Now He's Getting Married

“Always the last one to show up,” My dad said hugging me as I walked into the backyard. Since today is mother’s day my sisters and I all came home for the week. We’re staying for the week that way the three of us can help Charlotte and Elizabeth get ready for prom on Saturday.

“Not my fault that I couldn’t get an earlier flight,” I said smiling up at him. I have always been and I’m pretty sure I will always be a daddy’s girl.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” My dad shouted causing my mom, sisters, brother-in-law, nephew, and Nick to turn and look at us. I laughed as I headed towards my mom who was already holding her arms open for me to walk into.

“I missed you so much mommy,” I said as I hugged her really tight. I know it can be seen as super cliche for a girl to say her mom is her best friend, but mine really is my best friend.

“I missed you too Lilah,” She said. Oh, in case you’re wondering how to pronounce my name it’s Mer (like mermaid) and Lilah (leah), “Oh something came here for you last week. Come in and I’ll give it to you,” She said and I nodded my head before following her inside. She took me to her study and I sat on her desk while she searched for my mail.

“Here it is,” She said before handing me a fancy looking envelope. There was no return address on it, all it had was my address printed on it along with a stamp. I looked up at my mom and she just shrugged. I carefully opened it and took out the contents of it. As I began to read what was written my heart dropped to my stomach and I felt a lump grow.

“Mr. Harry Edward Styles and Miss. Alexa Juniper Alexander would like to join in the celebration of their wedding on August 13th, 2018,” I read out loud before setting the envelope down on her desk along with its contents. This is when I looked up at my mom and she gave me a pity filled look. My mom is the only member of my family who knows how much I still love Harry. Seeing the look on my mom’s face broke me and I just let the tears fall.

“Oh, honey,” She said coming and embracing me and just letting me cry and cry and cry. After what seemed like years I pulled away from her and wiped under my eyes.

“I’m okay,” I said once I calmed down and smiled at her. She gave me a look as if she didn’t believe me, but I just nodded my head. I stood up and walked out of her study leaving the invitation on her desk and then the two of us walked outside and that’s when my nephew, Murdock, attacked my legs.

“Hey buds,” I said picking him up and kissing him all over his face. Family time always gets me out of my funk, but playing with my nephew is my instant cure.

“I can tie my show Lili,” He said in a very proud manner.

“Can you tie my shoes?” I asked him and he nodded his head. I sat him back down on the ground and then he sat down and untied one of my shoes before actually tying it back again.

“Buddy!” I said being the proud and supportive aunt that I am. He laughed and hugged my legs before running over to where his dad, Chance, was jumping on the trampoline. I went and sat down next to Charlie at the table. I brought my knees up to my chest and sent a text in my group chat with Chloe, Ella, Austin, Jake, and Bradley telling them about the invitation. They all became close with Harry as well during the year that we dated.

“You okay?” Charlie asked me looking up form her own phone.

“Yup. You?” I asked her knowing that her boyfriend had dumped her last week.

“Yes, but I’m also not the one who got invited to their ex’s wedding,” She said and my jaw dropped.

“How did you know about that?” I asked her.

“Georgia was talking about the wedding. Harry had let it slip to Nick that he was inviting you and Nick let it slip to the rest of us,” She said. Of course leave it to Nick Grimshaw to let everyone know.

“I’m fine. He’s happy and I’ve moved on,” I said smiling and she nodded her head before going back to her phone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I can’t go Chlo,” I said as I hung upside down off my bed in my childhood bedroom later that night. Everyone is getting settled down for the night and in an hour we’re going to watch a movie together as a family.

“Sure you can. I know you still love him, but maybe seeing him get married will help you move on. It’ll kind of finalize everything,” She said.

“I don’t know. If I do go, I’m not saying I’m going but if I do, I’ll need a date. I can’t be the sad ex that shows up to the wedding without a date,” I said before my phone made a beeping sound. I checked it and it was an incoming call from Harry.
“Chlo?” I said trailing off in shock.

“Yeah Mer?” She asked making it clear that she was confused.

“Harry’s calling,” I said and Chloe laughed.

“Okay, nice joke,” She said.

“I wish I was joking,”

“Well one of two options. One, you can answer it, or you can ignore him,”

“He’ll probably keep calling if I don’t answer,”

“That’s kind of a dick move,” she said and I couldn’t disagree with her.

“Tell me about it. I should probably answer this now, I’ll let you know what he says,” I said to her before accepting Harry’s call.

“Hello?”

“Merbelle,” said the one person who has ever called me that. It’s Harry.

“What’s going on? You never call me,” I said going and sitting on my window seat and staring at the stars that have now filled the sky.

“I know, I just missed talking to you,” He said trailing off and leaving us in silence. I decided to let us sit in it since he was the one who called me. After about five minutes of silence I spoke up.

“Harry, what do you want?” I asked.

“I just wanted to talk. You were always the one to cheer me up on a bad day,” He replied. Going against my better judgement I stayed on the phone with him.

“What happened,” I asked as I crossed my legs.

“Just all the wedding planning. Nobody said it was going to be this hard,” He said with a slight laugh accompanying his words.

“Weddings are never easy, but I’m sure you’ll be able to manage,”

Notes

Please stick with me...I promise they will get better