Read Never a Bride: A Short Story for Free Online Page A

other that, I’m sure his dad and Jared are keeping him busy.”
    Just saying Jared’s name sucked the air from the room.
    What were the guys doing? Was Jared confessing to Mike that he’d made a colossal mistake, and slept with his ex? That he was moving to an igloo in Alaska with his Eskimo girlfriend and raise sled dogs?
    Damn it. The problem with making love to Jared last night was that she remembered exactly how much she’d loved him. Why she loved him. That nasty little Hope monster had woken from its deep coma, only to have Jared leave before Sheena could come to terms with her newly awakened feelings. Misery on top of betrayal. Whoever coined the phrase “love hurts” was not joking around.
    Sheena refused to give him that much power. Forcing a smile on her face, she put on a music station from their high school days and started dancing. “I hope you got a good DJ, Lisa. I’m in the mood to bring down the house.”
    The make-up girl arrived ten minutes early, saving Sheena from twisting on the end table to keep Lisa in good spirits. On her heels was Mrs. Connor, loaded down with snacks and bags of tissue, tulle and gunmetal colored ribbon.
    “I just got off the phone with the florist, honey,” Mrs. Connor said with a wave to Sheena and a kiss for Lisa. “Before the make-up, I know!” She wiped her dark purple lipstick from Lisa’s cheek.
    “What’s the matter?” Lisa’s voice trilled in panic. “With the flowers?”
    “Nothing is wrong! They called to say the tulips opened beautifully, just how you’d hoped.” She gave Lisa another quick peck.
    Sheena bit her lip. A few months ago, her mother had been crying with her as they all wondered what happened with Jared. As her dad sent people home. As Lisa tucked her, broken-hearted and drunk, into bed.
    Mrs. Conner helped get Lisa seated at the make-up table, then turned to Sheena with a smile. “Help me get the gown from the car?”
    “Sure.” Sheena nodded and followed Lisa’s mom from the room. The instant the door closed behind them, Mrs. Conner grabbed Sheena by the shoulder. “Where in the hell is Jared?”
    Brow furrowed, Sheena wondered if she’d heard right. “Excuse me?”
    Mrs. Conner’s mouth was an unattractive prune color and pursed like a raisin. “That young man has done a Houdini. I’ve been on the phone with the Langleys all morning. I haven’t wanted to worry Lisa, but Jared is gone.”
    Sheena couldn’t speak, worse, she couldn’t breathe. Had Jared deserted his brother to get away from her? Or his own emotions? Had he assumed that just because they’d slept together she’d want his sorry ass back and now he was worried he’d get snared into a relationship? “Did they check his hotel?”
    “Of course, although why he couldn’t stay with his family, I don’t understand…” She trailed off as if personally affronted on behalf of Jared’s parents. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard from him?”
    Swallowing over the lump in her throat, Sheena managed to say, “No. Huh uh.”
    No way was she telling Mrs. Conner that she’d slept with him and that she was probably the reason Jared had ran for the hills. Or in this case, the snowy peaks of Alaska.
    “He’s not answering his phone?” Getting angrier by the second, Sheena added, “That’s par for the course with Jared. I can’t believe he didn’t even bother with a text this time.” How could he?
    Mrs. Conner patted Sheena’s shoulder. “There is something very wrong with that young man.”
     
    * * *
     
    Jared gripped the arm rests of the plane as it hit turbulence. Sank, then bobbed upward, listing left and right before starting the process all over again. If he died now, he thought, he’d leave behind a lot of pissed off people.
    The memory of last night with Sheena, how she’d shared her body, her heart, so generous in her love, kept him hoping the damn plane wouldn’t crash. She hadn’t forgiven him – he’d seen the look in her eyes and knew she