Sizzle (Bad Boy Rockers) (Volume 1)(42)

He was downstairs. I’d heard his voice about five minutes ago so I was rushing through getting dressed and quickly pulled my hair up on top of my head with a clip, before I dashed out of my room. I quickly walked downstairs and was about to push my way through to the kitchen when I heard another voice. ‘Her’ voice; it stopped me dead in my tracks.

What was she doing here? Hadn’t Jack spoken to her yet? Cancelled everything?

It would kill me if I walked in there only to find them all over each other.

Suck it up, Thalia. With a deep breath, shoulders back, I walked into the kitchen.

Mia was sitting at the kitchen table with her face buried in her hands crying. Jack was standing with his back against the sink, rolling his eyes and Liam was hovering over Mia.

“Thalia, you’re up,” Liam stated, while patting Mia on the back.

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

I looked across to Jack who hadn’t said anything, but looked as though he was hurting.

“Are you okay?”

He ran his hands down his face without replying.

“Why does this have to happen three weeks before the wedding? Why did she have to go and do that?” Mia moaned.

When she mentioned the wedding I glanced back to Jack who seemed to have a mask in place.

My heart was beating wildly in panic. Had he not cancelled the wedding?

I pulled a chair out at the table and sat down before I fell down.

“Rebecca broke her arm last night when she fell over something in the dark. I’m getting married in three weeks and now my bridesmaid can’t be my bridesmaid. What can I do?”

Was she saying her friend couldn’t be a bridesmaid because she’d broken her arm? How stupid.

“Why can’t she be your...bridesmaid?” I stumbled over the bridesmaid word, not wanting to think about her wedding.

“Didn’t you just hear what I said? Are you an idiot?” Mia screeched.

“That’s enough.” Jack shouted, stunning her into silence. “Thalia is a guest in this house and she will be treated as such, not called names by you.”

Inside I lit up at Jack’s defense of me, but outwardly I tried not to show any emotion. He sure looked pissed though and wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Thalia. I just can’t believe this is happening.”

Okay, I could be nice. “I’m sorry about your friend, but why can’t she be a bridesmaid if she’s only broken her arm?”

“I don’t want wedding photographs with her having a white cast on her arm.”

Was she for real? I needed to keep my mouth shut before I said something to set her off again.

“I need coffee.”

Standing, I walked towards Jack who was standing next to the coffee pot and kept my eyes on him, until he met mine. I couldn’t explain the feeling I got when we locked gazes, and it wasn’t good. Something had happened within the past three days.

Without moving away from me, Jack reached up into the cupboard and retrieved a cup, then poured me my first coffee of the day. Passing it to me our fingers touched, sending tiny flutters of awareness through me.

“We need to talk,” he whispered.

I quickly glanced across to Liam and Mia, but they were engrossed in conversation.

“When?”

“Later,” he said to me then walked towards the table. “I’m going to be late if I don’t leave now.”

“Okay, I’ll look after Mia,” Liam said.

“Hey, wait,” Mia said, suddenly lifting her head from her hands and looked at me. “Thalia, you can be my bridesmaid. You’re about the same size as Rebecca. Oh, this is perfect.”

I was dying inside. This couldn’t be happening. Jack looked as shocked as I felt.

“Mia, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” At least Liam hadn’t lost his voice.

“It’s the perfect idea.” Mia waved her hands in the air, “She’s going to be here so it’s not out of her way or anything. It’s perfect.”

“Thalia, you okay?” Jack asked.

“Speechless,” was all I came out with. My mouth hung open in shock and I snapped my teeth together to prevent the denial that was on the tip of my tongue bursting free.

There was no way I could be a bridesmaid, not when she was marrying Jack. No way. Out of the question. No way!

“Jack, why are you looking at Thalia like that?” Mia asked, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of us.

I hadn’t noticed him looking at me at all; I was still in melt down.

“I think...” Jack began slowly.

“That it’s a wonderful idea.” Mia interrupted him, her voice hurried.

“I’ll take you down to the bridal boutique so you can be fitted for the dress.” Mia started wiping the tears from her face. Glancing down at her hands, she must have just realized she was still holding Liam’s hand because she dropped it quickly, as though it stung.

Jack turned to me, “I’m sorry,” he whispered looking so sad. All I wanted to do was walk into his arms and hold him, be held by him, never letting go.

My tears were so close to the surface. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and knew that my heart was breaking. The wedding was going ahead as planned. I knew that with every breath in my body.