Page 6 of Hooked On Him
We both zip our lips, bringing our attention to Megan.
Another wave of regret smashes into me when I see my sister, my twin, my best friend, walking down the aisle. She looks so beautiful in her white gown, flowing train, and her dark brown hair done up nicely. She looks nothing like the tomboy she was when we were young. The girl I knew.
She’s a woman now. All grown up.
Happy tears sting the back of my eyes at the sight of her crying. Her soon-to-be husband, Roland, is sobbing like a baby, making me huff out a soft laugh. He really is head over heels for her. Has been since the moment they started dating.
I’m happy she found a man so crazy about her.
Makes me want one of my own.
Alas, it’s not my turn for my happily ever after. Not any time soon.
Still, the way her smile lights up her face as Roland takes her hands in his, the pure love and adoration for one another, sparks a tiny bit of jealousy deep within me.
Just because I’m single, it doesn’t mean I want to be. It’s just how life has worked out. Not only do I work at the bar every night of the week, but I also work at a vet clinic on the weekends. There really is no time for anything that isn’t school, work, and sleep.
Doesn’t mean I don’t wish I had someone to go home to, to hold me, cuddle me, make love to me.
Do you know how lonely it is when you're the type of person who craves those kinds of things and isn’t able to have it?
It’s fucking depressing.
I just keep telling myself it won’t be like this forever. Only one more year and I’ll graduate, take on a full-time job at the clinic, and be working normal hours, allowing me time to have a personal life.
Until then, I guess it’s just me, my hand, and my big box of sex toys to take care of my sexual urges because the idea of just hooking up with random guys does not appeal to me. And for any form of affection, I have Snicklefritz, my cat.
I really am a sad, lonely man at the ripe age of twenty-two.
***
The ceremony was beautiful. The vows had everyone crying.
After they said ‘I do’, we all left to get photos taken before coming back for the reception. The hall they picked is stunning. They really went all out. I’m glad. My sister deserves it.
I’m standing in the lobby of the hall, watching as guests make their way in and find their seats, just observing and taking a moment to think about what I’m going to tell my mom. She asked about this date I told her I was bringing when we were getting photos taken, and I did whatever I could to avoid answering her.
There’s no way I can avoid it now. She will realize I was lying when she notices me here alone. And then I have to deal with the embarrassment of admitting I lied. Or I could tell her I was stood up, but that’s just fucking sad.
I should have just come alone. I’d rather deal with her lecture about how it’s my time to find a good man and settle down thanto come off as the sad guy who got stood up or lied about having a date.
I’m only twenty-two for frig sakes. Just because everyone else in my family managed to find the loves of their lives as their high school sweethearts doesn’t mean that was my destiny.
Although for the longest time, I did think it was mine. That was until I realized the guy I thought I was in love with was actually a judgmental asshole who loved to make me feel bad about myself to the point I didn’t even know who I was anymore.
Leaving my ex was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s been a whole year since we broke up, and I feel a hell of a lot better about myself.
Doesn’t mean he hasn’t left me without some residual trauma.
So, here I am contemplating a plan to see if I can just dodge my mother so she can’t get me alone to grill me about this date.
“Have you been avoiding me?” Austin’s deep husky voice causes a shiver to run down my spine.
“No.” I turn around to look at him. He’s close, really close. Tilting my head back, I blink up at him, and my mouth goes dry.God, this man really is pretty. And fuck, he smells so damn good.
“Mhhmm,” he hums, lips curving in amusement.
“I haven’t been,” I huff, taking a step back so I can breathe. Something about being this close to Austin causes my brain to blank. “After the ceremony, I had to go with my family to take photos and listen to my mom complain about how I almost missed my sister's wedding.”
