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ELEVEN
~ Aria ~
I froze. My whole body went rigid.
Married? Who said that?
It didn’t take long to figure out it was the little old lady latched onto me. Beaming, she turned to look up at me.
“I know it’s still early in your relationship, but we both know where it’s going. Your mom and I agreed that it was inevitable you two would end up together from the start. So, what’s the fuss in planning it out now? Samuel will get around to the ring when he stops acting a damn fool.”
I looked across at Sam helplessly. All he did was shrug, but that in itself was a response. He wanted me to play along. It was just fun for him.
And yet, it was my heart on the line.
The silence after returning home from the swimming pool had been deafening. I had hoped he would message me, call me, anything. Just to let me know, it wasn’t all in my head. That I meant something more than a source of fun. I had given my body to him, let him do things that I hadn’t done in a long time, and now I was vulnerable. I needed a sign. Anything to show there was some truth in his actions—something to let me know that emotions were involved.
And yet there was nothing.
“Although we are typically booked up, there are some dates that have opened up for next year. I was wondering whether we could get something penciled in?” the priest asked.
Sam rubbed the back of his neck, “I mean, this is all rather too quick, mom. Don’t you think you should have asked me before doing something like this?”
“Just humor your old mom, won’t you? I want to see you both happily married before I join my sweet James in the afterlife.”
The mention of his father’s name was enough to put Sam back on track, it seemed. I, however, was still not swayed. I couldn’t continue to pretend if that night at the pool meant nothing.
“Sometime in June would be great,” Maya squeezed my hand, “I’ve always thought June weddings were classy. James and I were married in June.”
The priest nodded, “June it is. Is there anything particular you wanted during the ceremony?”
Sam, clearly playing along, grinned, “Just my bride joining me at the top of the aisle is enough for me.”
The look he gave me would have usually had me joining in, but my heart wasn’t in it. Desperately, I tried to search his eyes for some sort of emotion. Any sign to help me make a decision.
There was nothing.
“I know that it is quite the rave with the youngsters these days to wear revealing clothes, but I would like to remind you that this is a church. A holy place.”
Maya nodded next to me, “Aria has always been a respectable woman. I’m sure she would look amazing in any type of dress with a body like that.”
I could feel myself starting to heat up. It was all getting too much for me. Had Sam really used me for sex? How could I keep up this charade knowing that I was just fun for him? It felt like my throat was swelling up, and I knew that a panic attack was fast coming on. I looked over at Sam for support, but he was too busy making plans with the priest.
That was it—the final straw.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I cried, my voice louder than I had originally anticipated.
All the remaining mass goers turned to face us, clearly ready for a public performance. Hot angry tears welled up in my eyes as Sam looked across at me.
“What’s wrong?” he tried to grab my hands, but I wrenched them free.
“I can’t lie anymore, not when my feelings are involved. I know we only set out to make your mom happy, but I can’t help the way I feel. And you used me. The other night… why didn’t you call me? Was it all just fun and games for you? I can’t deal with this right now.”
I didn’t give Sam any time to respond as I turned on my heel and fled. I ran past the open-mouthed onlookers, out the front door, and down the street. My mind must have reverted back to my childhood days as it led me through all the shortcuts to get back to the house. Kelly opened the door just in time to see me bawling my eyes out. She caught me under the arms before I dropped to the floor and led me into the living room. Propping me up on the couch, she ordered the boys out of the room before wrapping me in her arms. Stroking my hair, she let me sob it out. After what seemed like an eternity, I sniffled back to reality.
“Sam?” she asked.
“Sam,” I confirmed.
