Chapter 22 Comfort

I stood outside the restaurant, regretting having not brought a coat with me.

I stood by Wes's car with my palms placed down on the hood of the car. Leaning over, I inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to find any sense of calmness I could.

It wasn't until someone came behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder, that I finally felt my body relax. I knew instantly that it was Wes.

"Hey," he whispered, stepping closer behind me. His breath hit the side of my face as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, hugging me softly.

I exhaled, letting my body lean back into his chest. I shut my eyes, feeling the cold air prick my face while Wes's body brought warmth back into me.

"You okay?"

I took a deep breath, not wanting to get out of his hold but pulling away from him and turning to face him. I looked at him sheepishly, feeling like a big, pathetic idiot. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. I should have tried harder."

"Hey, hey," Wes lifted his hand to cup one side of my face. He shook his head firmly. "You did nothing wrong. You deserve to stand up for yourself, Fia."

I looked down at our shoes, still feeling embarrassed that I did all that. "It's her time to shine, Wes. I should keep biting my tongue, get this wedding over with so I can go back to campus and never have to see her again."

Wes gently placed his hand under my chin, lifting my face so I would look at him. He shook his head again. "You are so much more amazing than she or anyone will ever see."

I smiled weakly, my whole body feeling like it was ready to melt right into him. "Thank you. For everything, for being here."

Wes smiled at me. "You don't have to thank me."

I nodded my head, getting back into action. "Okay," I clasped my hands together. "Today didn't go so smoothly but I do have to warn you, we still have to face a lot more of my family at the rehearsal and wedding itself. We might need a better way of keeping me calm."

Wes chuckled softly. "We'll come up with something."

I heaved out a heavy breath. "Can we get out of here now?"

Wes nodded, pulling his keys out. "Whatever you want."

I headed to the passenger side, opening the door when Wes stopped me. "Fia?"

I turned to look at him, a questioning look on my face.

"For the record, your the best friend and best fake-girlfriend anyone could wish for."

Later that evening, I was sitting in the kitchen attempting to write my speech for the wedding but I was making zero progress.

Stefan had taken Wes out to some local pub, saying they were going to have a boys night to watch the game.

"How's it going?" Sage walked into the kitchen, a smirk on her face as she ate a yogurt parfait.

I gave her a tired and lifeless look. "Nowhere. It is going nowhere." I crumpled up another piece of paper.

She laughed as she sat down in front of me. "I feel for you, I really do."

"what am I supposed to write?" I sputtered, running a hand down my face. "She's hardly a sister to me. We've never been close."

Sage gave me a sympathetic smile. "Google something and copy it."

I frowned, shaking my head. "I can't do that. It has to be real, personal in some ways. It is her wedding after all."

Sage heaved a heavy breath, shrugging her shoulders weakly. "You're going to put in so much effort after what happened at lunch?"

I laughed weakly. "It was nothing I didn't think would happen sooner. This is how she's always been."

Sage spun her spoon around in the yogurt. "I'm surprised you didn't lose your shit earlier."

I laughed, nodding my head in complete agreement. "Trust me when I tell you it was very hard."

Sage grinned. "It sucks. I was actually hoping this would go smoothly so we all could have some fun actually seeing each other after so long."

"Makes two of us," I sighed. "I'm just surprised my dad's been quite decent to be around this time."

"Really?" Sage's eyebrows rose, just as surprised as me. "No talk about you working at his company?"

I shrugged softly. "It's mainly my mother who is still pushing that. My dad has hardly mentioned it, I'm not sure why. But, he does seem to like Wes."

Sage rolled her eyes playfully, "Who wouldn't?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. Normally I would tease her about forming a crush but this time was different because technically I was supposed to be dating Wes.

She saw the look on my face causing her to put her hands up in defence. "I am in no search for a boy, Fia. I promise."

I laughed, nudging her. "It's fine. I know he's..." I blew air out into my cheeks, pausing. "Kind of perfect."

Sage quirked an eyebrow, amused. "Someone's in awe."

I gave her a dull look but couldn't stop my face from heating up. I'm not sure why. "He's kind of been a rock for me. I don't know what I would do if he wasn't here, Sage." I smiled softly.

To speak of the devil and he walks in. "Hey," Wes had a goofy smile on his face as he walked into the kitchen with Stefan.

"I am going to go pass out," Stefan mumbled. He patted Wes's back, both of them doing a very uncoordinated handshake before Stefan dragged him feet out of the kitchen.

Sage rolled her eyes. "I'm going to make sure he doesn't throw up everywhere. Good luck." She shot me a wink before following after her brother.

Wes slowly dragged his feet over to me, coming over to the island. "Hey," he said again. He was evidently buzzed. He wrapped his arms around me, standing behind the stool I was sitting on.

"Wes," I mumbled, chuckling softly. "What are you doing?"

He dug his head into the crook of my neck, his arms flailing around me. "Hugging you, peanut."

"Peanut?" I scrunched up my nose.

A moment later, he unwrapped his arms and took a seat on the stool beside me. He tilted his head, looking at me. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to write a wedding speech," I sighed. At this point, I had given up. "I can't do it."

Wes frowned. "Yes, you can."

I laughed, shaking my head softly. "I appreciate the faith you have in me but really, I have nothing to say."

Wes rolled his eyes, leaning his head into the palm of his hand. "Just talk about how perfect she is."

I snorted. "What?"

Wes heaved out a heavy breath. I could smell the alcohol. "Remember when we were driving here and you told me about how she's the perfect daughter, the perfect everything. That your parents wish you could be like her?"

I nodded my head slowly, understanding what he was getting at.

"You just have to put all of those thoughts and feelings into a speech about the perfect sister you have always looked up to." Wes paused, scrunching up his face. "Although I prefer you the way you are and don't think you need to be anything like her."

My whole body warmed up from his words. Even when he was buzzed, he still always knew the right things to say.

"Thank you, Wes."

He winked at me in response.

"Come on," I sighed, standing up. I swung Wes's arm around my shoulders. "Let's get your drunk ass to bed." Wes pouted out his bottom lip but let me bring him upstairs anyways.

I helped Wes get into bed once we got to my room. I walked to the other side of the bed and got in beside him, turning to lie on my side to look at him. Wes did the same, facing me.

He reached up to tuck some strands of my hair behind my ear. "You are stunning."

I smiled softly, my face going warm. "You're drunk."

"Not blind though," he retorted. A small smile played on his lips, his eyes soft and welcoming.

Without thinking, not even realizing it at first, I found myself running a hand through Wes's hair that was a ruffled mess right now. "You're easy on the eyes too, pretty boy."

A toothy smile broke on his face. He quirked an eyebrow, "Don't get my hopes up now."

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Hopes up? For?"

He shook his head softly, letting his droopy eyes shut.

I exhaled deeply through my nose, watching his chest fall as he breathing became even and he started to drift off. I smiled softly, looking at how peaceful he looked.

"Goodnight," I whispered softly to him although he had already dozed off. I let my eyelids fall shut as I drifted off myself.