Chapter 1

Halfway through my wedding to my fiancé, his old friends interrupted to come up and present gifts.

When it was his female buddy's turn, she pulled a bridal bouquet out of her bag, made from a used lace bra.

The crowd whooped, their eyes darting between the two of them with knowing looks.

"The stuff on here is left over from when Rob was eighteen. I saved it all this time just to give it to you today."

My whole body went rigid. My fiancé didn't explain a thing. He just gave a helpless little smile.

I made no move to take it, and she stood there, still holding it out.

Robert looked displeased.

"Maya, Stella Matthews and I have known each other for over twenty years. If there were really anything going on, would it even be your turn to worry? Have some sense."

I dropped my eyes and said nothing.

Back when his female buddy spread the rumor that I was the third wheel, he said she just liked to joke around, and told me to be sensible.

Later, when she clung to him every night to sleep beside him, he said it was just habit, and told me to be sensible.

Even when someone asked him why he liked me, all he said, flatly, was:

"She's sensible."

But today, I didn't want to be sensible anymore.

I tore off my veil and shoved it into his female buddy's arms.

"Consider it a gift in return. The bride's spot is yours."

...

Stella clutched the veil, a flicker of triumph in her eyes, then pretended to look troubled.

"Maya, Rob and I are just buddies. See, now you've misunderstood again."

"It's such a happy day, don't make a scene. Don't give everyone something to laugh at."

I ignored her. I slipped the ring off my finger and handed that over too.

"I'll get you the gown in a minute. If you'd rather, you can just wear the one you prepared yourself."

I gave a smile that wasn't a smile. The day I bought that dress, Stella had insisted on tagging along, saying she could help me pick.

But once we got there, she not only introduced herself as the bride, she fought me for the very style I liked.

And of course Robert took her side.

"She's anxious because no one will marry her. Maya, you're the sensible one, don't hold it against her."

At that, Stella started roughhousing with him in the shop, and as she leaned closer, the look between them turned into something else.

I just stood off to the side, watching Robert swallow, watching the color rise in Stella's cheeks.

They were clearly past the line of friendship, and yet I wasn't allowed to be angry.

Every time I lost my temper over Stella, Robert had the same line:

"We're just buddies. Aren't you the sensible one?"

...

Once I'd said my piece, I didn't bother watching how the guests reacted. I gathered up my skirt to head for the dressing room.

Robert realized I meant it and grabbed my arm in time.

"Maya, all these people are watching. Stop this, all right?"

His brows drew together, and before I could get a word out, Stella whined:

"Rob, don't be harsh with Maya."

"Maya, let me set him straight for you."

With that she swung a fist, only to trip on the step and pitch straight into Robert's arms, where he caught her neatly.

The next second, his friends clapped and cheered, ribbing them.

"There goes Stella with the same old trick. She doesn't want Rob getting married."

Stella didn't get up. She laughed and shot back:

"We're buddies. He promised he'd keep me company, so how can he go marrying first?"

My fingers curled in. I pulled my gaze away and took the chance to leave.

As the dressing room door shut behind me, all the fight drained out of me and I sank onto the couch.

Today wasn't the first wedding Robert and I had tried. We'd held nearly ten of them, and every time we reached the crucial moment, something went wrong.

Stella always found some reason or another to call Robert away.

And I had finally seen it clearly. What wasn't mine, I shouldn't go begging for.

I'd changed and was about to slip out first, but at the door I ran straight into Robert.

He looked me up and down, his face dark.

"Maya, when did you turn so unreasonable?"

"Stella's out there toasting your friends and family for you. She saved you a lot of embarrassment. You'd better thank her properly later."

I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes going red before I could stop them.

"Robert, if Stella's so wonderful, then go marry her. Haven't I already handed the spot over?"

"I really was a fool. It took until today for me to see the two of you for the pair of dogs you are."

Robert froze for a few seconds, whether because it was the first time I'd shouted at him, or because of the tears at the corners of my eyes.

Not that any of it mattered to me anymore.

I'd taken one step when he snapped out of it and had someone block my way.

"Maya, since you won't be sensible, then you can watch with your own eyes while Stella and I do the ceremony."

I couldn't break free, and had to be dragged along to the front hall.

Stella had already changed into her toasting dress and was leaning down to listen to Mrs. Sanchez.

To humiliate me, Robert had deliberately seated me at his family's table.

Mrs. Sanchez didn't spare me so much as a glance.

"I said all along this outsider wouldn't do. Nothing like Stella. I watched her grow up, and she's the daughter-in-law I'm happiest with."

A mocking smile tugged at my mouth. I turned my head away and pretended not to hear.

Stella was the picture of sweetness, throwing me a taunting look.

Robert led her over to stand in front of me.

"Stella went out of her way to help you. Hurry up and give her a toast."

Slowly, I stood with the glass in my hand, then threw it over Stella without a moment's hesitation.

"Thank you."

The scene dissolved into chaos. Her dress had been sheer to begin with, and now, soaked, her chest was on full display.

Robert scrambled out of his jacket and threw it over her.

"Maya Swanson, you've gone too far."

He rammed his shoulder into mine, hard, while everyone else looked ready to eat me alive.

I let out a breath and took the microphone.

"A word of advice, everyone. Stay away from cliques. As for this wedding, I'm the one calling it off. I'm not marrying Robert Sanchez."