“We’re not broken, just bent and we can learn to love again.”
Just give me a reason ~ by P!nk.

My eyes widen as I stare at what looks like a white diamond ring on mom’s finger. “So you’re getting married?”

They both nod instantly. “We came over here to ask for your blessing.” Alex says, staring at me.

I really can’t say I’m surprised, blown away probably, but not surprised. In the times I visited them, I saw how fond of each other they were and I admired that. They were in love and were never afraid to show it.

“You two are good together, and I can’t be happier for you. You have my blessing.”

Felicity takes my hand and softly squeezes it. “Thanks, Avril, that means a lot to us.”

“You’re welcome. When is the wedding date?” I ask quickly.

“On Saturday the 23rd.” They reply in unison.

“That’s three weeks from now!”

“We honestly can’t wait. We have already taken the church we want as well as the preparation. All we need is your support.”

And it all comes down to it.

“Financially,” I say under my breath and my teeth grit and my anger in an uproar.

I am on board with their wedding and I wish them the best of everything, and will also contribute my quarter to making it work, but what I’d hate is to be looked upon like some Santa clause.

She nods, not denying what I had said, “We were wondering if-“

“I could ask Noah for money?” I pull my hand from hers and get up, stepping back from them. “No, I’m not doing that and I can’t even believe such a thought crossed your mind knowing what I feel about Noah!” I exclaim in disbelief and disappointment.

“Avril, listen. We weren’t asking you to ask Noah for money,” Felicity quickly speaks up, also getting up,

“What are you doing, then?” I demand, still filled with anger.

Alex gets up as well. “Over the last couple of months, I’ve been able to rally around and get back your college fund, the one I gambled, and I’ve got the whole £30,000 with me here.” Alex explains, dipping his hands into his sweater’s pocket and bringing out a brown envelope.

Felicity carefully takes a step closer to me, her eyes showing uncertainty and fear. “I know taking your money got you into this mess in the first place, believe me when I say I’d give anything to go back and change that and I still haven’t been able to forgive myself for what I caused you and I never will, but what we want is to use a little from this money for the wedding and afterwards we can pay back.”

I stare between the two of them for a few moments and the look on their faces shows they are indeed together and telling the truth and this helps push down my anger.

I turn to felicity, “Please leave us.” She nods and walks away into the kitchen and closes the door. Once I know she’s gone, I ask. “How much do you need to make the wedding work?” To Alex, who is now standing with a bowed head.

“We’d be okay with £15,000. We hope to make it a small wedding for friends and family,” he answers.

“Then take the money and keep the rest for after the wedding.”

His eyes widen in confusion, and he walks towards me. “You don’t want the money?”

I shrug indecisively. “Mom was right. Taking my money and giving it to you was what got me into this mess in the first place, but collecting it now won’t take me out of it. I know you’re a good man Alex, I know you love and care about my mom and the money in your hand goes to show you’re willing to make amends and do whatever needs to be done to see what you have with my mom succeed. So I’m going to give it to you as my way of saying. I support you two and do not want you penniless after the wedding is done.”

“Thanks,” he says with a grateful smile and before I can prepare for it, he closes the space between us and wraps his arms around me for a hug.

He is tall and masculine and so he seems to crush me against himself. I wanted to yell personal space and probably shove him back, but then I realise he’ll soon be family and I let my guard down.

When he pulls away, there’s a tear in his eyes. “I promise I’d never hurt Felicity. I’ll do my best and love her as she deserves.”

I beam at him and nod. “I believe you will.”

“Can we come in now?” Wesley asks, poking his head through the kitchen door to look at us.

“Yeah, sure, you all can.”

In the next two weeks, I as well as Wesley and Hadid dedicated ourselves to putting things together and planning Alex and Felicity’s wedding. Alex, at the beginning, did the running around, informing the pastor of their chosen church and arrangement for their honeymoon location. Felicity however helped put the wedding planner which they had under budget, but at the end of the second week, they had to turn it down because her price was on the high side and we had a budget to follow and so Wesley, Hadid and I have been doing the best we can to plan this wedding even though none among the three of us has ever done it before.

The wedding is in four days and the proper decoration has not started, but we have been able to bring the decoration to my house as the reception will happen there.

“I could help you with that,” Irina suggests, giving Hadid a helping hand with the flowers.

