Tarnished Armor

Chapter Thirty Three

Brie and Bryan's wedding went without fail. She looked stunning. I cried standing beside her and Nikki. Colby sat out in the congregation watching. At the reception, I had a conversation with Nikki's boyfriend, John.
"Well, don't you look handsome in a suit and tie?"
"Ha ha, yeah."
"Nikki's lucky."
"Why do you say that?"
"Her boyfriend's clean shaven all the time."
"I can't grow facial hair. I never could. However, Bryan does well for the both of us."
I laughed.
"Colby comes in there, usually around like fifth place in beards."
John laughed. Nikki came bum rushing us.
"Guess who caught the fucking bouquet. You won't guess in a million years."
"You?" I asked.
"NO! I'm not that lucky."
John cringed. Nikki slapped his arm playfully.
"Jo Jo did. she's what twenty...hello, she should be playing with Barbies in the Malibu dream house."
I laughed.
"Um, Nik... I'm 21."
"I know but you're mature. she's...well, not."
"Maturity's overrated." John said.
"That's something coming from you, Honey."
I sat there listening to the exchange between the two of them. I looked around for Colby and couldn't find him. I, however, did walk into someone else I knew.
"Well, hello Beautiful."
My eyes opened and there I saw Phil.
"What are you doing here?"
"Bryan and I go back a ways. I'd ask what you're here for but I can see from the identical dress of Nikki's that you were a bridesmaid."
"I was."
"You look gorgeous."
"Thanks."
I looked around for his date. He caught on to my watching.
"I came alone."
"Why'd you do that?"
"It's what I wanted."
I looked at him. In a suit, he almost looked handsome. It was as if he noticed me watching him.
"If you keep staring at me like you are, people will start talking."
"People do that, Phil. It's called verbal communication."
"You know what I mean."
"We're socializing. It happens at functions like this."
"You're taking this well." He said to me.
"I'm an adult. I can't go pitching a bitch fit if there's something or someone I don't like."
"What if it's someone you do like?" He asked in a whisper.
"Why would I be complaining about it then?"
I tried to walk away from him. My brain sent the message to my legs but my legs seemed unresponsive. I pleaded with whoever operated my brain to let me start walking...scratch that start running from this scenario. I could feel the stare of Phil's eyes on me.
"Now now, don't go getting all shy on me. I know you better than that."
"You don't really know me at all, Phil."
I started to walk away. My leg chose that moment, of all of them, to give way. Phil caught me.
"You know it's not safe for you to go falling for me, Linds."
"Phil, find me a chair and get Colby."
"Why?" He looked at me, concerned.
"Please just do it."
I panicked. It was just like the last time. I couldn't stand for long periods of time. Phil found me a chair and sat me down before dashing to get Colby. Within minutes, Colby arrived.
"Phil said you fell and he caught you. Are you okay?"
"I really need to just sit."
Phil looked at Colby, then at me.
"Then I'll sit with you."
Colby looked strangely at me then at him.
"Do you want anything to drink, Bug?"
"Not right now."
Colby walked away from us.
"You didn't tell him, did you?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"You should have. He's your husband for Fuck's sake."
"Tell him what exactly, that I'm avoiding talking to an oncologist about cancer screening again. I can't have it come back, Phil. More importantly, I don't want it back."
I tried getting up and almost fell once more. I groaned, repeating the process. I hated the feeling of not being able to move the way I wanted. I tried for the third time to walk to no avail.
"Fucking shit." I said. Phil looked at me.
"You need to tell him."
Turning around, he saw Colby standing there.
"What do you need to tell me?"
"Lindsay, tell him or I will."
Visibly annoyed, Colby looked at us.
"What is he talking about, Lindsay?"
He never called me by my full name unless he was angry.
"Phil, tell him." I said almost in tears.
Phil looked at him.
"She's been hiding the fact she hasn't gone back for her cancer screening. She's avoiding it."
Colby looked the mixture of relief and concern.
"How does he know this, Linds?"
"He knows because the doctor's office called me when he trained me."

"I see."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."

"I understand."

It was all he could say before stepping outside. I wanted to go after him. I tried. Fighting the feeling in my body, I got up and slowly ambled my way to the door of the hotel. I stood there waiting for him. The night air chilled me.

"What are you doing out here?" Colby asked.

"I came to find you."

"You shouldn't be here without your wrap."

"I'm fine."

I looked at him. It was a rare thing I saw him smoking a cigarette.

"Do you love him?" Colby asked.

"No."

"Do you love me?"

"With everything in me."

"Then how is it he always finds you."

"I don't know."

"He needs to let you be."

"I know this, you know this. He doesn't."

"He should."

"I miss you, ya know." I said to him.

"I miss you more than you know."

"I didn't want to bring this up but do you remember that night alone we had at the hotel a while ago?"

"Yeah,"

"You did..."

He looked at me.

"I dominated you, I remember this."

"What if I wanted it again?"

He looked at me.

"Why don't you do your cancer testing and we'll talk about it then."

I smiled at him.

"Agreed."

"Do you want to go home?"

"I think I should tell Brie."

"Good idea, mi amor."

He carried me back to our table. There, Brie looked at us.

"Is she okay?"

"She will be. I'm going to take her home."

Bryan looked at us.

"Take care of her, Lopez."

"You know I will."

I cried because I couldn't stay. Brie did something special for me. Pulling a white rose out of her bouquet, she put it in my hair. She then kissed my cheek.

"Get better or I'm kicking someone's ass."

I laughed.

"I will."

She looked at Colby.

"Es mejor tomar el cuidado de mi pequeña hermana, amigo o voy a patear el culo." [You better take care of  my little sister, dude or I'll kick your ass]

Colby laughed.

"I don't need you to kick my ass, Brie."

She laughed.

"Good."

She hugged me once more.

"I love you, little sister."

I felt no words other than thankful and blessed. Thankful that Phil had been here to tell Colby and Blessed that Colby was here to be told.