Siren

Curveball

I stared at him in utter shock and disbelief. The sound of the fireworks and surrounding bustle of people disappeared. It was as though the world totally froze. No movement, no sound. Just me and Sean existed.

"What?"

Sean took my hand, his grip on me tightening.

"I can't marry her. I made a promise to her, one that I intended to keep. But the moment that I met you, I've been struggling to see a logical reason to stick to the deal."

He cupped my cheek, brushing his thumb over my lips.

"I haven't been able to spend a single day, without you being on my mind. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to spend a year apart from you, and there's no one else that I want, especially not, as my wife."

I couldn't believe that he'd finally said it. That he was actually going to do it. I'd been hoping to hear him say that for so long now that him finally speaking the words, they seemed too impossible to take in.

"Roxy, did you hear me? I want to give us a real shot, I want to be with you."

Sean's voice seemed to snap me out of my daze, and without thinking about anything else, I kissed him. As the sound of the fireworks returned, and the different coloured flashes of light illuminated the area, I gripped hold of him as tight as I could, deepening our kiss as if he was the only thing that gave me life.

With work first thing in the morning for both of us, Sean dropped me home after the fireworks. He told me he would speak to Mel this weekend once he was done with his caseload for the week. I felt both excited and nervous. I wasn't sure how it was going to go between them, but I couldn't wait to not have to sneak around anymore. To be able to go around like a normal couple, to be together and not have to hide anything. I couldn't deny that over these weeks, I had really fallen hard for Sean. I'd tried to ignore it, not wanting to face the pain that would hit me if he went through with the wedding, but now, with him cancelling it, I could finally accept how I was feeling. I went to bed that night, happy and hopeful, looking forward to the following week, when all this drama would be in the past.

I was just clocking off for my lunch break a few days later, walking to the kitchen to grab some lunch when I saw Mel, sitting at reception. A part of me wanted to walk past and pretend I hadn't seen her. But she looked up and I knew that wasn't an option.

"Mel," I walked forwards, holding up my hand to let the receptionist know that I was there, she hung up the phone and went back to her paperwork. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I have a few things to take care of, and I need you to come with me."

There was something even more unpleasant than usual in her face, and I instantly knew it was wedding related. I wished Sean could have ended this last night. It's not for much longer, I kept repeating in my head, trying to keep from snapping at her.

"You realise that I'm at work though right?"

"Good thing that I'm not talking about right now then isn't it."

"When?" I asked, fighting not to roll my eyes.

"Six o'clock, I have a meeting with the wedding planner, we have to choose the cake, and finalise the decorations at the venue, then I need your help to send out all the invitations,"

She continued talking and talking, I began to tune out, I wondered if she'd even notice if I walked off by this point, she was in her element.

"It took so long for them to be done, turns out golden foil embossed invitations have to be specially ordered in advance, but they made an exception." She grinned broadly, and I realised that this was the point where a reaction was needed.