Page 37 of Black Roses

“We’re postponing the wedding,” she says.

I look between them. They have nothing but love for one another. Their wedding is all they can talk about lately. It’s nauseating, to tell the truth. So what on earth could keep them from going through with it? “What? Why?” I ask.

“I’m not ready. It’s too rushed. I’m only doing this one time and I want it to be perfect.” She leans in close to Griffin and gives him a squeeze. I catch a fleeting look from him that tells me he’s not completely on board with the postponement. “The dress designer called yesterday. Piper, you know we’ve had issues with the dress for weeks now. Well, it’s not going to be finished in time. I love that dress. And the church, well, when we moved the date a few months ago, we picked the only date available.” She sighs. “I don’t want to get married on a Thursday.”

She twists a lock of her hair. She’s nervous and it makes me wonder why.

“When will the dress be ready?” I ask. “Surely Griffin or Gavin can pull some strings and get you a weekend wedding. Who says you even have to get married in a church. Why not here?”

Skylar and Griffin share another look before she turns her attention back to me. “Don’t freak out. I’ve already contacted Charlie to make sure she’s okay with it. She is, so you should be too.”

“You contacted Charlie? Why would you do that? What is she okay with? Just how long are you postponing the wedding?” My hand goes to my wrist and I start to fiddle with the thin leather straps of the bracelet. Whenever I think of Charlie, I touch it. Whenever I think ofanythingI touch it. Deep down, I know it’s just a silly symbol. But it has come to mean so much more. It represents the piece of me I no longer have. Once again, I’m grateful Mason found it on the ground next to me. I’ve only known him for seven weeks, but he seems to be taking care of me at every turn. I find myself reconsidering my reconsideration of our next date.

Skylar twists her hair again. “Two months.”

“Two?” I ask incredulously, looking between the three of them to see none of them are as bothered by this as I seem to be. “Two?” I ask again. I’m sure I heard her incorrectly. “But the dress is almost done. All she has to do is add the lace. How can that take two months? If it’s the church, you can just get married here like I said.”

She shakes her head. “It’s already done, Piper. We rescheduled it for July 7th. We had to call in a lot of favors, so there’s no way we are changing it again.”

I search my mind for reasons they may not have thought of. Reasons they have to marry sooner. I look over at Mason when I find one. “You have football. You’ll be too busy. Don’t you have to start practice by then?”

“Nope. We pretty much have the month of July off. I don’t have to report to training camp until the 30th.”

My eyes dart between all of them and then focus on Mason as my blood starts to boil. “Youknewabout this? You knew and didn’t say anything?”

“He didn’t know,” Griffin says. “He’s my best friend, Piper. I know his schedule almost as well as he does. This was all Skylar and me. I’m really sorry if it puts a crimp in your plans to return overseas. But I have to live with this woman for the rest of my life, and I’m damn well not going to start off by refusing to give her the wedding of her dreams.”

I calculate it in my head. Four months. That is how long I’ll be away from Charlie when all is said and done. Charlie. My rock. My touchstone. My very sanity. I start to panic. “I have to text Charlie.” I take the stairs two at a time, ignoring my sister calling out to say she’s made breakfast for everyone.

~ ~ ~

We’ve been texting for thirty minutes. Texting about random movie trivia. Then random music trivia. And now we’ve moved on to random book trivia. It occurs to me we obviously have way too much time on our hands.

Charlie and I work occasional jobs to supplement the money my parents send, but it’s a few days here and a few days there. We do all sorts of odd jobs, but mostly waitressing—something we both despise, and usually end up getting fired for punching out some asshole who grabbed us. It’s never in a classy place like Mitchell’s. It’s usually some dive bar that has a hard time keeping their help due to the unruly clientele. So we’ve learned to budget our money and make the most of what we have. It’s meant giving up a lot of things, like private bathrooms and a good wardrobe. But it lets us do what we want, when we want, and that’s all that matters.

Mason calls me Princess. His vision of what my life is like and the reality of it are two very different things. I’m sure he thinks we’re living in posh hotels, being waited on hand and foot by concierge service.

Charlie and I continue texting mindless drivel. We’re avoiding the conversation we both know we need to have.

Charlie: Soooooo…

My fingers pause. Here it goes.

Me: Yeah

Charlie: 2 more months, huh?

Me: I’m so sorry.

I feel terrible leaving her alone for so long. Then it occurs to me there is no reason I need to be here. The wedding is practically all planned. I could hop on a plane and be back with Charlie tomorrow. I could return to New York in July. Excitement courses through me, right before my chest becomes heavy when I think of Mason.

I have to put down the phone with this realization. I can leave my sisters. My mom and dad. Maddox even. But the thought of leaving Mason, who I barely know, has my stomach clenching with hollow grief. I close my eyes and mentally trace the hard angles of his face.

No. Charlie is my priority. She is where my allegiance lies. We made a promise, a vow even. It was always supposed to be the two of us against the world. No matter what.

I ignore the ache that settles just behind my heart.

Me: I’ll come back. There’s no need for me to stay here. I’ll leave tomorrow and just fly back for the wedding in July.

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