A Part of Me by Taryn Plendl Page B

last few months, it probably didn’t seem like I would ever get it together.
    “You okay?”  Nick whispered, glancing over at Talia and the other man.
    I shrugged.  “Yeah.  Do you know who he is?”  I nodded my chin in their direction, hoping that Nick might have been privy to the information.
    “No clue.”  He shook his head as he watched me closely. 
    After hearing the man tell Talia to save him a dance, I could hardly control my jealousy.  If I had my way, no other man would ever touch her again.
    I pushed my food away, losing my appetite.  “I’ll be back, I need to get some fresh air.”  I stood, stopping briefly to let Trevor know so he didn’t worry, before I made my way to the doors to the patio.
    The moment I stepped outside, I lifted my face and took a deep breath, closing my eyes and letting the cooler evening air wash over me, relieving some of the tension I had been holding onto.
    What the hell was I going to do?  I had screwed things up so badly.  The accident had changed everything.   Not only physically, but it had taken me places emotionally that I never thought I was capable of going.  I had treated the people who loved me most with such disdain.  I allowed myself to fall into a pathetic abyss of self-pity.  Looking back, I was mortified.   That was not who I am.  Even after I’d lost my parents, I’d never sunk to that level.   
    “Tom?”  I felt my shoulders tense, but my heart betrayed me by beating erratically with just the sound of her voice.
    I turned around to face the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.  If I had thought she was an angel before, seeing her in front of me in that silver dress, her long blonde hair piled on top of her head with curls hanging around her face.  Her crystal blue eyes and creamy pale skin.  Soft pink lips.  She was striking, flawless, impeccable.  An angel.
    “Hi.”  My voice sounded more clipped than I intended it to, and I could see the moment of hurt cover her features before she lifted her chin. 
    “You’re walking?”  She smiled and my heart fluttered.  Of course she was happy for me.  That was the type of woman she was.  She cared, but it was too late, she had moved on.
    “I am.”  I smiled back.  The silence was uncomfortable and full of tension and uncertainty. Finally I decided to excuse myself.  “I’m going to head back inside.  It was great to see you Talia.”  I walked through the door, heading straight for the bar.  I needed to work at numbing myself a bit if I was going to get through this night.
    “Can I get a Jack and Coke please?”  I leaned against the bar and watched as Talia came back through the door.  The man from earlier stopped her, cupping her face in his hands as he spoke to her.  She finally smiled before walking back to the head table and sitting next to Ava.
    “Can I get two glasses of Chardonnay?”   I turned to face the blonde man next to me as he gave his order. 
    As the bartender worked on both of our drinks, I decided to torture myself a bit.  “Hi, I’m Tom.”  I held out my hand.
    “Austin.”  He shook my hand and nodded. 
    “Are you a friend of the bride or groom?”  I asked, knowing full well what his answer would be.
    “The bride.  I met Ava through Talia.”  He explained.
    “Oh, have you known Talia long?”  I was such a creep.
    “You could say that.”  He chuckled, and I was tempted to wipe that smirk right off his face.
    The bartender handed me my drink and I took a sip, letting the cool liquid send a warm burn down my throat before continuing.  “Have you been dating Talia long?”
    “Dating?  No, I’m not dating Talia.”  He sounded shocked and I became increasingly annoyed that he was now dismissing her so quickly.  “I can guarantee our families wouldn’t agree to that.”  He laughed.
    “Your families?”  I was so confused.
    “Talia’s my cousin.”  Austin smiled and I instantly felt like an idiot.