“We can still stop the wedding,” I tell him, which makes him laugh.
“Why would I do that?”
What kind of stupid question is that? “Because you love her.” Am I projecting because I’m miserably lonely? Yes, and I’ve had one too many glasses of wine while I watch stupid romance movies by myself on a Friday night.
“Love sometimes doesn’t conquer all, D. This is the real world, not some fairytale.”
How can he be so blasé about this? Axel loves her. He should have fought harder for her. Told her he wasn’t going anywhere.Demand that she not marry that asshole. “You’re so goddamn stubborn. Both of you are. That stubbornness is letting the woman you love marry Marquees de Dick Face.”
“Yeah, well, that’s her choice,” Axel says, infuriating me even more.
“So, you’re totally fine with her taking that royal douche to bed tomorrow night and letting him touch her, fuck her, impregnate her.” I can’t believe the words that just fell out of my mouth. You’re being a dick right now.
“Of course, I’m not, D. But she chose him. What do you not understand about this situation? Tomorrow, she’s marrying someone else. That someone isnotme,” he yells at me.
“But you never fought for her,” I argue weakly.
“I flew to fucking Scotland to be by her side, then she told me to take a hike.” I can hear the hurt in his voice.
“She was hurting, her father almost died, and she wasn’t thinking straight.” I try to rationalize Olivia’s thoughts.
“She never contacted me. It’s been months,” Axel spits.
“I know,” I say sadly, all hope evaporating from me. He’s right. She chose loyalty over love, it was always going to be this way. “I just … I wanted you two to make it.”
Axel falls silent for a couple of breaths. “I know, D, so did I. It just wasn’t our time … right girl, wrong time,” he answers sadly.
Urgh. I’m a dick. This is why I shouldn’t drink alone, I get in my head and make things worse. He probably feels heartbroken, and here I am chastising him for not doing enough. He couldn’t force her to choose him.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, I’m here for you tomorrow if you need me.”
“Thanks, D, but I have heaps of work to do. Tomorrow is simply another day.”
Tears fall down my cheeks hearing his words. How will he ever be able to move on? “Okay, well, I’m here anyway, anytime.”
“Thanks, D.”
Vanessa: OMG. Olivia didn’t marry Eddie.
Derrick: What? I’m hungover as shit. What happened?
Vanessa: Camryn called me and said Penny married Eddie!
Derrick: Penny? As in her sister.
Vanessa: Yes. Eddie knocked her up.
Derrick: No fucking way.
Vanessa: Diabolical.
Derrick: Where’s Olivia now?
Vanessa: Vanished. No one knows.
Derrick: Does Axel know?
Vanessa: Christian is on the phone with him now.
