Your Exception (17 page)

I give a small chuckle, then get to the point. “I was wondering what you were doing tomorrow night?”

“I’ve got nothing going on. Did you want to hang out?”

“Actually, I was about to order some Metallica tickets and wanted to see if you were able to come with me and my friend?”

“Hell yeah! Are there even tickets still available?”

“Yeah, they opened up some extra seating today.”

“Sweet. Do you want to meet at my house and we can all go together? Do you remember where I live?”

“Yeah, I remember. We’ll plan to be there around five?”

“Perfect. Let me know how much and I’ll give you the money tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. I invited you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks for calling me, Wren.”

I hang up feeling better.
Take that, Logan. I don’t need you to have a good time! I feel bad using Aaron like that to get back at Logan in some way. Aaron is cool, and I like him. Besides, Cassidy will be there, so it won’t be too weird, and there will definitely not be any of those awkward silences. Cassidy is good at filling those all on her own.

***
**

I pull into Aaron’s driveway, thankful that I remembered where to turn. He’s standing outside waiting for us in a black coat and fitted blue jeans. His hair is a little longer now but still has that small faux hawk. I pull up and roll down my window a little.

“Want me to drive?” he asks.

“No, get in. My car is already warm.”

“I have a heated garage. Mine is warm too.”

“Ooh. Now get in, Fancypants!” I tease.

He smiles and opens the door to the back. He throws a couple hundred dollar bills my way. “For the ticket.”

“I said I’d pay. Besides, that’s way too much.” Tossing it behind my seat. He grabs it and puts it inside of my center console. “I insist,” he says firmly.

“Fine, I’ll take it!” Cassidy exclaims as she opens the console back up and removes it.

“Thank you, Aaron,” I say, taking the money from Cassidy and tucking it in my purse as I drive.

The streets are already packed as I pull into the ramp and try to find a parking spot. Aaron stands close to me as we step into the elevator, then walk to the venue. He smells like expensive cologne. I could smell it in the car on the way over here, and I liked it. I pull the tickets from my purse, thankful I didn’t bring my gun, as it gets checked by security. I didn’t want to have to run all the way back to my car and lock it in the safe I keep in there for instances like these.

As we head through the hall, Aaron leans into me and whispers, “So what we’re going to do is get into our seats, and then once the concert starts, we’ll look for empty seats and make our way towards the front. That way, we get a better show.”

“Can we do that? What if those are someone’s seats and they’re just running late?” I’m horrified that someone might come and kick us out.

“Then we’ll apologize and find somewhere else to sit. It’s no big deal, I do this all the time. It’ll be fine.”

I reluctantly nod in agreement as we find our row. We sit down, and I take in the crowd that’s already gathered. Aaron is on one side with Cassidy on the other, and the stage towards our right. As Cassidy talks about drama from the bar, I get the feeling Aaron is being left out. He hasn’t said a word, and I’ve never thought of him as quiet. I turn to say something to him, but I don’t even know where to begin. Why did I think it was a good idea to invite him? Now I feel as if I have to entertain him and make sure he has a good time.

“So did you happen to catch the names of the opening bands?” I ask.

“Nah, I didn’t look. I was just excited to see Metallica. I didn’t care who else was playing.”

“Fair enough,” I agree. Although, I’m always excited to see other bands, especially if they’re new and I get to listen to them for the first time. I love my music.

We sit in silence until Cassidy leans across me and asks about Eric.

“He’s actually here somewhere with his brother. He got tickets when they first went on sale.”

“I’m going to text him and see where he’s sitting,” she says as she takes out her phone.

Finally, the lights dim and the first band starts. Everyone around us screams and cheers. I’m relieved that the music is so loud I don’t have to try and make conversation with Aaron. After the second band starts, Cassidy gets up and says she has to run to the restroom. I don’t have to go and don’t want to leave Aaron alone, so I stay. After about twenty minutes, Cassidy makes her way back.

“I got so lost!” she exclaims. She pulls my head towards her as she yells into my ear, “She’s here.”

“Who’s here?” I ask, confused.

“I saw Holly. She was fixing her hair in the mirror when I came out of the stall. She’s wearing a hideous skirt,” she says as she makes a face. “She looks ridiculous in this crowd. Even I tried to dress to fit in.”

My heart sinks. Deep down I know who she’s here with.

Cassidy continues, “She didn’t see me, so I followed her. She’s sitting two sections over.”

“Are you sure it was her?”

“I’m positive. Same stupid butterfly tattoo.”

I frown. She could be with someone else.

“I saw him too,” she says reluctantly.

I look at her. “Logan?”

She nods. “It was him. And they were sitting next to each other.”

I shake my head. He’s such an asshole.

Aaron nudges me. “Ready?”

“For what?” I ask.

“To move and get better seats.”

“Sure.” I look to Cassidy. “Ready?”

She grabs her purse and stands up with us. We go up the stairs and back out into the hallway, following Aaron’s lead. We walk roughly three sections over so we are dead center to the stage. I subtly glance towards my left in the section Cassidy claims Logan and Holly are sitting. I don’t see them as we head towards the front, and I can only hope Logan sees me with Aaron as we walk by. We end up getting great seats. I want to text him ‘I see you’ just to see what happens. So he knows that I know.

I turn my attention back to the concert. Fire comes up from every direction as James Hetfield sings his heart out. They play every favorite song I have and more. I try to embrace the moment and have a good time. Nothing this exciting should be ruined for me by some guy and some nasty girl. I just wish I didn’t know Logan lied to me so he could bring Holly with him instead. Why did he even ask me to come?
There’s no one else I’d rather go with. That’s what he’d told me. What a crock of shit. Why am I even surprised? I guess I’ve finally learned my lesson.

