Noah (21 page)

"Promise?" I ask, looking up at
him
with big, tear-filled eyes.

"I promise," he confirms as he brushes the few
fallen tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "Let's not make this
more than it has to be. I'll see you tonight. We can go back to the
way it was before. Nothing has to change."

"If nothing has to change then why is everything
changing?"

"Some details of our lives are changing, that's how
life works, shorty. One thing will never change. I'll always be in
your life. You can
’
t get
rid of me that easily. I
’
m the reliable one, remember?"

I shake my head and then leap into his arms, hugging
him around his neck tightly. "I love you, Noah."

"I love you
,
too, Skye. More than you'll ever know."

Deciding not to draw things out any further I
quickly get dressed and leave his apartment, refusing to say
anything else in fear I might burst out crying an
d
never leave. When I sneak back into our
apartment
,
Caleb is
still sound asleep. He could sleep through the apocalypse and never
know it.

I slip into my side of the bed and pull the covers
up, willing myself to fall asleep before he wakes up. I chose him
and I love him, but if I look at him right now
,
the walls I've put up will come crumbling
down and I'll confess everything.

***

After a few hours of sleep in my own bed–but not
nearly enough to get rid of my puffy, swollen eyes–I wake up to
Caleb handing me my cellphone.

"Your mom's on the phone," he whispers and then
walks back out of the room.

Lifting the phone to my ear I mumble groggily, "Did
you land already?"

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry but no. Your father and I
aren't going to be able to make it."

"What? Why?" This can't be happening. My parents
have to be there tonight. I need someone there to represent my
family and to tell me I'm making a good decision.

"Honey, our flight was cancelled and we tried
getting on another flight but everything is oversold.
There
’
s nothing we can
do."

"What if you chartered a plane?"

"Chartered a plane? Honey, we're not the
Kardashians. We can't afford something like that. It's just an
engagement party. It's not like we're missing the wedding."

I know she doesn't understand why tonight is such a
big deal to me. Back home no one has engagement parties. Hell, no
one even sends out save the dates, but over here it's different and
to Caleb's family this party is a huge deal, which is why I really
wanted them to be here tonight.

"I know, Mom. I just really wanted to see you."

"Oh, honey, I wanted to see you, too! But you'll be
home to visit soon with that fiancé of yours and Noah's there with
you if you're ever homesick. I'm always
only
a phone call away
,
though. Even tonight, if you want to talk
just call me."

"Thanks, Mom.
Listen, I
’
ve got
to start getting ready for tonight but tell
D
ad I say hello and I'm sorry I won't see
him tonight."

"I will
,
honey. Tell
Caleb
we're sorry, and give our
best to Noah. It's been almost a week since he's called your dad
and your father is worried."

"Noah still calls
D
addy?" I didn
’
t know that. When I was in high school he used to
call my dad all the time, but I always just thought that was to
butter my dad up for when he received the phone bill and saw all
the long distance calls between Noah and me. I had no idea he still
kept in touch with him.

"Yes, honey. They usually talk every other day. You
know Noah's like a son to your dad."

Hearing that Noah and my dad still talk is too much
to handle at the moment. "I have to go
,
M
om,
but I'll talk to you soon. Love you."

I tap the screen to end the call and throw the phone
down on the bed. There's so much I want to dissect about that phone
call, but today is not the day to do it. Today I'm going to try and
enjoy every moment, even if it kills me inside.

I leave the bedroom and head out to the kitchen
where I can smell freshly brewed coffee and it makes my eyes perk
up and my mouth water.

"Good morning, fiancée," Caleb greets me at the
counter in just his pajama pants and hands me a steaming cup of
coffee. I inhale the light roast and sigh out in relief that
caffeine will soon be flowing through my veins and perking up my
lax attitude.

"Are you ready for tonight?" I ask before sipping
the delicious and perfectly brewed beverage.

"I have the easy part, baby. I just have to shower,
get dressed and show up. You planned everything so the question
should be
,
are you ready
for tonight?"

No. No, I'm not ready. I'm an emotionally confused
basket case.

“Yep
,
" I
lie.

He smiles over at me approvingly. "I'm going to take
my coffee to the bedroom and make a few work calls. I invited a few
friends from work to the party tonight. I hope you don't mind. The
calls shouldn
’
t take too
long and then I'm yours for the rest of the day."

He shuffles off sexily to the bedroom and I watch
his sculpted backside as he shuts the door behind him, putting a
physical barrier between us. It's nothing compared to the emotional
barrier that's there and continues to build.

I take another sip of my coffee before setting it
down on the countertop and looking around the apartment.

The kitchen is clean, the living room is in order,
and
even
our shoes are
perfectly lined up by the door. Everything is in order, so why does
my life feel so chaotic?

I'm about to head back to the counter to finish my
coffee when the sun coming in our living room window reflects off
something small and silver over on the bookcase.

It's probably nothing, but I walk over anyway to see
what it is.

On the ledge of the bookcase, in front of all my
favorite romance novels, is a Hershey
’
s Kiss with a small, ripped piece of paper
underneath.

I can't control the smile that spreads across my
face as I pick up the familiar piece of candy that I've missed out
on this past month. Unwrapping the kiss I plop it in my mouth,
practically sighing in relief that this milk chocolate treat is
back in my life.

I keep the crumbled piece of foil in my hand and
snatch the paper to read it.

Skye,

I'm sorry you've missed out on these the past
several weeks. It was selfish of me to let my hurt feelings get in
the way of letting you know just how special you are. Happy
Unbirthday. I hope you have a fun time celebrating your unbirthday
tonight. I know that's not what the party is intended for, but it's
the only way I can look at it if I'm going to be able to show my
face tonight.