“Yeah, you could.” He replies, gives her some flowers in his hand, and then kisses her deeply on the lips.

They both pull away, smiling, before walking in.

Hadid has been seeing Irina for the past two weeks. He told us he ran into her at the nightclub where he went to book the DJ for the wedding and somehow they both connected. Irina is a tall blonde beauty, smart even and seeing Hadid happy with her also makes me happy.

I turn back and I see Wesley staring at me. With a raised brow, I walk over to him. “Staring much.” I point out once I make it to him.

“Drooling much?” He counters with a roll of his eyes.

I know what he means, and I felt guilty about drooling, but who can blame me? Hadid has had a rough patch these past weeks, and finally, seeing him happy with someone makes my heart tingle.

Wesley, however, does not seem to be pleased with all. I wouldn’t call his response hurt or jealous because it’s more than that. Since he found out Hadid and Irina were seeing each other, I notice that he’s distant himself from almost everything.

It does hurt and I’ve tried to console him and be there because that was the best I could do, but it doesn’t seem to work always.

“They look perfect together.”

“Yeah, they look like something.” He murmurs under his voice and there’s a tone I place as disgust.

“I know how difficult it is for you to be in this.”

“You don’t know a fucking thing about how I feel!” He snaps with his tone getting stern.

My brow furrows slowly as Wesley has never been one to cuss at me. “What does that mean?”

He takes pauses and then speaks in a much calmer voice. “I mean, you don’t know what’s it like when you know you’re right for someone and then they choose to go live a lie with someone else. If you can’t see through all this,” he makes a sign with his hands, explaining their relationship, “and know that they seem to have, this precious relationship is make believe. It’s you. Something is wrong with you.”

“How can you say that?! I get you had deep feelings for Hadid and him moving on is a hard choice, but this is low, even for you Wesley. They are happy. We have to be happy for them?”

He sighs and his head drops. “You’re right, I guess it just hurts, you know. I still want him. Every day more than the last and moving on is not helping. I thought I was moving on until he brought her. I know she doesn’t care for him, not as I do. I can take care of him, be there for him, and be everything he needs. If he’d just let me.” Tears run down his face and he quickly wipes them off and blinks back the rest.

Seeing Wesley all helpless hurts my heart and there’s nothing I can do to support him other than words. “I’m sorry Wesley.”

He sniffs, and a hiccup follows, “I should move on, I should fuck over him by now and yet, here I am, whining like a little bitch!”

I take his hand in mine and almost wince at the coldness in it when I feel the jolt of energy that passes through his hand to the rest of his body. “You will. I believe you’re gonna find someone that’s gonna love you and you’re going to be happy.”

He smiles weakly and his hand wraps around my own. “Can you do something for me?”

“Anything,” I respond without blinking.

He hesitates before saying, “Kiss me.” And although I’d expected a question, this catches me off guard completely.

“What?” My eyes widen, almost popping out of their socket.

“Listen to me, I need to move on and get a girl and I need to be sure that after all this while I still want one,” he says in his attempt to make things clear, but I’m past being made to understand because this is just a terrible idea.

“I can’t, I’m sorry.” I pull my hand from him and step away, going into the kitchen to get something, anything, that would keep me away from him.

He follows behind, “Why?” He demands, sounding more frustrated than I think he should be.

I glare at him because unless he’s stupid or too selfish, he’d know why I can’t. “There are so many reasons Wesley, you shouldn’t even be asking me this.”

“I know a few of them, but we are not having sex, just a kiss. A very harmless one.” He says with a casual shrug, as though it isn’t anything.

“It’s not harmless if you’re trying to test your cock acceptability of the female species.” I slam, glaring at him.

He chuckles and nods, moving closer to me. “You’re too damn smart for your good, but common help, a friend.”

I want to help him and so I talk myself into it, and I nod in consent. Without wasting time, he pulls me to himself and locks his lips with mine and slowly but passionately devours my mouth. I would have kissed back, but this is Wesley and, as hot as he is, I know kissing him back is not worth it.

“Well, I didn’t see that coming.” Comes the remark of a voice that sounds so familiar.

We instantly both pull away and I turn to see Noah at the kitchen door with his arms crossed over his chest as he stares at us with a blank expression.]