Fuck.
I was so distracted by Luke, I forgot to take that to the jeweler. And Alex stressed that it had to gotoday.
Panic tunnels through my middle. God, I am the worst person in the world. I’m over here fucking the best man instead of doing the things Alex is counting on me to do.
Luke notices the ring too and chuckles. “Whoops. Guess we got a bit distracted there.”
“It’s not funny,” I snap, and he looks at me, surprised.
“We can take it tomorrow.”
“No, we can’t. She said it had to go today. It’s some specialist jeweler she had booked, or something. I don’t know, but—” My breathing turns shallow and my vision narrows. “She’s expecting me to pick it up tomorrow.Tomorrow, Luke. What am I going to tell her—”
“Hey,” he says, concern written into his brow as he steps towards me. “It’s okay—”
“It’s not okay!” My lungs are tight. I’ve let Alex down and I only have myself to blame. How could I have been so stupid?
Luke reaches for me. “We’ll figure something out, Harriet. Just breathe.”
I shake my head, stepping away. Alex’s tear-streaked face appears in my mind and my gut lurches. “You don’t get it! You don’t understand the stress Alex is under right now! She’s expecting me to do this for her and I’m being so selfish, with you—” I gesture to him. He looks shocked but I’m too distressed to care.
I need to get out of here. I can’t breathe. I can’t believe I’ve done this.
I turn for the door and run.
26
It’s early when I wake, and I take my coffee back to bed and crawl under the covers, cradling the steaming mug in my hand. I can’t face Alex yet, so I’m hiding in here like the coward I am.
I stumbled out of Luke’s last night in such a state, I’m surprised I was even able to remember Alex’s address for the cab driver. I was trying to focus on breathing and avoiding a panic attack, and when the cab finally pulled up at the apartment I couldn’t recall how we’d got there. Thankfully, Alex and Michael were in bed when I got in, so they didn’t see me losing it. I went straight to my room and spent hours researching jewelers online, but you have to make an appointment which means it wouldn’t be ready in time, and only a handful work in the specialized antique style of Alex’s ring. After that, I crawled into bed. Luke texted to ask if I was okay, but I was too exhausted to reply. Not that I could sleep; every time I was on the cusp of dozing off, my mind would remind me that I might have fucked up my sister’s wedding and ruined everything.
I tap the hot mug in my hand now, feeling calmer in the cool light of morning. There has to be a way to salvage this. I’ll call a handful of jewelers today and take my chances. If I offer more money I might be able to elbow my way to the top of the list. Surely it doesn’t need to go to that specific jeweler. Gold is gold, right? Even if it is a Hawkins family heirloom, there must be someone who can resize it without having to know all about the style, or whatever. And what was so special about that style, anyway?
Setting my mug down, I reach for my bag to inspect the ring. My hand roots through its contents, landing on tissues, my wallet, lipstick, hairbrush, headphones…
Dread snakes through me as my hand fails to touch a small, velvet box. I force myself to take a calming breath, praying I’m overreacting.It’s here. Of course it’s here.I dump the contents of my bag out onto my lap and stare at it.
The ring isn’t here.
My chest seizes as I frantically check the lining and pockets of my bag.
Still no ring. My stomach turns inside-out.
Where the fuck is it?
I know I grabbed it from Luke’s last night. At least, I’m sure I did. I was so distraught, I barely remember leaving. Is it possible I dropped it in the cab? Or when I climbed onto the sidewalk?
Please. This can’t be happening.
I whip the covers off, stuffing my things back into my bag with trembling hands. I need to retrace my steps. I need to see Luke. He’ll know what to do, how to fix this. He has to.
I throw on my clothes and dash out of the room, relieved to see Alex isn’t up. I scrawl her a quick note to say I’m doing wedding things all day, then scramble down the stairs and outside.
The cab ride to Luke’s is a blur. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins and I can’t breathe properly. The only thing keeping me sane is the same thought on repeat, over and over:Luke will know what to do. He’ll make this okay.
When I get to his building, I key in the code and practically sprint up the stairs. Then I pound on his door with my fists, my heart drumming in my ears.
Come on, Luke. I need you.
