Impractical Jokers, Practically

Chapter Thirty One

Sal looks at me with mixed emotions. Confusion, fright, and anger are what I recognize. 

I take a step back trying to distance myself from Austin, who is still leaning towards me but is staring at Sal with one of his eyebrows slightly raised. I know I talked a lot of shit in my head, about how I was so mad and hurt at Sal that I was willing to distract myself for a bit, but clearly that was the alcohol talking. 

Because right now, now that Sal is in front of me, I don't have the guts anymore. 

"What are you doing here? How did you know where we were?" Jenna is the first to speak, slurring her words a little bit, fire in her eyes as she stares hard at her brother. 

"I was at the bar next door. I figured I would look for you guys in here since I know this is your favorite spot." Sal is talking to Jenna but his eyes are on me. 

When no one says anything, Sal continues, "So what, this was your plan? Take away Alexa from me for the night? Around assholes like him?" 

Austin chuckles and bites back, "After the way you've treated her, she didn't need much convincing." 

Sal leaps towards the guy, ready for a fight, but Austin just turns around and walks away, disappearing in the crowd. 

I stare at Sal, my stomach turning. I'm definitely sober now. 

"Why would you do that to me?" Sal says in a painful voice. "I t-thought you loved me-I don't-I don't-I can't--" 

He's about to break down and my head is swimming. How did I break him when he's the one breaking me?

"Come on, Sal. That's not fair," Jenna steps in. 

"Not fair?" Sal looks pisses off, his face turning red. "I'll tell you what's not fair. Walking in some fucking bar trying to find you guys after a confusing phone call only to see my fiancee in the arms of someone else!" 

"Excuse me?" Finding my voice, and shaking with rage, I let in to him,  "And what were you doing? Keeping some other girl company the moment-the very fucking second-I'm not around?!" 

"What are you talking about?" Sal says still angry not even the hint of shame. 

"Let me show you," Jenna unlocks her phone, playing with it until she finds what she's looking for. "This!" She turns the phone towards Sal, but not before I catch a glimpse. That picture. That stupid freaking picture. Sal and another girl. Getting cozy. 

I think I'm going to be sick again. 

Sal stares at the picture in shock. His eyes blink rapidly, and, satisfied, Jenna puts her phone back in her pocket and takes another sip of her drink. 

"This is not what it looks like," Sal looks up at me with pleading eyes. It almost looks like he's thinking or something. Like he's trying to come up with some excuse. 

"I think I need another drink," I mumble and as I take a step towards the bar, Sal's hand reaches out and grabs me by the arm, pulling me back. 

"Please," He pleads. "Here me out." 

"No. Hear me out." I snatch my arm away from him. "It's the week before our wedding, I'm out with your sister, and what do I see? My fiance with someone else. After you promised you didn't want a bachelor party. After you said all that sappy stuff about how I'm the only one for you!" I'm on a roll and, before I can stop myself, I manage to stumble out one last line before the tears start flowing, "And this is why I didn't want to be with you in the first place."

Sal looks at me as if I slapped him. "W-What? You had second thoughts about us?" 

"Um, hello! Of course I did! Why do you think it took us this long to be together?" I sigh.