye, Liam!”

I got in my car and started the engine. I drove to the Jones family house, listening to my favorite music. This time it was ~Rescue Me~ by One Republic. I put it on repeat and was singing along until the moment I stopped my car near Lily’s house.

She invited me to have dinner with her family tonight. Tomorrow John and she will leave for the airport around 4 pm, so I promised to stay at her place until then. I only hoped that I would not see Logan at all.

As I declined to be his driver, he left earlier with Kelly. He should have been here already.

I knocked on the door, and a few minutes later it was opened. John was standing in the doorframe. He was smiling at me with the happiest grin on his lips. I smiled back despite the emotional mess I was feeling inside me.

“Hey, John! You look radiant!” I leaned and kissed his cheek.

“I already told you. I am the happiest guy in the world. Give me your bag, and I will help you.”

We started climbing the stairs together. The house was suspiciously silent. I had the impression that John and I were the only ones here.

“Where is everyone?” I asked when we walked inside my room.

“Alicia and Matthew went to the grocery store. He forgot to buy something. They will be back soon.”

“Who else is invited to the dinner?”

“As far as I am concerned, only you…” He thought for a moment. “Nope, I forgot, Drew will be here too.”

“Exactly what I wanted to avoid.” I sighed and sat on the bed.

“He upset you yesterday… I didn’t notice it, but Lily did. Logan and she are talking in the kitchen. Her mother asked her to make a salad, and when Logan came home, he decided to help her.”

“Is she upset with me? That I…” John interrupted me.

“No, she’s not. Besides, Logan said it was his wish to come home earlier, that’s why he didn’t drive back with you... But of course, we know that he’s lying. To protect you.”

“Just perfect.” I hid my face in my palms.

“Becca, try to sort things out with him. I know what Lily told me about you two, and I think... I think you’re both wasting your time...”

“Are you saying that I need to stop trying to be friends with him?”

“Yes.”

I stared at John. He had the opportunity to observe Logan and me. He saw us together, and our past didn’t cloud his judgment. What if he was right? What if our relationship was damaged to the extent of no return?

“I am saying ‘yes’ only because you aren’t friends with him. You are so much more than that, and the sooner you understand it, the sooner you will stop suffering.”

“I don’t know, John... We had a past. We had feelings for each other, but it was then.”

“Becca, please, it’s ridiculous. It’s not then. It’s obvious to everyone.”

“I will think about it, okay?”

“Sure.” John smiled and walked out of my room, closing the door behind him.

What was it with all these people? They were all prying. They were all trying to tell me what I needed to do with my life. It started to get on my nerves. Shit! I hated situations like this.

It reminded me a lot of high school. When I found out that my boyfriend was cheating on me, all of my so-called friends tried to tell me what I should do, how I should act with him. When in reality, I wanted them to leave me alone.

I know what I feel for Logan. I am sure of my feelings. But if he doesn’t want to believe me and if he was able to erase his feelings for me, what could I do to change it? Nothing! He said he wants to be my friend. But I don’t need that. I want him to be mine.

I had time to think after I left Liam, and I came to only one conclusion. Everything became very clear. If Drew hadn’t waltzed into my life, while Logan was still dating Melanie, I am sure that after some time, we would have been together.

Our mutual attraction, our respect for each other, and our understanding—it would have led to it naturally. We would have been perfect together.

I didn’t know how long he was going to stay in his hometown. I was sure that as soon as I left this house tomorrow, I wouldn’t have too many opportunities to change his mind. It meant only one thing.

I needed to use tonight to my advantage, to try to talk with him. Without alcohol. Without other people. Just him and me.

Okay, for starters, I needed to take a shower to boost my confidence. I needed to look pretty, but not too much. Not too revealing. Damn! I want to change my hair color. I miss being brunette. When I am back at my parents’ house, I will go to the hairdresser.

God, I am nervous as fuck! Something in me is telling me that it is my last chance. My last chance to change my history with Logan. I don’t give a damn about his fame or his money. I want him because of him!

Because he is a kind, honorable, and caring person. He is a gorgeous man with an unbelievably sexy body. And he knows me—the real me with all my insecurities and mistakes.

When I was still in touch with him, I wasn’t afraid to tell him all about myself. And his kisses… I was losing my mind when we were kissing. It was just him and me, and nothing else mattered.

All those years ago, when we were sitting on the porch of this house, he told me the truth. If he had been single, Drew wouldn’t have even been in the picture. I am sure that we would have been married already. Because he wouldn’t have cheated on me, he would have stayed loyal and faithful.

Thank goodness that I came here to Lily’s wedding. I have the chance to change everything. To improve my fate. To change my life completely.

When I returned from the shower, I looked over my things. I chose a simple green dress. Yes, it hugged all of my curves, but it had a high neck and ended just above the knees.

I stared at myself in the mirror for several minutes, deciding what to do with my hair. In the end, I just braided a small part of it, creating a halo, while the rest cascaded down my shoulders. Okay, last but not least—my makeup.

I added mascara to my eyelashes and colorless lip gloss. My emerald green eyes looked perfect with this green dress. I felt confident and beautiful.

It was 5:30 pm when I left the room. John said that dinner was planned at 6. That left time to make small talk, discuss the wedding, and check on my friend.

I counted to ten and started descending the stairs.