Teagan

I don’t know how long I sit on the floor alone in that dark office. I thought the tears would come when Carter walked away, or when I looked out to the parking lot and watched him drive off. They didn’t. I feel too empty to cry. Too shell-shocked from the last twenty-four hours. I can’t cry, but I can’t return to the reception either. All I wanted was to make it through this weekend while staying safe from Rich and keeping my secrets from my family. And I failed. I failed and ruined Saanvi’s wedding in the process.

There’s a knock on the open door. “Someone wants to talk to you,” Molly says softly.

I look up and see a beautiful bride step into the room in her white lace dress. “Saanvi?”

“Would you two like to talk in my office?” Molly asks. “It might be more comfortable.”

Saanvi shakes her head. “No. We’re fine.” She hoists up her skirt and lowers herself to the floor in front of me, then smiles up at Molly. “Could you close the door, please?”

Molly nods and does as she was asked, and when the door clicks closed, my sister and I are left sitting on the floor, face to face in nothing but the light from the street lamps outside the window.

“Rich and Sabrina left,” she says softly. “Mom asked Rich to leave, and Sabrina threw a fit and went with him.”

I take a breath, trying to imagine my mom, who loves Rich so much, asking him to leave her daughter’s wedding.

“I will always choose you.”

I should have given her more credit.

I swallow. “Saanvi, I’m so sorry about all of this. I ruined your wedding day.”

“To be fair, Sabrina’s the one who gave the drunken revenge speech.” She smiles, actually smiles at me, as if she’s more worried about cheering me up than the mess my drama made of her special day. “Did Carter leave?”

I nod. I’m shaking. “He didn’t let me explain.” I swallow. “And I’m afraid that even if I make him listen, he still won’t want me.”

“Explain to me.” She takes both of my hands in hers and squeezes hard. “Tell me everything.”

I take a deep breath, and for the first time, I tell someone the whole story.

Carter

Teagan: Are you home?

Me: Yeah.

Teagan: Will you let me in?

I stare at my phone for a long time before heading to the door to unlock it. It’s after midnight, and Teagan is at my house. I almost don’t trust myself. I’m afraid I’ll say fuck everything and pull her into my arms before either of us knows if that’s really what’s best. Just because it’s what I want right now doesn’t mean it’s what I need.

When I pull open the door, my breath hitches at the sight of her in the soft glow of my porch light. She’s changed out of her bridesmaid dress and into a pair of jeans and a Jackson Brews T-shirt. Her face is scrubbed free of makeup, and her hair is tied into a sloppy bun on top of her head.