Chapter 11

The following morning, Austin was up, wearing blue denim Capri's with a red halter top, red hair up in a bunch of spiral curls, clear gloss on her lips and blue eyeliner. She had her purse in hand, walking down the hallway of the hotel, and headed for the back staircase. John was already at Carol's, having called her the previous night from the hotel, and told him to have fun. She was alone, but managed to get her work done, along with more of the wedding preparations. Austin pulled out a cigarette, ready to light one up, knowing she would need it after this day was over with.

Randy was waiting by her rental car, wearing blue jeans and a form fitting gray t-shirt with designs covering it, a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes. He was smoking when she came out, watching as she hesitated, and flashed a smile. "John thought you should have some company." He said with a casual shrug, knowing John hadn't mentioned it to her, and was also hoping Randy would scout for him.

Poor fool.

To say Austin was hesitant was an understatement as she pulled the lighter from her purse, lighting up her own smoke, shaking her head almost in disbelief. "You want to actually go with me to try on my wedding dress?" She asked, walking over to him, raising a slow eyebrow when he shrugged nonchalantly again. Did he even care about anything anymore? "Suit yourself, hop in." She was already sliding in the driver's seat and buckling up, holding the cigarette out the window while turning her Rascal Flatts CD on.

Randy had come prepared this time and pulled out his MP3 player from his pocket, sliding in his headphones and cranked it up, sighing in relief. She was out to destroy him with sappy country music, no chance in hell. He had damn near told John to go fuck himself when the man called and asked Randy to tag along with Austin. On second thought, he was more interested in exploring this chemistry they still had between them.

What the hell was Randy up to? Austin still couldn't get the feel of his lips off of hers as she took another drag of her cigarette, flicking ash out the window, deciding she wasn't going to let it bother her. What happened between them was just a relapse in judgment...that was a load of horseshit and Austin knew it.

It was a blatant notion she still had feelings for Randy, she still loved him, and somewhere down deep she knew he reciprocated those feelings. There was nothing she could do though as she turned on 'Where You Are', cranking it and pulled out of the parking space, sunglasses on top of her head as the red locks framed her face and flowed down her back in waves. This probably wasn't the best music to listen too, but Austin was having withdrawals and it helped relax her even more.

He had no idea what the hell she was listening too and, honestly, he didn't want to know. Simply because it was probably another one of those sad country songs that tore at the heart strings and dredged up memories he wasn't keen on reliving, or feelings for that matter. Unless it was...no, bad thoughts. Randy needed a cigarette suddenly, lighting one.

When they pulled into David's Bridal and the ignition cut, Austin looked over at Randy, still not believing he was here with her. She looked in her purse, flicking her second cigarette out the window after finishing it and slid out of the car, closing it behind her. Her eyes looked up at the building and Austin could feel the butterflies erupting within her, taking a shaky breath before putting one foot in front of the other, walking toward the entrance. She felt Randy right behind her and could smell his intoxicating scent, making her drunk with it, and took another deep breath as the lady walked up to them.

"Hello, I have an appointment for a dress fitting. I'm Austin Talverson."

"Ah yes, hello Ms. Talverson, my name is Cynthia. And is this the lucky groom?"

"No." She immediately answered, clearing her throat. "He's the Best Man."

She nodded, giving Randy a once over appreciatively, before directing them both toward the fitting rooms.

Why was he surprised that this woman had just assumed he was the groom? Oh yeah, because he was the one here with Austin, not John. And he definitely hadn't missed the once over, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"So what dress did we decide on again?" He asked needing to get over the sudden tense feeling he was currently having.

"It's very gorgeous." Cynthia stated with a smile as she sifted through the dresses, finally nodding and pulled it off the rack, pulling the plastic covering from it. "Is this the one?"

Austin nodded, her breath stolen by how truly beautiful the dress was, a smile spreading on her lips. The dress was satin side draped A-line with a beaded lace bodice and tiered lace trim skirt. It was strapless and had a small train behind it.

"Very well, I'll leave it here. Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with." She walked away to go assist other customers.

