Chapter 3

Brent and I fell into a cold standoff.

I ignored every message he sent and hung up on every call.

By the day we'd set for the wedding photoshoot, he must have finally panicked, because he showed up at my door trying to make peace.

He'd booked my favorite studio, the photographer everyone wanted and no one could get.

"Savvy, don't be angry anymore. I know I was wrong."

"We can talk about the house again. Let's just take the wedding photos first, okay?"

He hardly ever lowered himself like that. I stayed quiet for a moment, then went with him anyway.

At the studio, I saw Rachel.

She was wearing a gown from the same line as my main dress, only more ornate, the train longer, and she sat in front of the makeup mirror with her face done up to perfection.

When she saw us, she stood up, all delight.

"Brent, Savvy, you're here!"

She lifted the skirt and did a little spin, laughing like an innocent girl.

"Brent rented it just for me. He said we grew up together, so he wanted to use this chance to take some 'sibling' photos to remember it by."

My heart started sinking again.

The photographer was one of the best in the business. His time was billed by the minute.

Brent walked over, greeted him like an old friend, then gestured at the three of us.

"Mr. Cross, sorry to trouble you. Let's do the group shots first, then a few solo ones for Rachel."

"My fiancée and I have plenty of time together, no rush."

I watched him arrange every last thing, cold to the bone.

My wedding photos, my time, ranked dead last.

The shoot began.

The first set, the so-called "close sibling" photos.

Brent rested his hand on Rachel's waist like it was the most natural thing, and for the composition the photographer kept nudging them closer, and closer.

In the frame they were a handsome man and a beautiful woman, leaning into each other, a matched pair.

And I stood off to the side in my second-choice gown, like a backdrop that had forced its way into the shot, unable to squeeze out even a smile.

My feet were rubbed raw by the newly rented heels. The pain went straight through me.

I moved closer to Brent and said quietly, "Brent, my feet hurt."

He didn't hear.

All his attention was on Rachel, and he was smiling as he corrected a pose that wasn't quite natural enough.

During the break, I went off to a corner alone, slipped off my shoes, and saw to the raw skin.

I'd just gotten the bandage on when I heard Rachel's coaxing voice from not far off.

"Brent, I still like the pearl shawl on Savvy's main dress better. Mine's too plain, it doesn't do this gown justice."

My heart clenched hard.

That pearl shawl was the one I'd picked at first sight after combing through every bridal magazine. It was the last thing I'd held on to for my own wedding.

I heard Brent answer without a second's thought, "It's fine. Small thing."

"I'll have her switch it over to you in a bit."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I stepped out from behind the partition.

When he saw me, there wasn't a flicker of the guilt of someone caught out. If anything, he spoke as though it were only right.

"Savvy, perfect timing. Let Rachel borrow the shawl for now."

"This veil will look great on you too. Won't make a difference."

He pointed at an ordinary veil in the hands of the assistant beside him.

I looked at him, this man who wanted to strip the one bright thing off my body to dress up his childhood sweetheart.

I picked up my phone and didn't waste any more words on him.

I opened the file I'd had ready and sent a PDF titled "Ocean Expedition Family Member Liability Waiver" straight to his messaging app.

"Sign it, Brent."

He looked down at his phone, confused, and the second he read the words in that title, the color drained from his face.

"Where are you going?"

His voice was shaking.

"Savannah, what is this?"

I put away my smile and told him, clearly, one word at a time.