Empty Net
Page 13

 Toni Aleo

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It was about time they met and if she was as hot as Fallon then Phillip might need to find himself another prospect.
Maybe there was another Parker sister?
Chapter 4
If Audrey had to hear someone say ‘We always thought it was going to be you getting married first,’ one more time, she was going to kill someone. It was plain and simple. Each time one of her nosy aunts said that, she wanted to say, “Who you telling?!”
Stupid weddings.
Audrey sat at the dinner table, with her face in her one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, as she watched Fallon and Lucas be gushed over. It made her sick that she was sitting in the corner, green with envy of her older sister. Jealously had never really look good on her. She knew this, but it didn’t stop her from turning into a bitter bitch. This was supposed to be her; she was the one who was always looking for love. Fallon sat back and only messed with a guy here and there, while Audrey basically cleaned out the sea of its scummy fish. All of a sudden Lucas comes back into Fallon’s life and she is getting married!
It wasn’t fair!
Where was Audrey’s Prince Charming who stood with his hand on her lower back, his lips dusting her temple? Or who would give her the lusty “when we get home, I’m gonna tear you up” kind of look? What about her? What about her damn Happily Ever After? It was bullshit, straight bullshit. Audrey slowly shook her head before taking a sip of her champagne to discover that she had let it get warm.
With a grunt of distaste, she got out of her ‘Maid of Honor’ chair (Yes, there was a sign that said that) and made her way to the table that held what she hoped was cold champagne. After trading out her glass, she took a long swig and smiled at the result. Nice and cold. Audrey then opened her eyes, and looked up from her glass to see her Aunt Sherry making her way towards her. Since she had already heard Aunt Sherry tell her how sad she was that Audrey was alone, Audrey promptly hightailed it out of the dining room. Once outside the dining room, she let out a long breath as she leaned against the rail that overlooked the large space that would hold tomorrow’s reception.
The Fontanel Mansion was a masterpiece with its beautiful log home appearance. It gave off a very homey, country feel to it, and when Fallon saw it, she had to get married there. Unlike her dress, Fallon had no problem picking out the venue for their wedding. With the theme Fallon chose, it was hard to find some place big that would be okay installing pipes to run water. Audrey still couldn’t believe she had pulled it together. With the help of Grace Justice, the biggest and best wedding planner in Nashville, anything was possible. Audrey watched as hundreds of workers labored to hang the thousands of white umbrellas under the thin sheet of plastic that would help drain the water that was supposed to be rain. After each umbrella was hung, strings of lights hung from the inside of the umbrella and Audrey couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her mouth.
She had wanted this.
Audrey wanted the huge elaborate wedding. She wanted the over the top décor and the expensive flowers. She wanted all eyes on her. She wanted the man at the end of the aisle waiting for her. She wanted it all! Meanwhile, Fallon never even mentioned wanting to get married! It was mind blowing. Audrey moved her finger around a piece of stray hair that had escaped her bun, twirling it as her envy ate at her. She was wrong to be so jealous of Fallon but it was hard not to be. Fallon was about to have everything she never knew she wanted; while Audrey would continue to yearn for the same thing she had wanted since she was a child. The sad thing was it didn’t look like her Prince Charming was ever going to sweep her off her feet and want to marry her in her elaborate wedding. How many pieces-of-shit men was she going to have to go through before she met her Lucas Brooks?
Audrey let another aggravated sigh leave her lips before she took a long pull of her champagne. Maybe if she stayed drunk through the next couple of days, it wouldn’t hurt as bad. The jealousy would stay at bay. What kind of sister was she to be jealous of her older sister, her best friend? It was disgusting and Audrey needed to quit. Now, because Fallon was coming towards her with a radiant smile on her face and looking so unbelievably beautiful. It was hard not to feel like the biggest piece of crap for being so jealous of her. Fallon’s hand was joined with Lucas’ of course, and they both looked like they had just stepped out of some high fashion magazine.
Only Fallon could pull off a shiny silver disco-ball style dress where the bust dipped down almost to her belly button. How she kept that dress closed would always be a mystery to Audrey but she did, and she looked stunning. Her long brown hair was in big curls and pulled up on one side with a silver clip. She wore black stilettos that had two-inch silver glitter platforms on them. They made her legs look long and tan, complementing the outfit in just the right way. It was hard to take her eyes off her beautiful sister, but not that hard when Lucas Brooks was in the room. When her eyes met her future brother-in-law’s deep gray ones, she found herself breathless. Lucas was devilishly sexy in a white button up shirt that he had rolled up to above his elbows, showing off his many tattoos. He also wore a dark black vest with a silver tie. He wore tailored black slacks and, of course, he hadn’t shaved in days. Something Fallon loved and really, it wasn’t fair how sexy it made him. They were a beautiful couple who were meant to be with each other.
And it just wasn’t fair!
Audrey put on a grin as Fallon leaned against the same railing while Lucas leaned in close, wrapping his arms around Fallon’s waist as they both grinned over at her. “I have a feeling you’re hiding.”