Austin took the dress, being very delicate with it, and went into one of the fitting rooms.

"Or, you know, you could just ask me for help." Randy said, leaning against the wall space between fitting rooms, peering over his shoulder and sighed. Why the hell was he here? He was in a bridal shop while his ex-girlfriend tried on a wedding gown to marry his best friend. The universe was out to get him, to destroy him. "Damn it..."

Austin was glad it zipped up the back and low enough to where she could reach, not believing how snug it was, knowing it wasn't going anywhere, which was a good thing. She stared in the mirror and smoothed the material out; knowing Randy was waiting for her, blue painted fingernails contrasting with the white gown. Taking a deep breath, Austin turned and walked out of the room, seeing Randy was waiting for her and stopped in front of him.

So much emotion was in her eyes; some of it good, some of it bad. She walked past him and stepped on the platform, turning from side to side, truly falling in love with the dress. It was perfect, Randy had been right.

Randy could only stare at her, his mouth slightly open, his eyes nearly ready to pop out of his skull. "You look beautiful." He said in a hushed whisper. A small, vindictive part of him really was wishing he had picked the least gorgeous of the dresses, not wanting to see her marry anyone, but HIM in this gown. Hell, he really didn't want to see her married, period.

"Thank you." She whispered, looking at him through the reflection in the mirror, pressing a hand to her stomach.

Austin blinked as huge tears slid down her cheeks and she had to turn away, stepping off of the platform, wiping them away angrily. Why was she so upset? Why was she feeling sick to her stomach, like this was the wrong thing to do? The guilt was eating her alive from what happened with her and Randy...Austin suddenly couldn't breathe and ran back into the fitting room as fast the dress would allow her, needing to have this dress off.

Randy caught the door before she could close it, careful not to mar the dress in any way, and pinned Austin to the wall. "Why are you crying?" He asked softly, resting his hands on her bare shoulders, feeling like his palms were on fire just from touching her. The good kind of fire, depending on how he viewed it. "You love him, don't you?"

"Yes I do." There wasn't hesitation in her voice when she answered him, staring into his mystic blue eyes, and felt more tears fall down her cheeks. "Randy please..."

Her shoulders were on fire by his touch and she was feeling even hotter in this dress, green eyes never leaving his. Randy stepped forward, his body pressing against hers, the door shutting behind them and her breathing was suddenly ragged. Not thinking about it, Austin cupped his face in her hands and softly kissed his lips, heart pounding furiously in her chest, shoving the guilt away. Knowing this was wrong, Austin felt him respond as his hands splayed on her sides, searing them even through the thick material of the wedding gown.

This was wrong; this was so very wrong. Randy was about to make love to a woman who no longer belonged to him, in her wedding dress of all things. "God I want you..." He confessed, as if she didn't already know, his jeans not hiding anything. Though her dress probably was too thick for her to feel the evidence of his arousal.

It wasn't thick enough because Austin could feel how hard he was and pressed her forehead against his, green eyes darkened with inner desire and passion. Her pink tongue snaked out to wet her dry, swollen lips and caressed his face tenderly with her hand. "What's happening to me? To you? You're married, I'm engaged to John...I'm getting married..." Tears streamed down her face and Austin kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing against his hard body. "I want you too, Randy..." Austin confessed in a murmur against his lips.

"Is everything alright in there?"

Randy didn't like that woman so much anymore. "Let's go somewhere." He whispered, ignoring the saleswoman, mystic blue eyes piercing Austin's beautiful green orbs. "Please?" He bent down to nuzzle her neck, not caring if they were walked in on.

John would be gone for the entire day and night, his mom refusing to let him leave until he spent at least one full night with his family, so Austin was free. "Everything's fine, thanks." She called out to the saleswoman, running her hand up his neck to his short hair, eyes drifting shut. She couldn't say no to Randy, even if a ring was on her finger as well as his own, pulling back as their eyes locked again. "I'll go anywhere with you." She whispered, kissing him again softly, and shivered when he nuzzled her neck again. "I have to get out of this thing first and then we can leave." She was keeping her voice quiet so nobody else overheard them.

