Chapter Eleven
1246 Words
Lucy must have dozed off at some point, because when she opened her eyes, the room was dim and washed in the early evening light. For a moment she forgot everything.
Then it came rushing back.
The vows.
The kiss.
Lila’s words.
Before she could sink back into her thoughts, her phone buzzed.
A message from Britney.
Britney: Hey Lucy! A few of us are going to karaoke tonight at the Lounge. You should come! It’ll be fun. I need a break from wedding stress lol.
Lucy stared at the screen.
Of course.
She glanced over at Lila.
“Karaoke?” Lucy asked cautiously. “Britney invited me.”
Lila looked at her for a long second, then nodded. “I’ll come.”
The lounge was warm and lively, string lights hanging low from the ceiling. A small stage stood in the corner with a karaoke machine already set up. A few guests were scattered around, laughing, drinks in hand.
Britney spotted Lucy immediately and waved enthusiastically.
“Lucy!” She beamed, pulling her into a quick hug. “I’m so glad you came. I swear I need to sing badly on purpose to release stress.
Lucy forced a laugh. “That’s exactly what karaoke is for.”
Jasmine stood nearby, observant as ever. She smiled politely at Lucy, but there was something measuring in her gaze.
Lila slid beside Lucy, offering Britney a friendly greeting. The group settled around a low table, drinks ordered, microphones passed around.
Britney insisted on going first.
She sang loudly and off key on purpose, laughing at herself the entire time. The room cheered. Lucy couldn’t help but laugh genuinely.
For a few minutes, it felt normal.
Light.
Easy.
But Jasmine was watching.
When Britney went to grab another drink, Jasmine shifted her chair closer to Lucy.
“So,” she said casually, swirling her glass, “how long have you been working here?”
“Just for a week,” Lucy replied “I was brought in to perform for events for one week.”
“That’s nice,” Jasmine nodded. “It must be interesting. Seeing so many couples.”
Lucy swallowed lightly. “Yeah. It is.”
“And you?” Jasmine continued smoothly. “Are you seeing anyone?”
The question came too quickly.
Lucy felt Lila stiffen beside her.
“I mean,” Lucy said carefully, “nothing serious.”
“I’ve just been…meeting people.”
“Oh?” Jasmine’s eyebrow lifted slightly. “Anyone we might know?”
Lucy forced a small laugh. “I doubt it.”
“What about before you came here?” Jasmine asked. “Any serious relationships?”
There it was.
Lucy felt heat rise in her chest.
“I was engaged once,” she admitted quietly. “It didn’t work out.”
“Why not?” Jasmine pressed gently.
“Life,” Lucy said shortly. “Distance.”
Jasmine studied her face closely. “Do you know Marcus well?”
The question landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Lucy’s fingers tightened around her glass.
“No, I don’t.” She said keeping her tone neutral.
“You guys just seem like you’ve known each other,” Jasmine said curiously.
Before Lucy could answer, Britney returned, dropping into her seat with a dramatic sigh.
“Okay, who’s next? Lucy, you’re singing.”
Saved.
Lucy stood quickly, grateful for the distraction.
As she walked toward the stage, she could feel Jasmine’s eyes still on her.
She chose a safe song. Something upbeat. Something that required no emotion.
But as she sang, her eyes drifted and across the lounge, near the bar stood Marcus.
Watching.
And a few feet away, Josh.
Also watching.
Lucy’s voice didn’t falter.
But inside, everything was unraveling.
Back at the table, Jasmine leaned close to Lila.
“She knows more than she’s saying,” Jasmine murmured.
Lila didn’t respond.
Because she knew.
Lucy finished her song to warm applause and playful cheers. She handed the microphone back with a small bow, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
As she walked back to the table, she felt it again.
Marcus’s gaze.
Josh’s too.
She sat down between Lila and Britney, reaching immediately for her drink as if she needed something to hold onto.
“That was amazing! Britney laughed. “Okay, maybe not amazing, but confident.
Lucy smiled faintly. “That’s what counts.”
The music softened in the background as the next person set up their song. The mood at the table shifted into something more intimate, less chaotic, more conversational.
Britney leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling lights for a moment.
“I’m getting married in two day ladies,” she said softly “you know, I don’t think I’ve ever told you guys why I love Marcus so much.”
Lucy’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
Jasmine glanced at her sister but stayed quiet.
“I went through a really bad breakup before I met him,” Britney continued. “Like…really bad. It almost ruined me.”
Her voice wavered just slightly.
“I was a shadow of myself. I stopped trusting men. I stopped believing in anything lasting. I thought maybe I just wasn’t meant to be someone’s forever.”
Lucy swallowed.
“And then I met Marcus.”
A small, genuine smile spread across Britney’s face.
“He was…unexpected.” He didn’t chase me. He didn’t pressure me. He just showed up. Consistently. Calm. Patient.” She laughed softly.
“He taught me what love actually feels like. Not drama. Not anxiety. Not confusion. Just…safety.
Lucy’s chest tightened.
“He’s the biggest surprise of my life,” Britney said, her eyes glassy now. “And I’m so grateful I get to spend the rest of it with him.”
Jasmine reached for her hand, squeezing it.
Across the table, Lucy felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Her phone buzzed in her lap.
She glanced down.
Marcus: Come outside. We need to talk. It’s important.
Her stomach dropped.
She locked her phone and slid it back onto the table.
Britney was still talking about how Marcus had helped her rebuild herself, how he’d been steady when she wasn’t, how he had chosen her every single day.
Lucy felt heat rise behind her eyes.
The phone buzzed again.
Marcus: Please
She ignored it.
She nodded at the right moments. Smiled when expected. Even reached forward to hug Britney when her voice broke slightly.
“You deserve this,” Lucy said softly.
And she meant it.
But after a few more minutes, the weight became unbearable.
“I’m just going to get some air,” she murmured, standing up.
Lila’s eyes flicked up immediately, but she didn’t say anything.
Lucy walked out of the lounge, the music fading behind her as the night air wrapped around her.
Marcus was already there, standing near the railing overlooking the ocean.
He turned the moment he heard her footsteps.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said quietly.
She crossed her arms. “What’s so important?”
He stepped closer, but not too close.
“I don’t know if I’m making a mistake,” he admitted.
The words hung between them.
Lucy’s heart began to pound.
“A mistake?” She repeated.
“I don’t know if I’m about to marry the right person.”
The ocean roared softly behind them.
And Lucy felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
- Writer
