Page 30 of My Anchor (Trio Series 1)

We are getting ready for the dreaded step brother wedding today. I would’ve asked Lee to be my date but he was already busy and this was going to be a girl’s weekend kind of thing. We are going for moral support. Shana is going to need it. Having to deal with her family and the older stepbrother for the first time since they slept together. Needless to say, I do believe she could use a little girl time after this weekend is over.

The wedding is your typical wedding I Do’s, you may take’s, kisses and all that wonderful stuff. If that’s your thing anyway. Looking at the program I see the older step brother’s name as a groomsman, Kyle, but I'm told that he hasn't shown up so maybe Shana has gotten off easy.

Cristal and I are sitting at the singles table when Shana comes up to us and plops down into an empty chair. “God, remind me to never get married please.” She groans.

“I second that motion.” I follow.

“Oh, you two. When you meet the right guy all of this will be exactly what you want just you wait. Linnie, Lee is going to one day propose to you and you are going to be so damn happy your wedding will probably be bigger.” I do believe I let out a laugh so loud that the whole room turns and looks at me like I'm a crazy person.

“Don't fucking bet on it girl there is no fucking way I'm getting married. To much bullshit. I say if you like the guy be with him, you don't have to be married to define your feelings.” I say with my laughter finally dying down. I wonder what Lee feels about marriage. Wait what?

“Whatever. You'll change your mind someday.” She says. I take a sip of my champagne and Shana smacks me in the arm causing me to slosh some over the side. How wasteful, this is actually the good champagne. And it’s really getting to my head.

“Hey, what’s Lee doing here?” I hear Cris ask. What’s Lee doing here? I repeat her words in my head. I look up and sure enough, the next table over is Lee, in a tux I might add, looking directly at me with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“That’s Lee?” Shana says somewhere next to me. I'm so taken aback that he would be here. Did he know where I was and wanted to surprise me?

“Yes, that’s him,” I say to her then wave him over. His expression is one I'm not going to soon forget. It’s a look of shock and defeat all rolled up into one. What is that about? I get up and hug him when he gets to our table, feeling him tense up. I am missing something, he is acting strange, but I still introduce him to Shana.

“Lee this is Shane, Shane, Lee.” I make introductions but they just stare at each other.

“Lee? Since when do you start going by Lee? Kyle.” Her tone is so harsh that it almost doesn't register what the hell she just said.

“Kyle? What is she talking about?” I shake my head and rub my temples with the tips of my fingers, guess the bubbly is getting to me quicker than I thought.

“Can we talk Linn?” He says breaking through my haze.

“You are Kyle? Shane's step-brother?” The look on his face tells me he knows that Shana and I have definitely talked about him, and oh god he is married. Fuck Fuck. Anger takes over my face and he flinches.

“Please, Linn talk to me, babe.”

“I…” I start to say something but Shana interrupts.

“I can't fucking believe this,” Shana says and Lee shoots her a look.

“Please.” He asks me one more time holding out his hand. I hesitantly take it then look over at Shana. She just rolls her eyes and waves her hand in the air. I guess that’s as much of an okay as I'm going to get from her right now. He threads his fingers through mine and leads me to an empty area outside the venue. I'm shaking by now. I really don't realize it until he puts his hands on my shoulders sliding them down my arms and back up again. It’s so comforting. Then I remember why I'm shaking and jerk away.

“Your name is Kyle?”

“Yes, it’s Kyle but all my friends call me Lee. it’s my middle name. My family really are the only ones who call me Kyle.”

“You’re married.” It’s not a question or a statement, it comes out more as an accusation. “Is that why you stood me up and were late for things?” The look on his face tells me all I need to know. I have been sleeping with a married man. Even if this man isn't a happily married man with three kids he still is married nonetheless and that isn't something I do.

“Legally yes, I filed for divorce shortly before I met you. It hasn't been finalized yet because she wouldn't sign the damn papers until she saw me first. Which is why I was late getting here today. She showed up at my place before she came here. I don't know who the hell invited her…” She's here? Shit.

“Why didn't you say anything?”

“I didn't want to talk about it. She hurt me badly and since I met you that hurt has been dulled. I did some really fucked up things after I left her, senseless things.”

“Would sleeping with my best friend be one of those fucked up senseless things?” He has hurt in his eyes. I know I can’t fault him for this we didn't even know each other when it happened. Still, it really isn't going to be easy to get over the fact that Shana may have been or may still be in love with him. And let's not forget that he was the first guy she ever slept with.

“Yes, it was and I feel horrible about it, I told her as much.”

“You spent a weekend fucking her then blew her off. Sounds like it was horrible for you.” I know I'm being a snot.

“Fuck. How is it that Shane would be Shana? You never once called her Shana.”

“Because I call her Shane!” I yell at him. I need to go or things will only get worse if we continue to talk like this.

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