Nodding, he stepped out of the dressing room, smiling at the woman. "She got stuck in the dress." He explained smoothly. "Maybe you could help her?"

"Oh...of course. She too top heavy?"

"Not at all." Randy had to get out of there before he died laughing. No, Austin was perfect, but she was about to be annoyed.

"I can get it, thanks." Austin practically shoved the lady out of the room, hearing her huff and smirked, sliding out of the dress, lips still slightly swollen. She put gloss on to hide it and walked out, ten minutes later, the dress draped over her arm as she walked past Randy to the counter. "Just letting you know your saleswoman is really pushy." She flashed a smile, paying for the dress and promised to pick it up a few weeks before the wedding, feeling Randy behind her. After purchasing it, Austin walked out and immediately lit a cigarette up, letting the nicotine calm her down.

As soon as they were outside, Randy did two things. He lit up a cigarette and he also grabbed a handful of Austin's ass, unable to resist. She really shouldn't be wearing jeans in front of him; it was just too tempting.

"Sorry." He rumbled when she squealed, arching an eyebrow at the look she shot him, grinning, smoke rolling from his mouth and nostrils. "My bad?"

"Not in front of people." She hissed, not amused though the desire was still coursing through her green eyes, taking a long drag before sliding in the driver's seat.

She needed a distraction, something, anything. Did she go somewhere with Randy and allow him to put her fire out or take second best with John? God that sounded so wrong! She was a horrible person; she was hurting John for her own selfish reasons and so was Randy! Austin couldn't help it though...she wanted Randy more than any other man on the planet and knew he wanted her just as badly.

Not in front of people. Was she worried about getting caught? Maybe destroying her reputation or hurting John? Randy had a theory about people who cheated. They didn't honestly care about or love their other half. While he cared about Sam, obviously he doubted whether he loved her and had been doing that since her hesitant 'I love you' the other week. He nearly jumped when her cell phone rang.

Austin jumped as well, her eyes widening, sighing when she seen it was John as she flipped it open and put it to her ear. "Hey sweetie." She flicked ash out the window, nodding. "Yes I got it. Paid for and everything." She was looking over at Randy longingly, but the tears that stung her eyes wasn't missed as she looked away, nodding as John talked to her. "Uh huh. I know I love you too." Her heart was pounding in her chest furiously, taking a shaky drag of her cigarette, surprised by how calm her tone was. "Okay sweetie, have fun and send everyone my love. I'll see you tomorrow." She hung up and threw her phone harshly in her purse, pressing her forehead against the steering wheel. "I can't do this..." She whispered painfully. "I can't hurt him..."

Of course not and neither could he. Not now anyway, not after she had just sat there and told John she loved him. Randy swallowed hard, nodding, and turned his own head to look out the window. Out of all the men in the world to marry, why in the hell did it have to be John? There was simply too much irony, too much coincidence in all of this.

"Let's go, Aus." He said finally, his tone gruff.

Nodding, Austin took a deep breath and put the car in reverse, pulling out of there and headed back to the hotel. She blinked tears away, keeping her vision clear, not wanting Randy to know how much that kiss, his touch, affected her. How could she marry someone she was nearly cheating on? She didn't consider kissing and touching cheating, only sex. Randy wanted to go somewhere with her, to release this frustration, but for the life of her she couldn't. She just couldn't hurt John like this and knew she would probably die from guilt alone. Why did Randy have to come back into her life and screw everything up?

'DAMN IT!' Her mind screamed at her as she gripped the steering wheel, stopping at a red light.

"I'll walk." Randy muttered, sliding out of the car.

Ignoring the horns blaring at him, he cut through traffic until he reached the sidewalk, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets. Why did SHE have to come back in his life and screw everything up? Seriously? His career was going good, he had been moderately happy with his wife and home life, he and John could hang out without Randy wanting to bash his skull in.

Now, all of that changed.