Page 18 of The Cost of a Bride

I gather up my things and follow her downstairs, out the front door and to her car, which is waiting in the driveway. Not wanting to be alone right now, I give her Alyssa’s address and send her a text letting her know I’m on my way over. Immediately after, I get a response reading:

I was just about to text you back. We have a little…situation.

Oh God. Just what I need.

Situation?

Again, the response is instantaneous.

It’s your dad…

“Oh, fuck…” I groan.

“Problem, sweetie?” Cheryl asks.

“I…it’s nothing,” I lie. The last thing I want to do right now is get into my family issues with this woman. But how could this be? Is the universe just paying me back after having such a perfect day yesterday?

I keep my mouth shut for the ride over to Alyssa’s, and Cheryl, sensing I must want to be left alone, keeps hers closed as well. But when we pull up out front and park, she gives me a very friendly smile and a pat on the knee.

“I’mreallysorry about all this,” she says. “We women just have to stick together, you know? That’s why I’m not taking any of this out on you. I mean –youdidn’t know he was cheating on me. It’s not your fault.”

“Yeah, I understand…” I reply. It’s all I can do to just form a sentence with the tornado of emotions raging within me.

“If I were you, I would just cut him off,” she says. “Don’t waste any time trying to get an apology out of him. Men are no better than dogs, and if you invest any more emotional energy into him, you’re just going to get hurt more.”

I nod.Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“I’m gonna go now,” I tell her, opening the car door. “Thanks for the ride.”

The last thing I hear as I’m stepping out is her voice calling out, “Take care!”

I swing my bag over my shoulder and march up the lawn to Alyssa’s apartment as quickly as I can, still feeling sick, my legs trembling and wondering what in the world her text about my dad could have meant. It’s always something with him, and while I’m not worried about his health, I am worried.

She greets me at the door, looking worn out and annoyed. Before I can even say anything, she sighs and aims a thumb behind her. I glance over her shoulder and see my dad, slumped over on her couch, clearly drunk and either passed out or on the verge of being so.

“Oh, Christ,” I grumble. “What the hell happened?”

“Apparently he went to your apartment looking for you,” Alyssa replies. “Got an Uber or something. And when you weren’t there…”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Alyssa.”

“Yeah, well at least he’s not dead,” she shrugs with a laugh.

“At this point, I honestly might take that,” I reply, forcing a laugh. “With the day I’ve already had.”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to mention it,” Alyssa replies. “But you do kinda look…like shit. What happened?”

This time, I actually do laugh. Not because something is funny, but because of the complete opposite. Becausenothingis funny at all. Because the day has been such a complete catastrophe that all I can do is laugh.

“Well, let me come in and deal withhim,” I say, pointing at my complete and utter mess of a father. “And I’ll tell you the whole story.”

10

Russell

I’m soexcited as I drive home from school. I haven’t even bothered texting Nikki to let her know I’m getting close to the house, as I want to surprise her when I walk through the door. I want to race into whatever room she’s in, snatch her into my arms, and plant my lips on hers.

This is the life I want to lead from now on. Wherever I work doesn’t matter, whatever I’m doing doesn’t matter, as long as I have her to come home to.

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