Page 28 of Past

I watch as he draws a massive penis on his face and then writes,‘I love hugs,’ on his chest. We all grin at our work as Blake clips the handcuffs around the bench and his one wrist. He then pockets the key.

"I will text Maisy and let her know Sebastian is too drunk to come home and is staying at ours." I grin, sending the text and then taking some pics.

"This was a good stag do," Luke says as we all laugh. We walk to the taxi rank down the road. It’s four in the morning, and we will be back at seven to see our work wake up.

Chapter 14

Allie

"Wow," I say as Maisy walks out of the changing room in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. I can't help the tears that come as she swirls around in front of the mirror. It is corset-type at the top and then flows out with satin and little beads all sparking down the dress. Maisy has chosen a long veil with little crystals hanging off the ends.

"What do you think? Oh, Alliecat, don't cry," Maisy says, coming over to me.

"No, don't come closer. You don't want my tears on the dress,” I say, wiping my eyes.

“So it’s as good as I think it looks?” she asks as she looks in the mirror.

Maisy doesn’t have to say anything about the fact her mother isn’t here. Her mother isn’t invited to the wedding because she is horrible to Maisy and nothing like a mother should be. It doesn’t mean Maisy can’t feel sad about her not being here. I don’t plan on marrying anyone, but I would want my mother there if I did. We don’t speak, and I hate her for leaving my life, but I think I understand it more now. I wish she would talk to me about Dad. I’m scared of him. I couldn’t imagine what she must have felt, finding out about his work. Maybe she knew all along, but I doubt it.

“I think Sebastian is going to have a hard time not ripping that dress off you as soon as you walk into the church. I don’t think God will stop him." I wink at her as she blushes.

"Allie." She groans, while Izzy laughs as she sits next to me.

"You look beautiful." Izzy sighs, watching Maisy as the shop owner takes measurements.

"I will need to pull it in a little at the waist, but the length is good. It will be ready in a week," she says, writing down notes and adding pins to the dress.

I stand up in my blue bridesmaid’s dress so she can check the size. It's a floor-length, dark-blue dress that's held up on one shoulder, and it wraps tightly around my body and flares out at the bottom. Izzy has the same, and it suits us both. The theme is blue and white, so the dress works for the wedding.

I try not to think of the wedding because I know I have to see someone there. I wish I could see him so badly, but I'm so scared. I haven't told anyone what has happened between us. What would I say if I did? If I told Elliot, I know he wouldn't care, and the rest of them would try to protect me.I saw him once at my dance class; it took everything in me not to go up to him. I know I can’t, I have to keep him safe, and being in my life isn’t safe. Not anymore.

"Allie, you okay?" Maisy asks, pulling me from my own thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry. I was totally in my own world." I grin at her and go back to the changing rooms with Maisy to change.I have to take a deep breath when the curtain is closed. Why do I feel like someone has hit me in the chest with a hammer?

After we are all changed, we look through the shoe stores and start trying on different ones.

"I like the silver ones," Maisy saysas she walks in front of us.

"Me too, but I think the simple black ones would be nice for me,"I say, because they are a little more comfy and it’s going to be a long day. The fact I’m sure I can run from Elliot in them crosses my mind, too.

"I'm trying them both." Izzy grins at us.

"How's Sebastian?" I ask as I take the black ones off and put them in the box.

"Better, he still has a cold from the stag do, but he is speaking to his brothers now." Maisy grins as I laugh.

I think back to last week when the boys left Sebastian on a bench, handcuffed all night because they fell asleep at home. Unluckily for Sebastian, the police were called and Blake picked him up, topless and soaking wet from the rain he had sat in for a few hours. Sebastian has also had a killer cold since that night. He has been moaning to us all about it. I mean, he seriously has been acting like he is dying and not just sneezing. Men are such babies when they are ill.

"I think it's funny." I chuckle.

"Me too, but don't tell him." Maisy giggles. I pull out another pair of blue shoes; they are shiny and a little higher than the others, but I slip them on to try.

"Oh, I brought you a wedding night present. Hold on, it's in my bag," I say and wobble away in the heels that are way too high for me. I pull out the red box and hand it to a nervous-looking Maisy.Why does everyone look nervous when I get them gifts? I really don’t get it. I mean, Harley practically begged me to only make him a cake for his birthday.

"It's not sex toys, right? I'm not opening that here," she whispers, and I can't help the massive laugh that comes out of me.

"No, just open it," I say. Maisy turns so only we can see the present as she pulls out the white lingerie set and matching garter.It’s a special wedding edition I saw in Ann Summers. It’s really nice, and I knew she wouldn’t think of what she was going to wear under her dress.

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