Submission

Chapter 43

Molly brought Lorelei to the hotel gym. There were two men working out that gave them an odd look when they saw Molly in her wedding dress, but they continued lifting weights. Molly sat down on the bench and Lorelei sat next to her.

She could see her reflection in the mirror that covered the wall in front of them. Her makeup was smeared from both crying and having sex with Jesse. She could not believe that the two happened so close together. Her hair was a mess and she tried to fit the loose strands back into the pins.

"So what happened," Molly said. "Start at the beginning."

Lorelei told her friend every detail. She started at her and Jesse in the bathroom, the admission of love, and then her encounter with Bryan. Lorelei's voice shook as she tried not to cry. Molly kept her arm around Lorelei. She rubbed her arm as Lorelei spoke.

"He already told you that he loves you?" Molly asked.

"He did," Lorelei said. "I said that I love him too, but I do not know if I do anymore. The Jesse that I love would have never punched Bryan."

"Bryan was forcing himself on you though, right?"

Lorelei looked up at Molly and furrowed her brows.

"Are you defending him?" Lorelei asked.

"No," Molly said. "You know Jesse is screwed, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Bryan is a cop, remember?"

Lorelei's heart sunk in her chest. She had completely forgotten that Bryan was a police officer. She knew that this was not going to end well for Jesse.

"Do you think he will press charges?" Lorelei asked.

"Unfortunately, yes," Molly said.

Lorelei bent forward as she struggled to breathe. Molly moved her hand so that she was rubbing Lorelei's back. Lorelei took in a sharp breath to stop herself from crying.

"Does Jesse know Bryan is a cop?" Molly asked.

"No," Lorelei said. "I never mentioned him before. He didn't know that I dated Bryan."

Molly sighed.

"Do you think that would have changed anything?" she asked.

"I don't know," Lorelei said. "When Jesse saw Bryan kissing me he had this look in his eyes. I had never seen it before. It scared me."

"Has he ever been rough with you? Well, outside of the bedroom."

"Hell, no. He always treated me so well."

Molly bit on her lip as she nodded her head. She stood and straightened her dress. She extended her hand down to Lorelei.

"Let's get back to the dancefloor," she said.

"I think I am going to be sick," Lorelei said.

"Come on," she said. "Let's get your mind off of it."

Lorelei's hand shook as she took Molly's. She tightened her grip on her hand as they walked out of the gym. She swallowed past the lump growing in her throat when she could hear the beat of the music coming from the wedding. Lorelei let go of Molly's hand to go to the bar. Molly followed.

"What are you doing?" Molly asked.

"Let's do a shot," Lorelei said.

"A shot? Are we in university?"

"Two Kamikaze shots, please."

The bartender nodded before making the shots. Lorelei had not done a shot since the night at The Alibi. She needed something to calm her nerves so that she could return to Molly's wedding and pretend that nothing was wrong.