It Begins With Us

44.

"How have things been since you've brought Alba home?" Judge asks as the timer rings.

"She's been perfect. Right now we're getting everything ready for the wedding." I explain and he smiles.

"Am I invited?" He asks and I snort.

"She'd kill me if you weren't on the list." I laugh.

"You and Casey both." I think of big muscled Casey and his breathing exercises.

"So when is it?" He ask and I shrug.

"This Saturday." I say nonchalantly and Judge blanches.

"What?! Why are you telling me this only a day before?" He panics.

"Don't stress it old man, you'll make it." I laugh over my shoulder as I exit the room.

I stop at a flower shop on my way home. I've been getting Alba flowers every Friday since we got back. This time I get her a white carnation, daisy, and sunflower bouquet. I unlock the door and step in quietly.

'The element of surprise is key.' I think to myself as I sneak down the hall to the room.

That's when I hear her voice.

"Please stay a little longer." Her voice is sad and longingly.

I frown and my heart freezes in my chest as I step into the room to see her, standing with a man. Her figure hidden behind the mans, his bare back staring back at me. My eyes stop on the only article of clothing he's got on, a pair of shorts. Mine, those are mine.

"Alba?" I say her name and it sounds like it's coming from somewhere else, someone else. "What are you doing?"

"Ryle!" She gasps and steps out from behind the man.

She doesn't let go of him, her fingers are still digging deep into his biceps. The man, he's tense, and frozen. I'm getting angry, I can feel it, my heart's pounding hard and loud in my chest and my hands are clenched tight. I step forward and then take two steps back.

'No! Stay calm! Everything was just getting better.' I remind myself. 'Just listen.'

I breathe heavily in short and strong burst like Casey taught me, I remember Judge's voice, telling me to distance myself. But I can't, I can't just walk out of this room and leave them alone, together. So instead I just turn away, turn my back to them and stare at myself in the mirror. My face is twisted with anger and I see myself through a stranger's eyes.

"No, Ryle don't leave!" She says quickly and turns back to the man. "Please just-" She stops and bursts into tears.

'Just calm the f*** down!' I command myself to remember Alba.

Not the one behind me, standing with a strange, near complete naked, man. But the one who fought with me at the games. The one who told me her name, the one who played violin for me, the one who proposed to me. The one who's stockings ripped on our first date. 

That does it for me and I feel myself come under a strong enough hold to open my eyes. I see her reflection, desperately whispering to the man who seems to be shaking his head.