Broken

Chapter 30

"We shouldn't have done that," I said quickly getting dressed after we finished.
"But -" he started.
"No," I said not letting him finish. "I have a boyfriend. You haven't even been married a full day. Don't try and tell me that that was okay, because it wasn't."
He didn't say anything. I finished getting dressed and smoothed down my hair.
"Get cleaned up and go beg for mercy from Zac," I said. "I've got to go help Jen get ready."
"Are you going to tell him?" he asked.
"It's none of Zac's business," I replied.
"You know that's not what I meant," he said blankly.
"I don't know yet," I admitted. "And I don't have time to worry about it right now."
Without another word I rushed out the door and down the hall to Jen's room. I took a deep breath and put on my best fake smile before knocking.
The door swung open before I could lower my hand.
"I'm getting married today!!" she squealed in delight to greet me.
"Yay!!" I cheered back to her as she pulled me into a hug.

Luckily, her excitement wore off on me and I was able to forget the mornings events for a while as we got ready. Her other bridesmaids arrived an hour later and I was able to drown out my thoughts in their happy chatter.
A knock on the door broke the commotion.
"Who is it?" I asked before opening the door.
"It's Taylor," his voice answered back. Flashes of our trist this morning came flooding in. "Is everyone decent?"
"What do you want?" Jen asked.
"I wanted to apologize to you," he said.
She sighed and nodded to me to open the door.
I took a deep breath and opened it, his eyes immediately meeting mine and I could feel his lips and hands on my body again. My cheeks flushed red and I quickly looked down and went back behind Jen to finish buttoning up the back of her dress.
"You ladies all look gorgeous," he said. "But none prettier than you Jen."
"Save the ass kissing," she said folding her arms over her chest.
"Right," he said. "I am so sorry about last night. I never, ever should have allowed any of that to happen. I truly hope you can forgive me? I talked to Zac already. He said I could still be the best man if it was okay with you?"
"I'm not the only one you owe an apology to," she glared and gestured toward me.
"I already apologized to Amelia this morning," he said.
"You did?" she asked, glancing back at me confused. I avoided eye contact with her.
"Yes," he said. "I really am sorry to both of you. To everyone for what happened. I promise I will make it up to you."
"What do you think Melia?" she asked.
"It's your wedding, Jen," I said. "He did apologize to me. And I think he is sorry."
"Hmm," she pondered. "I suppose we are going to be family. And I'm not one for a grudge so I forgive you. But please be on your best behavior today? And Krystal is still not allowed anywhere near my wedding!"
"Gotcha," he smiled. "I already talked to her and I don't think that's going to be a problem. She's pretty pissed at me anyway."
"Aww honeymoons over?" Jen's friend Tasha asked sarcastically.
"Something like that," he answered looking in my direction again. He caught my eye and without him saying it, I knew he had told her what had happened between us.
"Anyway," he said after a minute. "You ladies really do look beautiful already. I can't wait to see the complete finished product."
Without another word he turned and walked back out of the room.
"What the hell was that about?" Jen demanded pulling her dress up so she could turn and face me.
"He apologized?" I replied pretending not to know what she was talking about.
"No you saw him this morning?" she asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just stopped there first to give him a piece of my mind," I said, shrugging as I walked over to the mirror to put the finishing touches on my make up. "It didn't seem worth mentioning."
Jen asked the other girls if they could give us a minute, they agreed and left us alone in the room.
"You slept with him didn't you?" she asked in a hushed tone once they were gone.
"Jen I -" I started avoiding her eyes.
"Oh my God!" She said. "You did!"
"It just sort of happened," I said. "We were talking and -"
"And he told Krystal?" Her eyes were wide in shock.
"I guess?" I said. "I wasn't there for that."
"Are you gonna tell Jeremy?" she asked.
"I don't know," I said, sitting down on the bed. "I didn't think I was going to, but I'm afraid I'll have to now, before he hears it from someone else."
"I thought things were going good with Jeremy and you?" she sat next to me.
"Things were great between us," I sighed. "But obviously a healthy relationship is just too much for me."
I laughed it off, "Come on. We've got a wedding to finish getting ready for. No time to be sad right now."
She smiled, "You sure you'll be okay?"
I nodded, "I always am babe!"
Jen called the other girls back into the room and we all finished getting ready. Soon we were boarding in the limo to the church. Once we arrived at the church we went in through the back entrance to wait for the ceremony to start.
"Getting nervous?" I asked Jen.
She shook her head, "Maybe a little. But I'm marrying my best friend? What's to be nervous about?"
I smiled at her enthusiasm, "You are so right!"
"Incoming," she said softly, nodding her head slightly indicating someone was coming up behind us. I turned and it was Jeremy.
I forced a happy smile and hugged him.
"I just had to come see you before it started," he said, and pulled out a small jewelry box from his pocket. "And bring you this."
"What is it?" I asked after he placed it in my hand.
"I think you're supposed to open it dork," Jen teased.
"Ha ha!" I scoffed and smacked her playfully on the arm.
I gently opened the small velvet box and inside was a beautiful silver necklace with a diamond encrusted heart and my birthstone embedded in it off to the side.
"Wow," I breathed, the guilt washing over me. "It's beautiful. I can't accept this."
"Yes you can," he chuckled, and took the box from my hand. "My silly girl."
He moved behind me and slipped the thin chain around my neck. When he clasped it shut, he kissed me ever so softly on the nape of my neck before coming back around to my front.
"There," he said smiling.
"I don't deserve you," I blurted less as a compliment and more of a realization that I really didn't.
"Oh stop it," he said and kissed my lips. "I love you."
"I love you too," I said softly.
"Jen you look gorgeous!" He said smiling at her. "Zac's a very lucky guy!"
"Don't I know it?!" she teased before thanking him.
"I'll see you soon," he said to me before disappearing back down the hall.
"I'm going to hell," I said, fingering the necklace he had just given me. "I am literally going to hell."
"Probably," Jen responded patting me on the back.
"Thanks," I laughed.
"What are friends for?" She grinned.
A few minutes passed and we began hearing the music playing. We walked down toward the doors to the church auditorium. In the vestibule, Taylor and the groomsmen were waiting for us, along with Jen's dad.
We lined up accordingly, Taylor and I being the last couple to walk into the room, before Jen and her dad.
As the doors opened, Taylor offered me his arm, I followed suit with the other girls and linked my arm in his.
"I had to tell her," he whispered.
"Not the time," I responded through gritted teeth.
"That's a pretty necklace," he said.
"Thank you," I said swallowing hard. "Jeremy just gave it to me."
"You have to tell him too," he said.
"What did I just say?" I gritted forcing a smile as we walked toward the altar.
I made eye contact with Jeremy as we passed him and a wave of guilt washed over me again. I knew I had to tell him, but was breaking his heart worth trying to rid myself of the guilt?
Taylor kissed me on the cheek as we separated to allow Jen to meet Zac at the altar. She really did look beautiful and I had never seen either of them look so happy.
Watching them vow their never ending love for each other was bittersweet. I was so happy for them, but at the same time it made my situation feel that much worse.
I made eye contact with Taylor first and those watery blues of his were pleading with me for another chance. Expressing how much he loved me.
Then my eyes searched Jeremy out in the pews. He cocked his head and smiled at me when our eyes met.
"I love you," he mouthed.
I smiled sadly back at him and turned back toward Jen and Zac. Looking at either of them hurt too much.
I knew I was going to have to make a choice, I just didn't know which I was going to choose.

THE END

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Author's note:

Don't worry! There is a sequel, coming. So stay tuned for SHATTERED! :)

Hope you've all been enjoying this! Please let me know in the comments! :)