Maxine

Chapter 7

I caught a ride with the guys after taking endless pictures with the two newlyweds and their whole family. “So, are you going to share with us what the hell was going on between you and Jason?” Nick asked from the front. Mike was sitting in the passenger seat, Ethan at the back with me and Lucy. I didn’t miss how he was holding Lucy’s leg, thinking that I won’t notice.

I rested my head back against the headrest and gazed at the ceiling. “I first need a drink before I can talk about this,” I muttered.

“Nice entrance by the way.” Nick joked. He was referring to me almost having a bigger awkward moment when my face almost met the ground.

“What happened, though? Did it have to do with the effect Jason had on you?” Mike asked.

“Not quite. Try and wear a three-inch heel when you are used to wearing sneakers your whole life.” Lucy rolled her eyes at me while the guys chuckled.

“Hope you didn’t break my heel.” She scolded with a playful tone.

“My ankle is fine, thanks for asking.” I snorted.

“Maybe you can get my brother to massage it for you.” Great. Even my best friend was gaining up against me.

“I have a feeling I should have walked,” I muttered.

I headed over to the bar after we pulled up in front of the venue. They went over to look for their tables while I want to drink something that will give me some kind of kick to get over this night.

“Two Tequila shots,” I asked the bartender.

“Wow, straight to the strong stuff.” I gazed over my shoulder and found Jason standing at the bar, holding an ice-cold beer in his hand.

“I’m pretty sure you saw my dilemma.” I thanked the bartender when he placed the shots in front of me.

"Drinking on an empty stomach? That's not a good idea." Jason joked, resting his hip against the counter. He quirked an eyebrow when I ignored him and downed both of my shots in one go. I closed my eyes as the liquid warmed up my chest as it made its way down my throat.

“I’ve never worn heels and I thought maybe my drunken state can handle them better than the sober me.” He chuckled and placed a beer down in front of me.

“You want me drunk?” I asked, turning to face him.

“I believe it would taste better than those shots.” I shrugged. I unscrew the top and flicked the cap into the dustbin.

“I don’t know what kind Mark drinks and I haven’t seen him to find out,” Jason said, making the shots turn to acid in my stomach.

“He’s in London for a shoot,” I answered, tipping the bottle against my lips and let the cold liquid run down my throat. Maybe this wedding was getting to me. Everyone wanted to know where my perfect husband was and I had to plaster a fake smile on my face and lied to them.

Jason didn’t say a word straight away, I was preparing to be questioned when a loud announcement grabbed our attention. “Ladies and gentleman, put your hands together for the newlyweds.” Their MC began.

“Mr and Mrs Anderson!” Ryan picked up Rachel into his arms and carried her over to their bridal table where his parents and her mom was waiting for them. Their happy smiles, laughter and the love they showed for each other struck me quite hard. The way Ryan looked at her. I only once had a man look at me like that and he was standing right next to me. I would do anything to see that look in his eyes once more.

The bartender handed us each a glass of expensive champagne when their MC called everyone to raise their glasses for the happily-married couple. “To forever.” The MC said and everyone repeated the words before taking a sip from the champagne.

I turned away from Jason when the MC started with a short speech of what Ryan and Rachel went through to get where they are today. I placed my glass down and rested my elbows on the bar. I stared at my shiny but worthless wedding ring on my finger. It meant absolutely nothing. It’s just another piece of jewellery. I picked up my glass and downed the last bit of champagne. I turned around to head over to my parent’s table when I caught Jason looking at me. Fake love always boomerangs in your face while true love exists forever.

He said nothing as I excused myself. I found my parent’s table and took the empty seat next to my mom. I don’t know whose idea was it to put the whole family around one table. My mom barely talked to her sisters. I haven’t seen my nieces in quite a while, not that we ever hung out because we have different interests. “How’s the ankle?” My mother asked.

“You saw that?” I asked, softly. She nodded, smiling at me. “I believe everyone most likely witnessed it.” I groaned. She chuckled.