I look over at Aaron. I don’t like him like that. I just used him in some way to get back at Logan. On one hand, I’m glad I brought him, but I didn’t do it with honest intentions.

After the concert is over, I continue glancing around for proof that they’re together, but I see nothing. We are thrown together in the crowd of people pushing their way towards the exit as Aaron puts his arm around me. It makes me uncomfortable, knowing this action is completely unnecessary. Cassidy is clinging to my free arm as we follow the flow of bodies. Aaron takes his time letting go of my shoulders as we get outside where there’s plenty more room. I look at him and give him an awkward smile as we trek to my car. Cassidy talks to Aaron as I drive in silence to his house. Fortunately, it isn’t very far away. He hesitates before getting out of the car, thanking me for the ride and invite. I think he was hoping I’d walk him to the door and hug him or kiss him or something. As cute as he is, my heart isn’t into it.

As we pull away, Cassidy asks, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m just so stupid.”

“You’re not stupid. I think you’ve been confused for a long time about all this. About him.”

“I agree, but you know what? I think I always knew, somewhere deep down, that it was never going to work between us. I really do. I remember thinking that very thing when we first started dating. Before he even stood me up…the first time.”

“I thought it was going to work out. I really thought that somehow you were going to end up with him. I guess I was wrong.”

“Yeah, you and me both.”

“You know what we need?”

“I’m not going to the bar. I don’t want to.”

“No. We’re going to have a spa day. I’m talking the works.”

“I’ve never even been to a spa before.”

“Oh, honey. Once you go, you won’t be able to wait to come back. It’s ah-mazing!”

“Sounds good then. Wren and Cassidy’s Day of Fun!” I say in my best Janice impression from the TV show
Friends.
We both laugh. “How much do those things cost?”

“How about we save for a couple of weeks, then we’ll go beginning of next month?”

“I have most of my earnings from The Edge saved, so I can throw some money down for a girl day. Great idea. I can’t wait!”

Cassidy and I decide to sleep in as late as we can on our spa day, which only turns out to be around ten in the morning. Our goal was for noon, but that didn’t happen. We sit together in the kitchen and eat some breakfast as we go over what we want done at the spa. We opt for the half day instead of the full. That way, we have time to go to the mall later because what’s a girl day without a little shopping
?

After we are dressed and ready to go, we climb into my Optima and make the drive towards Naturally You Spa. We walk in and pay a small fortune at the front desk before being greeted by a small framed, older woman.
She brings us down the hall towards a couple of smaller rooms for us to undress before our massage. I’m not used to being pampered, and I’m slightly uncomfortable at first, but eventually give in and don’t have a care in the world for the next forty-five minutes.

Cassidy wants a facial and some
much needed
waxing done, so I opt for a body treatment instead. We’re then brought to a different room where we are covered in oils and balms, followed by manicures and pedicures. I’m afraid to go out into the world and stub my toe or smash my beautiful fingernails.

After four glorious hours of beautifying ourselves, we are at the mall. Cassidy keeps trying to talk me into buying several cocktail dresses since I don’t own a single one. I end up buying two dresses, three maxi skirts, six tops, shoes, and jewelry to go with it. I like the maxi skirt option because it’s stylish and I don’t feel like I’m going to flash m
y
hoo h
a
to the world. Not that I don’t wear panties…

Now that we are broke
, and it’s time for dinner, we sit down at The Cheesecake Factory and splurge some more. We’ve had the best day that was much needed for the two of us. As always, our conversations always come back to books and boys, and we’ve been discussing books since we stopped talking about fashion, so that leaves us with boys.

“How are you and Jack? Getting any more serious?” I ask.

“No, nothing more than usual. How are you dealing with the Logan thing?”

“I actually haven’t thought about him all day.” He may have briefly entered my mind a few times, but he didn’t last in my thoughts very long. He’s a dick, and that’s that.

“I’m glad. You seem to be a little more like your old self again. I like it. I miss the old you.”

“I feel better. I’m glad we had this day together.”

“I don’t think it was the spa that makes you feel like that. I think it’s you. Maybe because we finally had a chance to talk about everything. It’s good for you to open up and talk about those kinds of things. Don’t hold stuff like that in,” she says with concern in her voice.

“I don’t feel like I really hold anything in. I talked with you, Zachary, and my mom about what was going on with my breakup with Alec. This thing with Logan only lasted three months but was somehow far worse than the last experience. I don’t understand it. With Alec, it was clear as day why it didn’t work out. Cheating is unforgivable.”

Cassidy shakes her head. “Cheating is forgivable. I’ve been cheated on and stayed with the guy. I got over it. You remember Patrick? It would come back and haunt me every once in a while, but people make mistakes,” she claims.

“I want someone to love me, and only me. I don’t want to share.”

She studies me, but stays silent.

“What are you thinking?” I ask.

“I wonder what’s going to happen to us in the future. Who we’ll end up with. If we’ll truly be happy. Do you ever wonder that?”

“All the time. I wish I knew,” I replied, honestly. “Do you hope to end up with Jack?”

“I would be happy with Jack. I don’t know if I could get any better.”

“Don’t say that. Do you still see Eric?”

“No. He was not very good in bed, therefore, we are not compatible.”

I snicker. “It’s good to be sexually compatible. I think it’s very important. It’s certainly not everything, or even the most important thing in a relationship, but I do think it’s important.”

“I think it’s more than important. It’s a necessity. Speaking of hot sex, don’t hate me,” she pauses before continuing, “but I think you should try going out with Zach.”