Page 83 of The Fool

Stepping back from my ridiculous reflection, I stomp past the parade of girls, most of whom are pouting their injected fake lips at each other and taking selfies, and head straight to the bathroom. The first thing I do is take out my hair, practically orgasming over the relief of it. I then pull it into a loose bun to try and at least resemble the rest of the bridesmaids. I scrub off the makeup and replace it with some of my mother’s more subtle products. The dress and shoes cannot be helped but at least I don’t look like I’m about to begin offering my services on the street.

“Oh, Bea,” my sister gasps when she sees me. “You decided to look more…natural?”

I simply nod, then walk past her in such a way that she decides not to push the issue any further. Even my mother decides to keep quiet when she sees the stormy expression on my face. The other bridesmaids, however, whisper in hushed, unimpressed tones.

“No wonder she’s single,” one says to the other.

“Yeah, I would have chosen Emma too,” another responds.

Suck it up, Bea, the day can only last so long.

_____

Nate

Waking up to the sound of someone banging loudly on my door - so much so, I leap up in defensive mode – rarely means anything good. The blinding sun that seeps inside through the open blinds has me cursing and throwing my hands up over my burning eyes. They’re as dry as sand after drinking Brandy and only three hours of sleep.

“What the fuck?” I grumble when the asshole outside my door begins banging again.

“Nate, it’s eleven o’clock!” Cam yells through the door.

Holy shit! Why the fuck didn’t the alarm go off? I must have passed out cold last night; I never sleep in this late.

“Shit!” I shout as I start running around the room trying to dress. Of course, I end up falling spectacularly in my haste to get the hell out of here.

“You fucking idiot, you are so screwed,” Cam laughs with a throaty chuckle as he walks in to find me still naked and losing my temper with a pair of jeans that refuse to go on.

“Shut the hell up and help me get my shit together, will you? Damnit, I am so late, there’s no way I’m going to make the ceremony!”

“Calm down, Nate, you’re only getting yourself nowhere fast,” Cam continues laughing but is at least packing my bag while I attempt to move without falling over again.

Chapter 27

Bea

“Don’t say a fucking word!” I warn Ben.

The bastard took one look at my ridiculous outfit and burst out laughing. Easy for him, he’s been given a suit and a comb and left alone. Not only that, a lot of the bridesmaids have spied him and are now offering him flirtatious smiles and other unsubtle signs of their attraction. Some of them are whispering his name to one another, obviously remembering ‘Emma’s hot older brother’ from when he lived here with us. It’s quite the contrast to the reaction they gave me not too long ago.

“You look…er…” He tries to remain straight-faced but fails miserably.

“Like a whore?” I answer for him, complete with a fake smile and a huffy crossing of my arms.

“Er, well, yeah, pretty much,” he admits, then glances over at the other bridesmaids for a moment or two. “I’m guessing you toned it down a notch?”

“A notch, or ten, yeah.” My response earns me a burst of unapologetic laughter from him. “Look at my boobs, Ben! And my ass! You can see what color panties I’m wearing for Christ’s sake!”

“Yeah, perhaps I should pretend to be your date or something,” he suggests, now looking serious and full of brotherly concern.

“No way,” I reply firmly, “I’m already the sad sap whose boyfriend didn’t show, as well as being the groom’s ex; I’m certainly not up for being my brother’s date.”

“Christ!” he says looking at all the bitchiness going on between the other girls. “You might be my sister, but I can honestly say you look a thousand times more appealing than any of these prom queen wannabes.”

I laugh and cuddle him, glad that he’s here with me, even if he still refuses to tell me what is going on between him and Leah. She was supposed to be here too, but after their ‘break’, there’s been no mention of a reconciliation. I sure hope she’s ok, she’s been like a sister of sorts over the years, and I’d be devastated if they decided to end things altogether.

“Thankfully, we’re walking together, so stick with me, brat.”

“Will do, ass face!”

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