Read Sydney (Book One) (That Wedding Girl 1) for Free Online

spend the rest of my life with to being somebody I used to know.
    ♦
    “He WHAT?!” Gabe manages to stop himself from splattering out his glass of rosé all over the coffee table and forces himself to gulp it down.
    It’s been two hours since we got back to Gabe’s cosy and chic art deco townhouse, and I’ve changed into Gabe’s black tank top and track pants, braless and free. To stop the incessant phone calls and text messages from family and friends, I’ve turned off my phone and it rests undisturbed on the kitchen sink.
    I can’t deal with phone calls right now, especially ones from the caterers, musicians and photographers to tell them why they can’t work tomorrow. I don’t want to hear those concerned voices, full of pity and sympathy. Not to mention that my wedding dress is hanging in my wardrobe…
    Instead here I am with Gabe, knocking back glasses of wine on his purple velvet couch as I retell how my break up almost turned into a romp. The coffee table is a mess right now. The tub of salted caramel ice cream and the block of dark peppermint crunch chocolate is finished and we’re almost done with the packet of corn chips and there’s still half of a ham and cheese toasted sandwich left. I’ve pigged out way too much, but that’s nothing compared to the alcohol.
    We finish three bottles of cheap wine and Gabe opens the fourth bottle. My face is now the colour of beetroot, but I can speak clearly.  I’m sure it will hit me later…
    His mouth pops wide open.  “Whoa, back it up. He wanted to do it in the bathroom, right there and then? After he humiliated you like that? Geez, he’s even more of a douche than I imagined. What did you do?”
    I set the glass of wine down, my face burning scarlet at the memory, but nothing is off limits with Gabe. “Well, after he choked the life out of me with his tongue, I was able to act on my senses and get out of there.” I put my hand to my chest as I hiccupped. “I slapped him too.”
    His eyes bulge out of their sockets. “Did you kick him in the nuts too?
    “No.” Dammit, I should have.
    “You let him put his slimy hands all over you, because…”
    “No, of course not! I mean…” Maybe it’s to do with the fact that Adam and I haven’t had sex in two months, or maybe I was so numb that I was having a delayed reaction. Either way, the thought of Adam touching me again makes me sick.
    “That bastard took advantage of you, he probably said it was breakup sex right?”
    “How did you know that?”
    “Men are so predictable. I would know,” he adds. “Don’t worry, you’ll be glad to get rid of that loser. Your next guy will be so much better.”
    My heart sinks at his comment. Next guy? The pain is still raw, and no amount of alcohol is going to fix that. I never intended to have a next guy. I never asked for any of this, what did I do to deserve my heartbreak? I’m not getting married tomorrow, the most important day of my life has been put on hold indefinitely. Instead it’s going to be just another day now.
    Gabe sees the change in my expression and winces. “Ooh sorry, too soon I guess?”
    Given it’s only been two hours; the answer is a resounding yes. A part of me doesn’t think it’s real yet. I grab the glass and take another sip, it tastes like water now.
    “How do you feel right now? It’s me. You can let it all out.”
    I just feel numb, everywhere. I wish I could cry, and let it all out but there’s no urge. Maybe if I try really hard. “I feel…I don’t want to cry, is that…bad?” Maybe Adam is right, maybe I’m not human.
    “Usually I would say yes, but given the way he treated you after all these years he isn’t worth one tear. A spineless guy like him doesn’t deserve a second mention.” 
    “I was supposed to get married tomorrow…” And I was with him so many years, I can’t just forget him like that.
    Gabe shakes his head. “This is going in my top five ‘what the fuck’ moments.”
    “Does this