Trust Issues

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

We follow everyone out of the church and into the parking lot. I check my phone and see that my second mom has sent me the location of the reception, it's being held in a fancy looking manor. We get in the car and Dave puts the address into the gps touch screen of his car.

Before we set off I connected my phone to the car again and continued the 'about to fight a bitch' playlist I was playing earlier to get my hyped up. I turn up 'wingman' by Boys World and just let the feminism wash over me, at one point I just forgot about everything and just started yelling out the lyrics.

"I DON'T NEED A WINGMAN! CAUSE I'M TOO FLY ON MY OWN!"

"NOT A BRAND NEW THING THAT A QUEENDOM DOESN'T NEED A KING!

"SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY'S FEELING LIKE THEY GOTTA HAVE A SOMEBODY, BUT MY EQUATIONS ME + ME INSTEAD OF ME+ YOU!"

~song changed to girlfriends by Boys World~

"IF THEY AINT IMPRESSED YOU GONNA HAVE TO GO!"

"BABY I COULD LOVE YOU OR LOVE YOU NOT, HOPE YOU DOWN WITH THE FRIENDS I GOT BUT IF YOUR NOT GOTTA CUT YOU OFF"

"YOU KNOW GIRLS STAN GIRLFRIENDS OVER BOYFRIENDS"

This continued for the entire ride to the manor, I'm honestly surprised I didn't lose my voice. Note to self thanks to the girls for the monthly karaoke nights, they actually made my vocal cords stronger.

Dave parks closer to the road, you know, just in case we need to make a mad dash out of there. I check my mackupe in the mirror and touch up my lipstick and spray some extra perfume before unlocking the door. I walk up to Dave and he gives me his arm to latch onto, from here on out the plan is in action.

We walk into the reception hall and show the bouncer our invitations, he lets us in and we make our way to my second mother and her husband. They seem to be talking to another couple, who I guess are the girl's parents. I look around and see the lucky couple has yet to arrive. We continue to the two couples and interrupt their conversation. I greet mom #2 the way I used to, with a smile and a hug, I can feel the looks from the bride's family. I break the hug and turn towards them, mom #2 introduces them and confirms my suspicions. She starts introducing me as an old family friend and I stop her.

"There's no need to hide it ma, I don't feel awkward being here. Hi I'm the groom's ex, I've always been close to these two so when we split we didn't let that ruin our relationship. Ma was so considerate leaving that part out but I rather not hide our past, it's the reason I know these two lovely people in the first place."

Mom #2 gives me a tight side hug for my kind words, I hug her back and watch the shocked faces of the new couple. I have to hold back a laugh as I continue to smile at mom #2.

"So you invited her Helen?"

"Oh no she had no idea I was invited. I have to say I was surprised her son invited me, but I guess this is his idea of mending our relationship."

I wait for my words to sink in as I watch their brains rack behind their eyes, they start to realise what happens when we get interrupted by a commotion at the front. We turn towards the noise and see that the bride and groom have finally entered, it looks like the bride wanted to change into a different dress for the reception. I step away from mom #2 and hang onto Dave as we watch the two make their way towards us, greeting every guest on their way.

It looks like they're too busy to notice us yet, we watch as the number of guests they need to great dwindles until there's no one left. My ex turns his attention back to us and freezes in place when he notices me and Dave in the middle of their parents. It takes a few seconds for his new wife to realise he stopped moving but when she does I notice confusion in her eyes. She looks at me for a few seconds before a look of recognition lights up her face.

"You're that girl on Helens profile picture, the one on facebook."

"Ma, you still have that old thing up? That was years ago."

"I can't help it, Brook, that's my favourite picture. It has the whole family in it."

"So you're one of Jake's relatives?"

"What ew no, the thought of that makes me wanna puke."

"Haha can't blame you sweetie if you two were related, your relationship would have been concerning."

"I'm his ex, and a now semi permanent member of the family according to ma."

"His ex?"

"We were just as shocked as you dear. Jake here never told me he was inviting Brook to the wedding, If I had known I would have had a talk with him."

"Which is why I didn't tell you. Brook, do you mind if we talk over there? Without the parents breathing down our necks."

"You're just scared your mom will hit you."

"Please."

"Fine, Dave lets go. I'll talk to you later ma."

We follow Jake and his new wife to the other side of the room. Once we're away from his mother, his whole demeanour changes.

"I was wondering when your fake polite face was gonna leave."

"I see your sharp tongue is out now too."

"Baby why did you invite.....her of all people?"

"I'm going to pretend you said that in a nicer way. If you must know the reason it's because he wanted to rub it in. it's bad enough you cheated on me with her, for the dumbest reason too might i add, but now you're going to marry the bitch?"

"Hey I'm not a bitch!"

"Sweety I could have called you way worde, but since it's your wedding day I'm being nice. Did you tell her the reason you slept with her is because you thought I was fucking Dave over here?"

"Babe is that true?"

"Honey I-"

"Ho ho, you never told her? You led her on to get back at me and went running into her arms when I found out and dumped your ass and you didn't even tell her?"

"That's cold dude."

"Oh shut up. The only reason she brought you here was to get under my skin."

"Oh so I can't bring my boyfriend to your wedding?"

With that one sentence I had the attention of all of them. Dave looked shocked, Jake looked shocked and a little upset and his wife still looked hurt from before. It looks like Jake is starting to realise his plan isn't going to work, he just gave me an excuse to look great and have free food. I shoot him a smile and I see him start to get agitated.

"What's wrong? Your plan to make me feel like shit not working?"

"Babe please tell me what is going on. Why did you invite your ex to our wedding?"

"Yea, babe tell her why you invited me to your wedding behind your finances and mom's back."

"I wanted to close that chapter of my life honey, to do that I had to burn this bridge."

"Yea get used to him saying any form of bullshit to sway the argument in his favour. He invited me because he wanted to rub in how much better his life is compared to mine. He thought I would show up with some arm candy, broken and single because I wouldn't trust men after him. Sadly for him I'm in a stable relationship with the man he thought I was seeing behind his back, and the rest of my life is going great without him."

"Sorry you have to deal with this during your wedding. I think what we all need is to let bygones be bygones and just forgive and forget. If not because you want to then at least do it for this girl who wants to enjoy her wedding day."

"Dave is right, we should call a truce, just for today. It's your wedding, you shouldn't spend it fighting with me."

"You're right. Honey I'm so sorry for doing all of this behind your back, I swear I'll never hide anything from you again. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

".....I could never stay mad at you Jake."

"Okay then let's go enjoy our wedding. You two enjoy yourselves."

"My man there's free food, we will definitely enjoy it."