After the past few months, I now had an up-close-and-personal understanding of the phrase snowball effect. Trey and I got along well. We’d been in it together from that first date, being open about riding the wave to help our careers along. We’d recorded a duet together that shot up the charts. It’d been a partnership both professionally and personally, and it had slipped into romance naturally. I’d liked him from the beginning. My team adored Trey, and they loved Trey and me together even more.

We’d been tagged as “the power couple of country music” and “country music’s best love story” and “Nashville’s hottest couple.” In a short time, our lives had been woven together so tightly my head was spinning. Now, suddenly, it was our wedding day.

“If you’re having any doubts, Everly, it’s not too late to change your mind.”

An incredulous laugh escaped me. “Are you kidding me? What are you thinking? I just… call off the ‘wedding of the year’?” I laughed again, and this one sounded closer to hysterical.

The idea was hysterical and impossible. So why was there a little rebel part of my brain that clung to it and imagined escaping? And why, oh dear sweet Jesus, why were there ribbons of hope and relief wisping through my mind when I thought about it?

“It’d be better to do it now than after you tie the knot. I know y’all have everything financial sorted out with the prenup, but a clean break in every other way will be a lot harder once you say I do.”

My heart raced at her words. There was no denying they were true, but this wasn’t just any wedding. This was so in the public eye I couldn’t even help decorate for my own big day for fear of being mobbed by fans. And the money my dad had spent… the people I’d be letting down… Flaking wasn’t an option. Not to mention, I hadn’t been raised to be a flake.

“I’ll be okay,” I said, hoping I could fight down this sudden nausea before it was time to rejoin the rest of my bridesmaids. Which was probably really soon. They were undoubtedly already curious about where the heck I’d disappeared to.

I’d like to say Drea smiled, patted my hand supportively, and reassured me that I would indeed be okay, but instead, she tilted her head, furrowed her brow with worry, and bit her lip.

“I know you have an extreme amount of external pressure, but this isn’t just art for your album cover or what dress to wear to an awards show. This is your life, Everly. Your future. Marriage is a long fucking time, and even when you’re head-over-heels in love, it can get tough.”