Page 46 of Trash the Dress

Dad knows something is wrong because I canceled dinner, but he hasn’t pressed for more. I know what he’d say if he knew what was happening. He’d tell me to man up and do whatever it takes to win my girl back and bring her home.

I want to…but I’m not sure if I can. I’m not sure she’ll let me. I can only imagine the things Vivian said to her that she didn’t tell me. What she told me was bad enough. What exactly is Vivian getting at anyway? She was more than happy to leave me for Sam back then, and never once looked back with remorse.

I’m unsure what my next move should be. Do I need to make things right with Scarlett immediately or talk to Vivian and put her in her place? I still don’t know what bullshit she’s trying to peddle. She can’t possibly want me back, and if she does, that’s too damn bad.

I take my coffee into my office and sit behind my desk deep in thought. I glance at the only framed photo on my desk. It’s the very first ultrasound of the baby. I close my eyes as I replay Scarlett’s words.“Do you have doubts about this baby being yours? Do you want us?”

I wanted to scream, “Yes! I want you! Both of you! Yes, I know this baby is mine!” But instead, I stood there in silence like a fool, angry that she was questioning me when I’ve done nothing to deserve it. Still, she didn’t deserve my silence. And now, I’ve broken my promise simply by not reassuring her how I feel for her and the baby.

I glance over at the painting on display of her, then my gaze moves to the closed closet door that houses her trashed dress. I told her my office was off-limits because I was hiding my infatuation with her. I knew if she saw the painting I did of her, she would probably think I’m some weirdo. But if falling under her spell makes me weird, I suppose I am.

I wake up my computer and pull up the folder from her “trash the dress” photo shoot. I love them all, but there’s one Ican’t stop staring at. She’s looking at me after splashing water in my direction while standing in the lake. Her hair is wild from running her hands through it and her smile is contagious. The sun is beginning to set behind her creating a warm glow.

Even in the moments after one of her worst days, her smile made the sun pale in comparison. I print the picture out. A wallet and a large copy to be framed and hung on my wall. I still have some empty frames from when I was in the photography business.

I get lost in printing, framing, and displaying different pictures of her and our ultrasound pictures throughout my office. When I’m done, I stare at the walls and know I’ve got to find her and beg her to listen.

I’m shutting down my computer when I hear the front door close. My heart speeds up. She came back. Relief instantly washes over me.

“Scarlett?” I say loud enough she can hear me. I’m about to walk out of my office to meet her when the doorway is filled…but it isn’t Scarlett. It’s Vivian.

My anger surfaces again. “What are you doing here?”

She smiles shyly which is absurd because she’s anything but shy. “I came to see you,” she says while batting her long lashes at me.

“How did you get in?” I demand.

She holds up a key. “I never got rid of it. And I’m glad I didn’t. That’s why I’ve been wanting to talk. I made a huge mistake, Zander. I’ve missed you so much. I thought I knew what I was doing and what I wanted, but all I did was mess up the best thing I’ve ever had.”

“Your mistake is thinking I’ve missed you, or that I’ll ever take you back. Give me back the key,” I tell her coldly.

Her shoulders drop. “You don’t mean that. I know I messed up, but we can fix this. We were supposed to end up together. You never moved on, so that must mean it’s because of me.”

I scoff. “We might have ended up together if you hadn’t left me for my best friend. I don’t understand how you think we could ever come back from that. It wasn’t just that you cheated and ran away with someone else…the someone else was my best friend. That can’t be fixed.”

I start to walk past her, but she grabs my arm. “Please, try. I know you still love me.”

“I loved who I thought you were. You killed the idea of that person on the day you chose him,” I tell her.

She starts to reach for me, and I shift away. “Do you see the woman hanging on my walls?” I ask as I point in the direction of the photos.

She glances at the pictures of Scarlett now adorning my office but doesn’t say anything.

“She’s going to have my baby. A son. They are my sole focus. My reason to breathe. Nothing else matters,” I tell her.

A tear drops off her chin. “You never wanted kids. That means you don’t love her; you’re just being the honorable man you’ve always been.”

“Give me back my key,” I reply calmly but sternly.

She shakes her head and holds the key close to her chest.

“That’s fine. Keep it. I’ll have the locks changed. I should have anyway. Now…leave. But this time, don’t come back. Forget you ever knew me. Because I can promise you, I’m doing the same.”

“Zander,” she cries.

“Run back to Sam,” I tell her.

“She can’t make you happy the way I can. Please think about it. Don’t be so quick to dismiss us.”

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