As time got closer to the wedding, I noticed Sarina would often be staring deep into space, lost in her thoughts. Most of the time she'll snap out of it quickly. Here lately though she's be lost longer in thought than I would think is alright. She's been more quiet and reserved with sharing things too. Most of her questions about how her days has been have been short, and nothing spectacular unless it was a problem with the hotel being converted to apartments. Which has been happening more often lately with her arriving home later in the evening, tired and ready for bed.
"Earth to Sarina. Are you done collecting space dust out there?" I wave my hand in front of her face as we were out shopping looking at a new bed frame. Hers had become wobbly and we found the hardware to be stripped.
She snaps out of it and she gives me an annoyed look. "Yes and I'm about to shoot it at Uranus." She gives me attitude that's uncalled for.
"Whoa.. Sarina. What's the matter?"
"What do you mean? I was just thinking and you wave your hand in my face like I'm an idiot." She snaps at me.
I lean back, shocked and doing my best not to become defensive. "Is this about the joke I said earlier when I pointed out the padded headboard? I wasn't trying to ...."
She cuts me off, "That didn't help, but it doesn't matter. I can't do anything about it anyways. Let's just pick something so we can take it home please. I need to finish getting the guest list and bridal party lists finished up for the wedding invites."
"I'll help you with the invites when we get home, baby, can you please tell me what's the matter when we get home though?" I ask her tentatively.
She chews on the inside of her cheek, "If I'm ready to." She says, before walking to the next display bedframe that was set up on the show room floor. We pick a new bed frame and have it set up for delivery before heading home.
She's quiet again, as we sit at the table filling out the invitation cards to be sent out for the wedding, making sure we marked the person off the list. The guest list comprised of a hundred and seventy five people. Between family, friends and a variety of professional acquaintances, we were trying to make sure we had everyone we wanted there. The venue would be set up for two hundred and food and cake.
We finally finish up the invites and place them in the box to take to the post office tomorrow.
"Now that is done, you wanna talk to me about why you've been a space cadet who enjoys shooting verbal ballistics at me lately?" I ask her, leaning against the back of the chair.
She mumbles something incoherent and I cock my head in her direction, "I'm sorry, you'll have to speak louder."
"I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO WALK ME DOWN THE AISLE OR... GIVE ME AWAY!" She shouts, her voice catching at the end of her statement. "My brother was supposed to have the honor." She avoids my gaze and stares down at the table fiddling with the pen she still has.
Tears start rolling over the swell of her cheeks, which she quickly hides behind the palm of one hand. Her shoulders start to shake and she drops the pen, letting it roll across the table.
I sit there watching her, remembering she doesn't have any of her family left other than Alyssa and the twins. I stand up and wrap my arms around her, as she continues to cry silently.
"Baby... We can find someone. Who's the closest family friend that might do it?" I ask her.
She shakes her head, "I don't speak to any of the friends of my parents.... The closest person to my family would be... John."
I grit my teeth, but accept the fact that its true, he was friends with David for a long time, but I still don't care for the guy. I control myself as I tell her, "What? You don't think he'll do it?"
Secretly, I hope he won't as messed up as that is.
She shrugs, "He probably would. I just wish David was still here to do it." She starts wiping her face with her hands and I leave her to grab the box of tissues. I know she wishes it was her brother instead. I wish my brother had gotten the chance to meet her.
I hand her the box of tissues and think about it. "What if my dad walked you down the aisle?"
She pauses and looks at me funny her mouth open to say something before her lips purse in thought. "But he's technically not giving me away, since he's your dad."
"What about Art?" I offer.
"Art, I already asked him." she says sadly. "He's not even coming. I forgot that he's getting his surgery on his knee that he's been waiting on for two years now." She lets out a long breath. "I know you don't care for John, so I'll figure someone out."
Guilt kicks me in the stomach at that moment. "Sarina, yes, John and me will never be friends, but" I really hope I don't regret this later... " if you want to ask him and he says he will, then you don't have to worry about it anymore. So go ahead."
She looks up at me, her eyes going wide, then narrowing, "Are you sure?"
I let out a forced scoff, "Yes, I wouldn't have said it otherwise. Your closest related male blood relative can't even walk yet, so..." I shrug it off, " why not. Him handing you over to me has a touch of poetic justice honestly." I smirk at her.
Rolling her eyes, she scoffs, "It's really not like that. It's more like a big brother/business partner now more than anything else. Besides, if he did have a thing for me, I do believe Tori would have cut his balls off by now."
I raise my brows at that statement. "I didn't realize they were actually seeing each other."
Sarina raises her brow and looks at me like I've said something stupid, "Really? They're together almost every time he shows up at the apartments or in the meetings with the rest of the heads on the project. I've seen the looks they exchange, those silent conversation types that couples do. I could bet and win on that."
Oh really? I start to think about that when Sarina holds her hand up, "I'm not betting against you. Tori is your patient and that would be unethical of you to bet on your patient."
"Ha!" I scoff, "When did you become ethical," I used air quotations, "about bets?" I cross my arms in front of my chest as she puffs out her lower lip at me.
"As she is your patient currently, you are privy to information that could or could not aid you in the bet. That alone is unethical." She lifts her nose in the air and picks the box of invitations up off the table to set by the front door.
"Sounds like you're not as sure as you thought you were." I grin at her smugly, leaning against the back of the sofa as she sets the box down.
Sarina looks over her shoulder at me and starts walking to the bedroom, "Kiss my ass."
"Oh I'm gonna do more than just kiss it." I growl and chase after her as she squeals and runs into the bedroom.
"Remember! I will flip your ass again!" She shrieks as I chase her around the house, ducking and dodging pillows that she throws my way as we run over the beds and pass by the couches.
"Yeah, but it'll be worth it!" I shout after her, dodging another pillow, but then my foot lands on another already thrown at me and I slide, loosing my footing, "SHIT!"
I fall back and land hard. I groan, knowing I shouldn't move for a moment, plus I'm seeing stars and my eyes are closed.
"Brian!" Sarina calls back to me, "Brian? Oh my goodness, babe! Are you okay?" She's being cautious, as she approaches me.
I groan again, my eyes still closed and my lack of response has her feet pitter pattering over to my side and falling to her knees.
"Brian?!" She touches my arm, "Brian, respond to me or I'm calling an ambulance!"
I open an eye at her, "Don't call an ambulance. They're too expensive, I just... I need a minute, I hit the ground pretty hard." I notice that my eyes are out of focus. "I think I hit my head harder than I thought. I can't focus on anything right now."
Sarina voice gets louder, making my head start to ache, "I'm calling Lance. You're slurring your words. I think you may have a concussion babe."
I hear her on the phone, worried and asking Lance for help to get me off the floor explaining what happened. I have to close my eyes because the light is too bright. My head is starting to pound hard against the inside of my skull. It feels like my eyeballs are going to pop out of my skull.
"Okay, baby. Lance is on the way. You want to tell me what your moms first name is?" She asks.
"Brittany." I say through clenched teeth, my throbbing head starting to get worse. I don't know how long I was there, but it didn't feel like long before Lance showed up.
"Okay, man. I'm going to help you stand up and get you to the car. You're going to need to go to the hospital. Alright?" Lance tells me, his hands grabbing a hold of mine.
My eyes flutter open, "K, slow please. My head hurts."
"Sure thing man."