Chapter 4

I looked around the apartment, and every trace of the life I'd shared with Leona Sullivan seemed to sting worse the longer I stared at it.

In the end I couldn't hold back. I decided to wipe out every mark we'd left together.

The matching pajamas, the matching water cups, the photo of us on the nightstand, everything she'd given me, all of it went into the trash.

The things that were actually mine barely amounted to anything.

Once everything was cleared away, I sat on the couch scrolling through my phone.

The two days Stewart Gilbert spent taking Leona home to meet his family, he'd made a point of starting a group chat with the three of us.

She'd posted everything, from the tickets to the photos.

On the last day, Stewart put up a picture of his whole family with Leona on his feed.

The caption: Brought my girlfriend home to meet the parents. Mom and Dad love her. So happy!

I quietly gave it a like, and Leona messaged me right away.

"Babe, Stewart's mom and dad insisted on taking that photo. I really couldn't turn them down."

"They've got a lot of local specialties out here. Let me bring some back for you, okay?"

I typed back whatever, then shut off my phone.

Fifty miles of road, and they'd stretched it into three full days, getting back only the day before the wedding.

Leona got home in the small hours of the morning.

She pulled me into her arms. "Corey, your friend is harder to deal with than you are. I'm never taking a job like this again."

"They say the bride and groom aren't supposed to see each other before the wedding, but I missed you too much. I came all the way back just to see you."

The words grated on me. I twisted out of her hold and put some distance between us.

She didn't get angry. She just kept smiling.

"Are you still mad about me pretending to be someone else's girlfriend?"

"He didn't have a choice either. And he even wrote a wedding speech for me. I read it, it's really good. Once I've got it memorized, I'll say it for you tomorrow."

The audience commentary wouldn't leave me alone.

【My heart aches for the female lead. She has to come rushing all the way back just to sweet-talk the second male lead so he won't wreck the wedding.】

【But it's fine. Tomorrow the male lead crashes the wedding and steals her back. Total feel-good story.】

【Waiting for the second male lead to eat crow.】

I muttered under my breath, "Then I wish you a happy marriage."

She didn't catch it and leaned in close, lowering her head.

"What?"

Before I could repeat it, her special ringtone went off again.

The moment she picked up, Stella Winfield's voice came through.

"Leona, I've had too much to drink and I feel awful. Can you come pick me up?"

Leona shot upright, her voice full of worry. "Stay right where you are and wait for me. I'll be there soon."

She hung up, her face full of guilt.

"Corey, something seems to have come up with Stewart. Let me help her out, call it a thank-you for him writing our wedding speech."

"I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow."

She dropped a quick kiss on my forehead and hurried off.

No need to see me. I'm not going to be your groom.

I didn't put the ring back on, and she had no idea I was leaving tomorrow.

The truth was, one glance around the apartment just now would have told her all my things were already gone.

Too bad. She missed it.

On the day of the wedding, nearly everyone of note in New York showed up, and the whole banquet hall was done up in extravagant style.

First thing in the morning, Leona sent me a text.

"Corey, I'm finally about to marry you."

The ceremony began.

Leona stood in a white gown with a long train behind the carved double doors, waiting to walk to the man she loved.

Something about me had felt off these past few days, she thought, though she couldn't say why.

The instant the doors opened, the whole hall held its breath.

Stewart stood there in an ink-black suit, the boutonniere on his chest one Leona had designed herself.

She gathered her train and walked toward the front, step by step.

The moment the spotlight fell on Stewart's face, Leona finally saw the groom clearly.

"Why is it you?"