Chapter 4

APRIL

I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck repeatedly. The throbbing in my head only got worse as I opened my eyes.

I sat up, trying to figure out where I was, in a completely unfamiliar room.

What the hell did I do last night? I looked down, seeing that I was still wearing my wedding dress, and that is when all the memories came rushing back. They make my stomach churn, and I feel like I am going to throw up at any second.

I start letting out some of the many colorful insults my trucker mouth knows. The bastard deserves every single one of them, and I won't hesitate to say them to his face the second I get the chance.

"Those are not words a lady should use," I looked at the amused man leaning against the closet. I froze completely at the sight of him, so much so that I didn't even dare to breathe.

This could only happen to me. I mean, normal people, who think and act rationally, don't suffer from these kinds of problems. But what bothers me the most about all this is that I have zero history of sneaking into a stranger's house during what I assume is the drunkest night of the year. This was all David's fault. If he had just told me the truth, we could have figured something out. But he only cared about his image.

"Hey, breathe. Ryan will kill me if he finds out I'm bothering you." I open my mouth but close it right away; it seems I have lost my ability to speak.

"Hi," I say in such a calm and innocent way that no one would think I am about to have a stroke. "How are you? I am sorry for stealing your bed."

"May I ask what you are doing here?" Even though he tries to hide it, I can see the amusement in his eyes.

"I... well..." I start smoothing out the wrinkles in my dress, suspecting I must look like a woman who just escaped from a mental institution. "I don't know." As soon as I blurt out my confession, I see him fighting a smile.

"You don't know? So tell me, little pom-pom, do you usually go to a stranger's house dressed as a bride?" The bastard is making fun of me, but I am too embarrassed to insult him, not to mention the fact that I am in his house.

"My name is April," I say to stop him from calling me pom-pom again; any bulkiness on my body is the dress's fault. Seeing him start to laugh only begins to awaken my true self. "I want to apologize, you know, for any trouble I might have caused last night. The truth is I don't remember anything, not even you. I am not someone who usually drinks or wakes up in a stranger's bed." Seeing him not say anything only encourages me to continue my senseless rambling. "Clearly, when you met me last night I was going through a rough patch. I am not making excuses, and I truly thank you for rescuing me. Your house is very nice."

"Is it?" Now his smile shows his teeth. He is attractive, even though he is mocking me. "I thought I heard you say you didn't remember anything, so how do you remember the rest of my house?" Shit. How much nonsense am I spouting? I feel incapable of putting together a coherent sentence, though his attitude is just turning my embarrassment into annoyance.

"I did say that and it is true, but if the rest of it is as cozy as this room, it must be a perfect place." My voice sounds like a cat being tortured. I feel tortured right now.

"Little pom-pom, you clearly drank too much last night, but did you take any other substances? You know, because you still seem a little high." Now my eyes double in size, and I no longer care about being nice to this idiot.

"I have never done drugs, you massive idiot!" Even though I am furious, he just seems more amused.

"Are you sure? Not even a little pill?" I narrow my eyes, debating whether to jump on him and beat him until I am exhausted.

"Of course not, I am not that kind of person!" This time I am yelling, but this man is just exasperating.

"Don't get mad, little pom-pom. I am not judging you, I just care about your safety." I let out a sound of disbelief, and he bursts out laughing.

"What are you doing here, Michael? You said you were just going to use the bathroom." We both look at the newcomer. This one does look familiar to me.

"I just saw little pom-pom and came to say hi. I didn't know you made a habit of stealing brides now. That is not cool, Ryan." But he is still highly amused.

"Shut up, idiot. I hope you didn't say anything bad to her." He then turns to look at me, but I am too defensive right now to appreciate how attractive he is. "April, I apologize for anything he might have said to you. He is an idiot most of the time."

"He proved that when he asked me if I was high," I spit out like a punch.

"You told her that?" This Ryan guy directs his anger at his friend.

"I was just joking. Little pom-pom, I just wanted to make you laugh, you looked so scared." He sits at the foot of the bed and crosses one leg over the other. "Come on, tell Uncle Mitch. What is the problem?"

"Oh my God, that sounded really creepy. Thanks, but no. In fact, I think I should go now. I need to go and jump off the first bridge I see."

"Bunny, I hope you are joking." I look at Ryan as he speaks. "I understand what happened to you, but your fiancé doesn't deserve that much importance."

"Ex-fiancé," I remind him.

"Hey, wait a minute. Bunny?"

"You are leaving. I need to talk to April and take her home." I watch as Ryan escorts Michael out of the room.

Well, apparently it was Ryan who brought me here. As I stare at the door, I think about how I am going to have to face my problems today.