Broken

Chapter 27

Before I knew it, it was the night before Jen and Zac's wedding. I hadn't heard from Taylor since that night. I still didn't have a clue what I was going to say to him when I saw him at that night at the rehearsal dinner or the next day at the wedding.
Jeremy and I were still together, in fact he had moved into my apartment. He really did make me happy and I still wasn't ready to give that up, even if I couldn't get Taylor out of my head or my heart. It was probably selfish of me because I knew Jeremy loved me and a part of me loved him, but I couldn't bear to lose him.
"You look stunning," I heard Jeremy say coming up behind me after I slipped on the red sequined, spaghetti strapped dress I was wearing to the rehearsal dinner. It accentuated my bosom and was bare backed. It came down to just above my knee with a slit up the left leg. I had curled and styles my hair up off my neck, which was decorated with a small teardrop led diamond on a fine silver chain.
I blushed and turned to face him, "I'm not going to upstage the bride am I?"
"Maybe a little," he grinned. "But I won't tell."
"Maybe I should change?" I fretted, looking into the full length mirror in our bedroom.
"Don't you dare," he said, coming up behind me and placing his arms around my waist. He kissed my neck and I smiled at our reflection in the mirror. He looked gorgeous in his white dress shirt and light grey tie. And I knew once he put that black suit jacket on, I was going to be done for. "Besides, you don't have time. We're already running late."
I glanced at the clock and he was right. We had less than a half hour to get to the dinner.
"Shit," I cursed, pulling out of his arms to go grab my shoes out of the closet. "I knew we shouldn't have taken that nap after lunch. Finish getting ready! Hurry up!"
"Yes, boss lady!" he grinned cheekily before ducking into the bathroom quickly.
I strapped my heels on and grabbed my small, matching handbag.
I searched for my phone and found it on my nightstand. I had a text message from Jen.
"Where are you?" it read.
"On my way! I promise!" I sent back.
"Jer lets go!" I called practically running out of the bedroom to try and find the keys to the apartment.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" He laughed, following behind me now wearing that black suit jacket.
I stopped rushing around and smiled at him, "My turn to be stunned."
He smiled and raised his eyebrows up flirtatiously.
"Whatever you're thinking," I said, grabbing his hand. "Save it! We gotta run!"
And he laughed as I dragged him out the door.

"I am so sorry we're late!" I told Jen, as we walked into the banquet hall, where the rehearsal dinner was being held, and straight over to her.
"It's about time!" She scolded. "It's bad enough the best man isn't here yet, but I couldn't -"
"Taylor isn't here?" I asked surprised.
"Not yet," she grumbled. "Everyone else in the family has been here for an hour. I swear to God if that bitch Krystal makes him miss this or screws up my wedding tomorrow I will kill her!"
"Krystal is coming with him?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said. "Supposedly they have some big surprise or something for everyone. Who knows? All I know is, Taylor should be here, just like you should've been here sooner!"
"I'm sorry," I repeated. "It was a bitch getting a cab this time of day."
"Well," she sighed. "The important thing is, you're here now."
She hugged me and then Jeremy before directing us to our seats and going back to greet more people.
"That is really unusual of Taylor to be late," I commented as we took our seats. "Especially to something as important as this."
"They probably just had a helluva time getting a cab too," Jeremy said.
I nodded but didn't say anything.
"Amelia!" Isaac said, him and Nikki coming over to us. I stood and he pulled me into a big bear hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," I said and we separated. I hugged Nikki telling her how good it was to see her again.
"And I'm sure you've heard already," I said when Jeremy nonchalantly cleared his throat behind me. "But this is my boyfriend Jeremy. Jeremy, this is Zac's oldest brother Isaac and his girlfriend, Nikki."
"Fiancé actually," Nikki said excitedly holding up her left hand to show of the ring.
"Aww!" I squealed and hugged her again. "I'm so happy for you!!"
Jeremy and Ike shook hands and Jeremy congratulated them both.
"When is the big day?" I asked.
"Next year," Nikki gushed and began telling me all about how she wanted a spring wedding. Ike and Jeremy excused themselves to go up to the bar to get drinks for all of us while Nikki and I discussed her wedding plans.
Nikki was in the middle of describing to me a wedding dress she absolutely adored when we heard a loud commotion come through the door. We both turned toward the noise.
"So sorry we're late!" Krystal bellowed after she had jumped on one of the tables. "Hope we didn't miss any of the good stuff!"
She giggled and reached down to Taylor, to help her down. He laughed as she stumbled into his arms.
"Oh my god!" Nikki gasped. "Are they -"
"Shitfaced?" I finished, just as shocked as she was.
I immediately scanned the room for Jen.
She was fuming. Zac was standing in front of her, it looked like he was trying, unsuccessfully, to get her to calm down.
"I'll be back," I told Nikki and she nodded in understanding. I rushed over to Zac and Jen.
"I got this Zac," I told him, placing my hand on his shoulder. "Go sober your brother up."
"Fuck that!" Jen said. "Go over there and beat his sorry ass! How dare he -"
"Jen stop," I said, forcing her to look at me.
"Stop?" she whined. "They're ruining my rehearsal dinner!"
"They're trying to," I agreed. "But they can't if you don't let them. And you're not going to let them right?"
She took a deep breath and dabbed the corners of her eyes trying not to smear her make up.
"No I'm not going to let them," she said. "This is about Zac and I and no one else."
"Exactly," I said smiling. "If they wanna act like fools let them, that's on them. You, however, are classy as fuck and aren't going to let them get the best of you."
"Damn straight," she laughed.
"Now let's go get a drink to calm our nerves before we eat," I suggested.
"Sounds like a plan to me," she agreed and we began walking toward the bar.
"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" I heard Taylor yell. I turned around to see that Jeremy and Ike had joined Zac in trying to get Taylor and Krystal to go sober up some.
"We're just trying to help," Jeremy said calmly.
"Help?" Krystal asked before laughing loudly. "Why don't you help by getting that gutter trash girlfriend of yours out of here? We're here to celebrate and she doesn't belong here!"
"She belongs here more than you do!" Jen cried, marching over to them.
"Why?" Krystal asked. "Because once upon a time y'all saved her from being raped by her daddy? So what do you guys just keep her around to remind you of what 'good people' y'all are? Can't let that charity case go, can ya?"
My whole face turned crimson as everyone was staring and too shocked to say anything.
"That's right, honey," Krystal said, facing me. "That's all you've ever been, is a charity case. You think they all care about you, the poor little lost girl whose daddy raped her causing her to become a suicidal drug addict, but in reality you're just a constant reminder of how good their lives actually are. Whenever they're feeling low, they know who to see. Cheers them all right up I'm sure. Because anything is better than being you."
"Alright that's enough!" Jeremy, finally coming out of the shock and finding words, said. "Taylor you're seriously going to let your girlfriend talk to Amelia this way?"
Taylor, who looked like he wasn't even sure what year it was let alone what was going on in front of him, just shrugged.
"Wife," Krystal said.
"What?" Zac asked.
"I'm. His. Wife," Krystal retorted. "We just flew in from Vegas. That's why we're late."
"Taylor!" Diana said. "Is this true?"
Taylor glanced at me but didn't say anything. He grabbed a bottle of champagne off the table next to him and started drinking it.
"Jordan Taylor Hanson!" Walker growled snatching the bottle out of his hand. "Are you married to Krystal?"
"Surprise!" Taylor laughed before collapsing to the floor and passing out leaving everyone standing there in shock, embarrassment and confusion.