Promise me that no matter what, you continue to
follow your dreams. I'm okay with you choosing Caleb, I'm okay with
you choosing that life, as long as you don't let your dreams slip
by you in the process.

If you promise me that, I'll promise you something
in return. I'll promise to always be here for you, Skye. I'll
always be the friend you can count on. I'll always be reliable.

Happy Unbirthday!

Love,

Noah

Holding back tears I quickly fold up the note and
stuff it between two of my favorite books until I figure out where
I'm going to hide it permanently. I can't let Caleb see it but I
want to keep it so I can read his words over and over again. So I
can torture myself with what I could have had. When Noah finds
someone and settles down, I'll at least have his words to comfort
me at night and know that he loved me once.

It's sick to think this way, I know. I'm marrying
another man, but I can't help it. Noah's words feed my soul. I'm
not ready to part with them.

Chapter
Twelve

The party is in full swing. Everything turned out
beautifully and exactly how I intended it to be. The tiny lights
hanging from the ceiling glimmer
,
creating a soft, well
-
lit ambiance, the flowers are arranged in colorful
bouquets and spread throughout the large room, the food looks and
smells orgasmic and we have an endless amount of booze.

The top half of my hair is pulled back in a crystal
flower clip
,
leaving the
rest of my hair down and just shy of skimming my shoulders. I'm
wearing minimal make-up in neutral colors. The dark brown mascara
on my eyelashes surprisingly makes my sand-colored eyes stand out.
I'm wearing an off-white, knee length satin dress with off-white
shoes to match. I feel beautiful and very bride-like.

This night should go down as one of the best in
history, but I'm miserable.

When I thought of Noah with another woman in the
future, I meant the distant future. I never thought he'd show up to
my engagement party with a knockout on his arm less than
twenty-four hours after making love to me.

It's killing me inside.

I've faked happiness as the night's gone on. I've
plastered a fake, disingenuous smile on my face as I've said hello
to our guests and showed off my engagement ring. I've fielded
question after question about what our plans are for the wedding,
all the while wondering why he had to bring a date tonight. He had
to know how it would hurt me.

He's tried to get my attention tonight. He's signaled
for me, trying to get me alone, but I've avoided his advances at
all costs. Tonight is not the night to go off alone with him, or
discuss our situation. Plus, he should be entertaining his
date.

Now, as Caleb and I stand in front of some of our
dearest friends and family there's only one thing I feel.
Murderous.

There's only one thing I see.

Red.

Violent streaks of red and orange cloud my vision
casting a fiery haze over everyone at the party.

Did Noah really show up to my engagement party with
some two-dollar tramp who wouldn't know classy if it bit her in the
ass?

This is my day.

My party.

He may not agree with the choice I made. He doesn't
have to agree with it, but he could at least show me the respect of
not showing up to my engagement party with another woman.

He wants to hurt me. It's the only explanation.

"Skye and I are incredibly lucky to be celebrating
our upcoming nuptials with our family and closest friends. We know
some of you have traveled from out of state to be here and your
love for us does not go unnoticed. We're truly touched you chose to
celebrate with us tonight."

Caleb's arm that is wrapped around my waist pulls me
in closer to him as his
other
hand
squeezes
my
hip
softly. Tilting my head I smile up at him encouragingly
as he continues his speech to all of the important people in our
lives. Caleb always knows just what to say.

I try to focus on his words, I really do, but it's
hard when two brown orbs attached to a face with perfect soft lips
tucked behind a coarse, sexy beard
are
staring intensely in my direction. Especially
when those lips were kissing me yesterday, and then again this
morning.

Yes, everyone in the room is staring up at Caleb and
me, but Noah's eyes cut through me like no one else
’
s can. He may be mad at me, he may
want to talk to me
,
even
though I've been trying my best to ignore the infuriating man all
day, but that gives him no right to show up here with some whore
and glare at me like I've done something wrong.

As Caleb continues to speak next to me, I watch below
as the bimbo leans into
Noah
at their table and rests her hand on his upper
thigh, slowly inching her fingers up closer to his groin. I'm
starting to see violent streaks of red again.

Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I look away
disgusted and try to focus on the eloquent speech my fiancé is
giving.

He probably doesn't even know her name
...

God, why can't I focus?

The crowd all around us begins to clap with a few of
Caleb's buddies whistling and hollering, as they hold on tight to
their bottles of beer. Caleb's speech must be over. As great as
tonight is, I wish I had a moment alone to process all of my
thoughts.

Caleb's family approaches us first. His mother's
short blond hair is slicked back. She's in a long pastel and
sequined dress that covers most of her body. Draped over her neck
is a sparkling diamond
Cartier
necklace. I only know this
because she loves to show and tell all the wealth she has and what
she's acquired over the years.

Caleb's father stands next to her all stoic and
serious in a three-piece suit. He's looking around the room,
nodding in greeting to different people as they walk by.

"Skye, dear, I love how quaint this place is, but
it's kind of stuffy in here. You knew how many people were going to
be coming to this party, didn't you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Benton. I got each and every RSVP." She
can't even get through one night without taking a dig at me.

"Then you should have talked to the management here
and made sure they had the proper ventilation system required to
accommodate all these people. You could have avoided this mess with
just one phone call."

There is no mess to be avoided. Everyone seems to be
having a good time. Maybe it's stuffy in here because of her big
head and inflated ego.

I look up at Caleb, hoping he'll say something to
stand up for me, but of course his mouth stays wired shut. He'll
never stick up to his mother for me, no matter how horrible she
treats me. After all, he has a trust fund to think of.