22 – Alex
If it hadn’t been for the close to one hundred people in the venue, as my brother gave his speech, I would have walked up to
him and knocked him out.
Of all the things he could say to Jolene, the girl who had been his best friend for thirteen years, why did he have to tell her she’d once been an option for him, and he had thought about spending his life with her.
I always knew my brother had a mean streak to him, being the youngest and spoiled beyond belief, but that statement to his best friend of all people, had been especially cruel.
I wouldn’t have cared less if mom and dad disowned me, for smacking out their baby. It would have been worth it. I could have walked away from the whole thing, knowing he deserved it.
But comforting Joey was more important right now than going back into that room and socking my brother. “I’m sorry, doll.”
My hand was on the back of her head as she fell to pieces in my arms, clinging to me, as she wept,
Joey’s hands twisted tighter in my shirt, stepping closer to me as if she was trying to climb inside my chest for safety. I wrapped my other arm tightly around her shoulders, cradling her head against me and closed my eyes, as I rested my chin on the top of her head.
This was killing me. I wanted to rage against my brother for the pain he was causing to his best friend. I wanted to walk her straight back in there and show him what his words had done to her. I wanted to tell him he was a piece of shit, and he didn’t deserve Jocy.
“How could he have said that?” she whimpered against my chest, I could feel the wetness of her tears on my shirt and the anger I had with Jake intensified. The only thing stopping me from going back in there was Joey’s need of me. “I–I can’t believe he said that. In front of everyone and people laughed.
“I know, doll. It wasn’t fair.”
Joey pulled away from me and looked up. Her mascara was smudged, and her eyes were red raw. She sniffed, frowning. “I hate him.”
“Oh doll,” I pulled her back into my arms and soothed my hand over her back. “Hate is such a strong word Jake and I have never seen eye to eye, and I’d like nothing better than to go back in there and punch him in the mouth. But I don’t hate him and neither do you.”
“Yes, I do.” She mumbled and I smiled. She might have thought right at this moment, she did, but by the morning, she would just be broken and numb and I wouldn’t be able to comfort her anymore, because I’d be on my way back to New York, like the good little soldier I was… Her hands went to my hips, her nails digging into my skin through the shirt, and she mumbled again, “Take me away from here. Please!”
I stepped back, putting my hands on her shoulders and nodded, looking down at her. “Where are your things?”
“In the bridal room. There’s a bag, everything is in it. You won’t miss it.”
“Okay.” I leaned in, planting a kiss on her forehead and stepped back. “Wait here, I’ll be as quick as I can.”
She nodded and I turned, moving through the gardens and went into the bridal room, smiling.
Yep. There was Joey’s bag
It was the only bag in there which had a huge SUCK MY DICK on the side of it. Scooping up the bag, 1 left the room and headed back toward the venue, seeking out my parents. I didn’t want to leave without at least telling my mom I was going. Dropping the bag to the ground just outside the door, I walked in.
People were milling around the married couple, hugging and laughing with them and I gave the group a wide breadth, even though I could hear Jake calling out for me. If I went anywhere near him, he’d be sporting a black eye for his honeymoon. Moving through the room, I finally found my mom and tapped her gently on the shoulder. “Ma, can I talk to you for a
moment
She smiled and nodded, stepping away from the woman she was talking to. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Tm beading ofT”
She looked at me and frowned, looking down at the small gold watch on her wrist. A gift from my father after Jake’s birth.
“Already? Why?”
I had to think quickly. I should have known she’d want to have a reason as to why I wanted to leave early.
“Joey asked me to take her back to her apartment. She’s not feeling well, and I have a plane to catch early in the morning.
“Oh, Joey isn’t well? 1 thought she was right here?” my mom looked around the room, only now realizing that her son’s best friend was missing. Did no one care about her and her feelings about what Jake had said: “Well, Jake and Phoebe are leaving soon to get ready to go to Hawaii. I was about to start cleaning up, so I guess it’s good timing. Are you going to say goodbye to your brother?”
“I can’t. Ma. Joey is really not well. I will send him a text when I get Joey home.” I lied and hoped she didn’t catch it. There was no way I was sending a text to Jake. Not now, not ever. As of when he’d said those things to Joey, in front of everyone, he was no longer a part of my world.
Mom turned back to me and smiled, reaching up and caressing the side of my face and I wished I didn’t have to go back to New York. Fuck I missed my parents so much. “The way you look out for others. You’ve matured so much, my little
Samurai
I smiled at the name she used to call me as a child, and I bowed my head at her. “Okaasan arigato.”
“Go, make sure Joey is okay. Call me tomorrow night, once you have gotten back to New York. We will try to make a date to come and see you.”
1 bowed again, leaning forward and kissed my mother’s check, before turning and leaving the venue.
1 scooped Joey’s bag into my hands, slinging it over my shoulder and made my way back out to where I’d left her, by the pond
