Chapter 4

Lily and I headed to the balcony at the end of the hall for some air.

About to push the door when I heard voices inside—

The groomsmen, hiding out here smoking.

"So like, is Liam actually not coming back?"

"He said Ivy's all over him, can't get away, told us to stall."

One of them took a drag. "How long you think Aria's gonna put up with this?"

"You see her today? Wedding dress on, red carpet walked, groom bailed—and she didn't even blink."

"Man's lucky as hell to have a wife like that."

Another one sighed. "For real though, Liam's got it good and doesn't even know it."

"Liam's not thinking about that right now. Ivy's got him wrapped around her finger, man's completely gone."

They all laughed.

Then his buddy video-called him. "Liam, you finally picked up. Aria's still waiting, you not coming back is kinda messed up, man."

Some sketchy sounds came through the phone.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" Liam's voice came out irritated and rough with that post-sex rasp. "Not gonna make it. Just keep the guests happy."

"Got it, got it, you do your thing." His buddy grinned. "Aria's way easier to handle anyway..."

Before he could finish, I shoved the balcony door open.

Their smiles froze instantly.

His buddy tried hiding his phone behind his back. "A-Aria..."

I looked at them. "Wedding starts in three minutes."

"What are you guys doing hiding out here?"

"Three hundred guests sitting out there—you gonna make them wait? Or let them watch this trainwreck?"

Soon as I said it, they all snickered.

"Aria, come on." One of them waved me off, still laughing. "Three minutes? Our boy Liam doesn't finish that quick. He can't make it back in—"

"He'll make it."

I cut him off and turned to leave.

That's when his buddy remembered the video call was still going and glanced at the screen.

"Liam, Aria says the wedding starts in three minutes, better hurry your ass up."

Liam's low laugh came through the phone—

Voice lazy, still riding that high.

"Three minutes?"

"Does this woman not know me or something?"

Some girl's giggle came through, saying something soft and breathy.

"Liam..." His buddy's voice got quieter. "So... what do we—"

Phone went silent for two seconds, then Liam's annoyed voice cut through. "Go ahead without me, hold it down. I'll be there when I'm done."

When he said "done," some girl moaned in the background.

His buddy quickly killed the call.

The groomsmen scrambled to put out their cigarettes, straightened their suits, and filed out.

His buddy caught up to me and said quietly,

"Aria, after all these years, we all know what's up with you and Liam. He does care about you, it's just... guys, you know?"

I didn't look at him, didn't say anything back.

Truth is, up until yesterday I still didn't want to believe he'd turned into the type who gets bored and trades up.

Ivy's some investor's only daughter, just graduated college.

Ever since he met her at that celebration dinner, something changed in his eyes.

Back then I thought I was being paranoid.

After ten years together, if I didn't know him by now, I wouldn't have stuck around this long.

So all those sketchy moments, all those late-night texts he ignored—I chose to believe him.

I refused to believe that us, right on the edge of making it, about to finally settle down—

Would lose to some girl fresh out of college.

But he got more and more reckless tearing off the mask.

Stopped hiding it, even started making sure I'd notice.

Then packaged his betrayal like some kind of gift.

"A guy like me, how could I only have one woman? But my heart's yours, and the wife spot? No one but you can have it."

Expected me to be grateful.

Lily was right—he played me too well.

Kept up the act right until the day before the wedding to finally rip off that last layer.

Used the cruelest way possible to make me see it, hear it—what I really meant to him.

Played me so good I had nowhere left to run.

"Aria, when you walk down the aisle, take it slow, we'll back you up from behind."

"Yeah yeah, Liam said once he's done he'll head over. Just go through the motions for now."

They thought I was just going through the motions.

Thought I'd walk down that aisle alone in my wedding dress, stand in front of the priest, wait for a groom who might never show.

Then smile and say "I do" to an empty spot where the groom should be.

That's the script Liam left for me.

The groomsmen lined up on either side of me, still wearing those smug grins like they had it all figured out.

The church doors slowly opened and someone stood there backlit.

Then every single smile froze.