Fifteen
Addison
“Yes, that’s fine. Roses on each table in the blush pink will be perfect. And don't forget about jewelry that goes with my gown. I want everything set up that morning so I don't have to think about anything.” I was scatterbrained on a normal day, hackers mind, but my wedding day? I didn't want to be responsible for anything. I knew I would forget something and ruin the whole damn thing. With Cole’s money, I had set up everything so nicely. Our lie was perfectly staged.
I hung up the phone with the planner and turned back to Elizabeth who was sitting on the couch in Cole’s apartment rummaging through invitations.
“I still think you're having a midlife crisis. Or quarter life I guess.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “We have discussed this, this is what is best for Cole and me. So what if it's a little rushed? It's not like I'm not getting everything that I ever wanted. I wish you could just be happy for me.”
“I am happy for you, I'm just… concerned. I mean this guy shows up out of nowhere Addison! You are hiding him from me and then you decide to marry him? I mean what did Daddy say?”
“That he would be wearing his uniform and he would be happy to walk me down the aisle. Mom was the same way. Just happy that I found someone and I'm settling down. I think you're just annoyed that I'm settling down before you.”
I knew the last one stung, and that shouldn't have because I was just playing up this lie, but I knew that she had moved her boyfriend into her apartment since I had left and she was especially annoying since I had told her I was getting married.
“You're so lucky I'm not planning a bachelorette party for you because if I were, I would've taken pictures to show Cole just for that statement.”
“Yeah thanks for not doing that, I don’t think I could handle anymore showing off then I'm already doing. And I'm really glad that you guys decided to just throw in the shower with the rehearsal dinner so people could bring gifts that if they wanted.” I was not the in the spotlight type, this was all a little much.
“It's not like you need anything anyway,” Elizabeth said gesturing around Cole's apartment. She was right. I had everything here that I could ever want. I kept myself busy most of the day while Cole was at the hospital planning the wedding and keeping things tidy, not to mention thinking about him.
Our chemistry over the past three weeks had become completely incredible. And while I had been better about not trying to seduce my new fiancé before he left for work in the morning that didn't mean I was sleeping in the guest room.
Most nights I was cuddled up with Cole on the couch or getting rowdy in his bed. We were like the perfect new couple. Maybe getting married this fast wasn’t a bad idea, when you were still in that lusty stage and you couldn’t keep your hands off each other. Maybe Cole and I had figured it all out better than the rest of society. Or maybe in four months, we would never talk to each other again, and that was constantly nagging in the back of my mind.
“How's the hospital for him? He said that this is the first time he's working in pediatrics.”
Elizabeth was sincerely interested, which was refreshing because when I had first told about getting married her she had dropped a bottle of wine on the floor in my old apartment which shattered and was a total waste. Now she was at least asking about him like he was a real person and not someone I had made up. But she was still pressing for the four of us to go to dinner sometime, and after dinner with Cole's uncle, I wasn't too keen to repeat it. I still couldn't believe what he had done under the table if we had been caught! I couldn't even imagine.
“It's fine. I don't think Pediatrics is really his thing, I mean he's used to a more military type of medicine but I don't think he hates it either. I mean he’s not there much longer anyway.”
I noticed that Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at that. “And why not?”
Shit. I hadn’t mentioned that Cole was only going to be working there for short period of time. I had to get better at the lie that was our lives.
“Well he's on loan from another hospital, so I don't think he intends on staying there full-time or anything.”
“What about you? Have you even been looking for a job? I just don’t want you to become this trophy wife Addison. Not to mention that's not really your style.”
“And what’s my style? What's that supposed to mean?”
“The little socialites, going to fundraising dinners and hosting cocktail parties. That might be what Cole is looking for, but that’s not you. That’s certainly not us.”
“So what? Just because you and I were raised different than Cole, what’s that got to do with things? Elizabeth, that's kind of shitty thing to say.” Especially because she was right. Doubt pushed its way into my mind.
She didn't make eye contact continuing to go through invitations. “I can't believe how many people got back to you, considering it was such short notice.”
I could tell she was ignoring my comment but I couldn't really blame her. She was right, Cole’s world wasn’t my own. For God sakes, I was getting married to someone who was practically a stranger and that was all because he wanted me to. What was I doing? Who was I becoming? This was all completely insane! It didn't matter how good sex with Cole was, or all the things that I could get the money from the severance package.
I was marrying him! I looked at Elizabeth as she continued to sort through invitations making the final no pile when I realized I needed to talk to Cole now!
“Elizabeth, I'm actually going out for a bit. Can you lock up when you're done?”
She looked at me, her face was concern and annoyance etched into it.
“But I'm not even halfway done.”
I grabbed my keys off of the counter and I muttered to her, “You might not need to finish.”