“I think the Tequila and champagne numbed it,” I answered getting another soft chuckle from her.

I gazed around the venue and noticed that everyone was either conversing with each other or eating their food. I smiled when I found Lucy laughing at a joke Nick made and slapping her brother’s shoulder who chuckled at her. I want to know what it feels like to be part of a life where it’s filled with laughter and smiles. Be part of something other than heartbreak and despair.

Rachel and Ryan opened the dance floor later the night after the main’s got served. Almost every couple headed over to join them for a dance. All eyes were focused on my mom and dad. Until to this day, they were still madly in love with each other. Women all over the world were jealous of my mother who got married to my dad. Even the family took forever to catch up and accept that they found their fairy-tale. 

Lucy was at my side the moment the song changed and it was replaced by a very old rock song, (but not forgotten) that we used to rock out to. I felt like she planned this. Even the guys were on the dance floor bopping their heads to the song with Rachel and Ryan. She dragged me over to the dancefloor ignoring my plea. “Just let your hair down, Maxine,” Lucy whispered.

We knew every chord to the song; we sang out loud and shook our hips to the base of the song. I forgot about the judging eyes and found myself rocking out to the song with my back pressed up against Lucy’s back pretending to play an instrument. Nick grabbed my hand and twirled me while Ethan twirled Lucy. For a short moment, we were the six kids rocking out to music in Ryan’s treehouse unaware of the future.

Nick guided me across the floor. “Don’t be mad at me.” I frowned at his comment but before I could ask him, he spun me out and into someone else’ arms. The big, rugged hand that slowly trailed down to my hip and the way my heart skipped a beat, there was only one person who did that to me. I gazed into his warm, honeycomb eyes as we glided across the dance floor. Our feet in sync and we didn’t miss a beat.

“How’s the ankle?” Jason asked, giving some concern.

“What ankle?” For now, I’ll pretend that it was fine and that I didn’t strain it back in the church. He once promised me that he will take me to prom, not that I was really a prom kind of girl but giving it thought was quite pleasant.

“We never got to do this,” I said, with a smile playing on my lips.

“You weren’t really the dance-type back then.” He humoured me.

“So were you, superstar.” He chuckled. He spun me around in front of him. I collapsed against his chest as he captured my waist in his hands.  We moved together until the song ended and we were called back to our seats. Every young girl jumped up for a chance to catch the bride’s bouquet. My mom wrapped her arm around my shoulders and gave me a soft squeeze. I chuckled at the girls when they almost tackled each other to the death. Lucy’s loud squeal vibrated throughout the venue when she caught the bouquet.

The men were up next and with all the tough males teasing Ryan, Jason ended up catching the garment. I stifled a smile when Lucy and Jason were forced to have a dance. While everyone watched them dance, I stole a bottle of champagne from the table and a single glass before I headed outside. I kicked off my shoes, picked them up and sat down on the bench outside on the balcony. I filled up the glass with champagne while drinking away my sorrows.

“There you are.” I glanced over my shoulder and smiled at my father. We barely talked since I came home. He sat down next to me on the bench and for a moment neither of us spoke.

“It was a great feeling to see you out there with your friends.” My dad said. I always used to be his little girl. He and mom tried to give me the world. It felt like I could never disappoint him. I would always find him in the crowd smiling at me and giving me the thumbs up. Mom had to make him loosen his protectiveness when I started growing up. I looked up to my dad, finding him as an inspiration for being such a great husband and father.

“It felt amazing. I’m quite disappointed that I left them behind.” I admitted.

He nodded. “I wish we could have done this for your wedding.” Getting married to Mark is probably my biggest regret. I was too young to understand the complications of my doings. Now, I was paying for it.

“It would’ve been a waste of your savings.” His eyebrows shot up in surprise and confusion.

I slowly withdrew the wedding ring from my finger. “Mark filed a divorce and I signed it before getting on a plane back to LA.” Every bit of my soul slowly banished when I confessed the truth out loud to my father.