Hello, Sweetheart

C H A P T E R 29

I give Mrs. Hayes a small smile and get out of the car once we arrive at the wedding reception. The rich looking building has a red carpet leading to the entrance and the glass doors. 

The white pillars at nearly every area of the entrance that has a few chairs and benches. I watch people in dresses and suits walk up the stairs, shoe prints pressed into the red carpet. 

I watch Avery walk up the stairs with a man that appears not to be Keaton. I don't show my confusion clearly and walk up the stairs behind them, gathering a handful of the fabric on my dress so I don't trip and make a total fool of myself which happens on a regular basis as you can tell. 

6-year-old me would be thrilled to be able to walk into a building that had statued lions at the end of any staircase. To me, stone lions appeared as only something a rich person would own. When i was younger I also used to pat the hard heads of the four-legged statues. 

I walk to the entrance and sneakily pet the lion as I walk past it. I smile to myself and walk inside, instantly being offered a small champagne glassed filled with champagne. I respectfully take the glass from the nicely dressed man's hand and take a careful sip. 

I stick to the side, not fully comfortable yet to walk to the dance floor. I take another sip of alcohol until I nearly spit it up when I hear a voice near me coming from a decently tall man wearing a cream-colored suit and sage tie. 

"Correct me if I'm wrong but...did you just pet the statue lion." the corner of his mouth turns up as he leans against one of the white pillars. 

"You...you saw wrong...if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" I laugh awkwardly, taking a sip of the champagne, standing up straight to look at him. 

"How rude of me, my name is Dylan, the grooms brother. I was scheduled for a meeting around the time the wedding took place, I had time for the wedding reception at least." He offers his hand out for me to shake it. 

I take his hand hesitantly and shake it in greeting. "Didn't know Callum had a brother, well it's nice to meet you, I'm Lacey." I smile softly as he takes his hand back to cross them, not taking his eyes off me. 

"Oh I know who you are." He smiles and sits up straight from leaning. 

I hide my confusion. Maybe Callum mentioned me since I am Keaton's "girlfriend". I nod and take a sip of the liquid in the pearly glass, not saying a word. 

My eyes search behind him as I see Keaton walk to where a sign is labeled "restrooms this way" with an arrow pointing through a hallway that leads outside. 

My attention is directed back to Dylan when he mentions Rhea. "You're Rheas new friend, right?" 

I nod. "Yes, yes I am, Shes such a beautiful bride." I smile and look behind him once again, seeing Avery follow the same direction as Keaton did before. 

I swallow harshly as I look back at Dylan, taking a sip, trying too unfocused myself from them being together. 

"Is everything alright? You look...sick..." He looks me up and down, putting a hand out to steady me when I feel me leaning to the side a bit. I take one final sip of champagne and nod. 

"Mhm...will you excuse me for a moment...?" I smile and place a hand on his forearm in a comforting gesture as I walk to where the arrow points to the restrooms. 

I put a hand over my stomach to keep me from feeling sick. I put my glass down on a nearby table, watching Avery put her manicured hands on his chest. 

The sickening feeling comes back as I watch her get closer to him. I take deep breaths as he looks over and pushes her out of the way, so she isn't touching him. 

"Lacey-" 

I shake my head and walk up to them. 

"Keaton...please tell me if you don't want to continue what we're doing because I really don't want you to continue something you hate." my voice cracks in between the sentence and I feel tears swelling up. 

"Lacey of course not-" he gets cut off by the blonde in the matching sage dress. 

"Oh my god, Lacey, would you just shut up?" Avery speaks up, crossing her arms. "Honestly I don't get why you act like such a slut." 

A tear escapes instantly. I wipe it away to show I'm not weak, but I don't want to continue this aching conversation. 

"Right...I'm the slut. I'm sorry Keaton." I walk away, showing this is the end of the conversation. I hear them talking in the back, anger filling Keaton's voice clear enough for me to hear and Avery acting like the victim. 

But no, I'm the slut.