The women were wearing dresses they’d previously worn for other black-tie events.

I was in my dress, my hair curled in loose waves and pulled back at the sides. No veil, but the stylist, Kelsey, who happened to be a coach’s daughter and also worked for Gabby, had found some white baby’s breath and tucked it into my hair as she made an elegant twist with the upper half of my hair.

I was standing in the mirror, hands trembling as I brushed down my dress. My makeup, done by me while other girls were having their hair curled and swooping into dresses, was at risk of running if I let my emotions rise to the surface, so I was trying to keep everything locked up.

In less than a month, I’d found out the man I loved was cheating on me and had no problems backhanding me in his anger. The man I’d loved had somehow become completely psychotic and I’d missed it. For years.

And now, I was in Vegas, planning an altogether different kind of wedding to a completely different man for a vastly different purpose. If I examined any further how my life had changed in the last four weeks, I’d crumble into a pile on the floor.

“You okay?” Gabby stepped up behind me, worry lining her eyes and tugging down at the edges of her mouth. “I’m sure this a lot.”

I ran my finger down the small, light scar at the edge of my cheekbone. I’d been able to have the stitches removed yesterday but it was still healing.

“I’m okay.”

She squeezed my other hand, a gesture saying she understood and like the others, wouldn’t push me toward Kane or trying to make me think this was anything other than what it was, and bit her bottom lip. “We have a surprise for you. Well, Kane does.”

“What is it?”

“Turn around.”

She grinned and tugged on my hand. I swiveled around to the opening of the tent where Lizzie and Holly, the sweet blonde who was engaged to Dominick, stood with their hands at the white flaps of the tent opening.

“Guess who’s here to see you?” Both of them sang, smiles wide, possibly more excited than anyone else in the tent.

They pulled back the flaps and my knees shook.

“You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you!?” Heather swooped in, arms outstretched, and all those emotions I’d tried to ignore rushed to the surface, making my skin hot and my body shake.

I barely got out a cry of surprise before she was wrapped around me, hugging me tightly. “I’m so sorry I didn’t answer your calls this week. I knew if I talked to you, I’d ruin the surprise, but you had to know there was no way I was missing this.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.” I squeezed her back. My lifeline. My best friend.

The girl who’d come up with this insane idea in the first place—hmmm… maybe I needed to reevaluate more life choices.