The Wedding Day by Joanne Clancy Read Free Book Online Page B

could you have kissed me and made love to me knowing what you'd done? It makes my skin crawl to even think about it."
    She suddenly ran out of steam and sat deflated on the edge of the bed.
     
    "Do you love her?" Nicole asked quietly, afraid to look at him and dreading his answer.
    "No! You're the only woman I have ever loved and will ever love. I've never known anyone like you and I am hopelessly, eternally in love with you. I can't tell you how sorry I am."
    A tense silence descended upon them.
     
    "Why did you do it, Paul?" she asked eventually.
    "I don't know," he replied, running his hands through his hair, a familiar gesture when he didn't know what to say.
    "Why did you not break up with me in private? Did you get some sort of a sick kick out of annihilating me in front of everyone?" she asked.
    "Of course I didn’t! I hate myself for what I've done to you. I'm desperately sorry for the way I treated you. I wanted to tell you when we were alone, but I kept putting it off until it was too late. I couldn't find the right time or the right words. You were always kind and good to me; the perfect girlfriend, too perfect sometimes."
    "I was too perfect?" Nicole shouted. "What does that even mean? You obviously didn't think I was good enough for you."
    "Of course you are good enough for me. I didn't deserve you. I didn't want to hurt you. I'm a coward. I couldn't face telling you the truth." He had the good grace to look away.
     
    "You didn't want to hurt me?" Nicole spat the words at him. "Well, you couldn't have hurt me anymore if you tried. I feel ashamed. Everyone knows that you cheated on me and they're probably having a good laugh at my expense."
    "Nobody's laughing at you, Nicole. Everyone hates me. I haven't seen anyone since the wedding. I've had numerous phone calls from our friends telling me that they never want to see me again. They've tried calling you but there was no answer."
    "I can't find my phone," Nicole said distractedly. "I think I might have left it at mum and dad's house. I'll get it later."
    "I see, that explains why you didn't call me back." Paul seemed a little relieved.
     
    "Why would I have returned your calls, Paul?" Nicole asked. "You left me on my wedding day for my friend! Could you not have chosen someone other than her?"
    "I didn't choose her. It just happened. Neither of us planned it."
    "Aww, it all sounds so very romantic! You didn't plan it," Nicole's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Where is Simone, anyway? I expected that you'd have her moved in here with you by now. We know how much you hate to be alone."
    "I haven't seen her since the wedding. It's over between us. There never was an "us"."
     
    "Why?" Nicole asked.
    "Why what?" Paul asked in confusion.
    "Why did you cheat on me with her? Was I not pretty enough or skinny enough or interesting enough for you?" she asked.
    "Oh, Nicole, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I was a fool to treat you badly. I wish I could turn back time. I wish I'd never cheated on you."
    "When did it start?" Nicole couldn't help herself.
    She had to know. She'd been imagining Paul and Simone together for weeks, desperately trying to figure out how long they'd been together. How long had they been laughing at her behind her back?
     
    "We only slept together once, Nicole, I swear to you. It was a terrible, drunken mistake that should never have happened."
    "I see," Nicole felt sick. "When did it happen?"
    Paul shifted uncomfortably.
    "I can't remember exactly, sometime in the summer. We bumped into each other one evening after work in the pub. You and Helen were in Dublin for the night, looking at wedding dresses. Simone couldn't join you because she had work commitments. Anyway, we had a few too many drinks and one thing lead to another. You know how flirty she can be."
    Paul tried to defend himself.
    "Don't even attempt to blame her!" Nicole snapped viciously. "You were engaged to me. We were planning our wedding and YOU chose to throw us