Chapter 4

4: 4

4.

I looked around the apartment, and everything Luke and I had shared here only stung more the longer I stared at it.

In the end I couldn't hold back. I decided to erase every trace of us.

The matching pajamas, the matching mugs, the framed photo on the nightstand, everything he'd ever given me, all of it went into the trash.

The things that were actually mine came to almost nothing.

Once I'd cleared it all away, I sat on the couch and scrolled through my phone.

For the two days Eleanor had Luke at her family's place, she'd made a point of starting a group chat, just the three of us.

Train tickets, photos together, she posted all of it.

On the last day, Eleanor updated her social media with pictures of Luke and her whole family.

The caption: My boyfriend, meeting the parents. Mom and Dad love him. So happy!

I quietly liked it, and Luke messaged me right away.

"Babe, her mom and dad insisted on the photo. I couldn't really say no."

"They've got all kinds of local specialties here. I'll bring some back for you, okay?"

I typed back whatever and turned the phone off.

Fifty miles, that was all, and it took them a full three days to make it back, the day before the wedding.

Luke got home in the small hours of the morning.

He pulled me into his arms. "Margot, that best friend of yours is a harder sell than you are. I'm not signing up for a job like that again."

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

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

He didn't get upset. He just kept smiling.

"You're still mad about the whole pretending-to-be-someone's-boyfriend thing, aren't you?"

"She didn't have a choice either. And she even wrote me a wedding speech. It's really good. Once I've got it memorized, I'll read it to you tomorrow."

The onscreen comments wouldn't leave me alone.

【Feel so bad for the male lead. Running all the way back just to smooth things over so the second female lead doesn't wreck the wedding.】

【At least tomorrow the female lead crashes the wedding and takes it back. Total power-fantasy stuff.】

【Waiting for the second female lead to eat dirt.】

Under my breath I muttered, "Then congratulations on the marriage."

He didn't catch it. He leaned in close and bent his head down.

"What?"

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

The second he pressed answer, Eleanor's voice came through.

"Luke, I've had too much to drink, I feel awful. Can you come get me?"

Luke straightened up instantly, his voice all worry. "Stay right where you are and wait for me. I'm coming."

He hung up, his face full of guilt.

"Margot, something's happened with Ellie. Let me go help her. Call it a thank-you for the wedding speech she wrote us."

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

He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and rushed out.

No need. I won't be your bride.

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

He only had to glance around the apartment to see that all my things were gone.

A shame. He missed it.

On the wedding day, nearly every important name in New York turned out, and the whole ballroom was done up in the grandest style.

First thing in the morning, Luke texted me.

"Margot, I'm finally going to marry you."

The ceremony began.

Luke stood at the front in a black suit, his eyes fixed on that carved door, unable to look away.

Something about me these last few days had felt off to him, though he couldn't say what.

The moment the doors opened, the whole room held its breath.

The white gown trailed three yards behind her, sewn all over with tiny diamonds. Luke had designed it himself.

She came toward the front, step by step, dragging the train.

The spotlight hit her face, and only then did Luke recognize his own mother.

"Why is it you?"