If heart ache was a physical pain, I could face it.

Part Forty One

Anne’s POV

“What you looking at?” Tom asks while walking into our room from his shower. Wrapped from the waist down in a towel, his messy hair still dripping with water. He really does look so sexy.

“Nothing.” I quickly reply before snapping the laptop shut. He can’t see what I’m looking at. My dream wedding venue, perfect in every way except for the price. I don’t want him to feel pressured into forking out for it when in all honesty it doesn’t really matter where we get married, it will be my perfect day either way.

“I wanna see.” He moans while holding out a hand for the laptop, but I don’t give in, what if he thinks I expect him to pay for it? That would be even worse. I watch as he raises one eyebrow at me, knowing full well what he’s planning on doing, but that doesn’t give me any time to prepare myself as he dives on me. I wrap my arms around the laptop as he begins pulling them open, as he does so he quickly snatches the laptop away from me, turning his body away to prevent me from attempting to grab it back. I hear him suck in a deep breath as the page reloads it’s self on the screen, and I chew nervously on my bottom lip. Please realise it’s just a nice idea, and I am in no way serious about it, I pled silently in my head.  “Anne it’s beautiful.” He says, and I can tell from the tone of his voice that he loves what he sees as much as I do.

The huge old stone building sits on the lushes green grass, the borders of which are home to beautiful trees, a glistening blue lake is situated in front of the building, ducks swimming on its surface around the magnificent water feature. I can imagine the calming sounds of birds and running water now, the perfect antidote to pre wedding nerves.  I know exactly what’s going through Tom’s mind because I’m thinking it too; minus the fountain this place holds a similarity to our secret part of the park. This venue would be perfect for us because it reminds us of some of our happiest times together and when we first got together.

It is so us.

It is so expensive.

“It is Tom, but it’s too expensive.” I whisper, hoping that he can’t hear the longing in my voice.

“It’s not too expensive, not when you look at how much you get for your money. Anne I know you’re thinking it too this was made for us. Now that I’ve seen it, I wouldn’t want to get married anywhere else; this would always be at the back of my mind. I’m booking it.” He says sternly, and I smile spread across my face as I realise that there’s no way that he’ll let me change his mind on this; that I will be getting my dream wedding venue. And my smile widens as I look deep into his eyes and I can tell that he wants this as much as I do, he’s not just doing this for me but for him as well; and with that I no longer feel guilty about getting my heart set on such an expensive venue.

Jess’ POV

“Keep your diary free guys, we’ve only gone and booked the venue for the 15th!” Tom says as he enters the living room, a huge smile on his face.  Excited squeals from the girls and a chorus of congrats from the guys fills my, as I roll my eyes. That’s if there even is a wedding this time.

“But that’s only two weeks away, why the rush?” Sophie asks surprised.

“Because he’s worried she’s going to run off with someone else.” I mutter quietly under my breath, not intending for anyone to hear, however the look that Jay shoots me suggests that he did. Tom and Anne however didn’t or just aren’t going to let anything ruin their bubble of happiness.

“Because we’ve just found the perfect venue and we honestly don’t see any point in waiting. We want to get married now and we’ll still want to get married no matter how long we wait.” Anne answers looking over at me at the end. So she did hear then. Good.

“It’s a good job we got the hen night all planned while you were out today then.” Roxie laughs, and with that I leave the room. How they can get so excited over it I’ll never know. I know Max puts on a brave face but inside he must be hurting. It’s his wedding we should be getting this excited about and putting all the effort in for, not Toms.

Jay’s POV

“Look Jess.” I sigh, walking into our room behind her. “I know you don’t like the idea of Tom and Anne getting married, but can you at least pretend for everyone else’s sake?

“No Jay, I can’t. Not after what they did to Max.”

“But it’s just going to make things awkward when we go to the wedding.”

“I’m not going to the wedding.” My mouth falls open in slight shock and I’m about to protest when she continues. “And neither are you.”

“Wh-What.” I stutter. “You can’t be serious.”

“Jay I’m deadly serious, if you go to that wedding we’re over.”

“Why?” I demand getting angry now, how dare she tell me I can’t go to my friends wedding. “Why can’t you forgive them? Everyone else has!”

“Because none of you were cheated on!” She screams, tears falling down her cheeks as she turns away from me. Shock hitting my body like a train.

Jess’ POV

Jay catches my arm as I turn to leave pulling me into his chest with out saying anything and for which I’m grateful. Stepping backwards he sits on out bed before pulling me onto his lap and wiping away my tears with his thumb. I smile slightly at him before burying my face back into his chest.

“I’m sorry babe. But you’re happier now than you ever were with him, right?” He asks and I nod once into his chest, knowing exactly where this is going. “So maybe in time Max will be happier too.”

“Maybe.” I sigh.

“Please can we go to the wedding babe? I won’t ask again if you say no, but I’d really love to go.

“It’s okay we can go. But I’m only going because you asked me too, okay.” I say after some time, while looking up at him to make sure he knows how serious I’m being.

“Thank you.” He smiles, before resting his head back on my shoulder. “And just so you know, that guy that did that to you, if the most stupid person alive.”

“Thanks Jay.” I smile, relaxing into his arms now as I begin to cheer up.

Max’s POV

“Two weeks huh?” I ask Charly as she came into my room to break the news to me.

“I’m sorry Max.”

“It looks like times running out for me.” I mumble into my hands, trying to think of a way around this.

“Maybe it’s time to let go now?”

“I can’t let go Charly, I still love her. And I know it’s probably stupid of me, but I still have some time, even if it won’t do me any good. But if I can just be nice to them both, and end up going to the stag do, then I have a chance of maybe making him late for the wedding, and maybe if I make him late enough, she’ll rethink...”

“Max, stop a minuet, you are being stupid, how would you even make him late?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet, I was thinking about possible spiking all his drinks at the stag do with vodka, that way he’d be too drunk to get to the wedding in the morning, and...”

“You can’t be serious.” She says; shock evident on her face. “You’d really go that far?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. I can’t let this wedding happen Charly. I just can’t.”