Chapter 3

Ethan strolls in twenty minutes before the ceremony.

His groomsmen exhale like they've been holding their breath all morning.

"Bro, we heard you hooked up like five times last night. We were genuinely scared you wouldn't make it out of bed."

Ethan smirks. "Please. You underestimate me."

Then his eyes find mine — and for a second, something flickers. Surprise. Maybe even guilt.

"Val. You look incredible."

He crosses the room, slips a hand around my waist, voice low and coaxing. "Don't listen to those idiots. Rae wasn't feeling great this morning, that's what slowed me down."

I smile. Say nothing.

And then she walks in behind him.

Raelynn. In a soft pink dress that's just a little too fitted, a little too bridal. Smiling at me like we're old friends.

"Val! Congrats, babe! I couldn't miss this — I had to see you two tie the knot."

Ethan shrugs like it's nothing. "Rae was a mess this morning, begged to come. I figured why not. The tradition's done — we're keeping our distance from here on out."

Dani opens her mouth. I squeeze her arm. "It's fine."

Raelynn looks me up and down. Then she laughs, soft and mean.

"Val, your suit looks kind of… cheap? Didn't Ethan get you a Tom Ford?"

She gasps, all fake-shocked. "When we were eighteen, Ethan promised me a Tom Ford for our wedding. The biggest ballroom in the city. A hundred tables, minimum. A million-dollar day — because that's what I deserved."

Her eyes drift around the room. The folding chairs. The grocery-store flowers. The cheap linens.

"This is… cute, though."

The air goes thin.

Ethan coughs. "Rae, come on. Val and I have been together a long time. We don't care about that stuff."

"Mm." I say. That's all.

Because here's the truth: I planned none of this. Ethan did. He said keep it simple. He picked the $80 dress off Amazon for me and chose the cheapest favors in the catalog.

I've known for a while where his heart really was.

The MC starts warming up the crowd. Our engagement photos slide across the screen — eight years compressed into thirty seconds.

Raelynn starts crying.

Loud, performative, beautiful tears.

"I'm sorry, I just— I'm so happy for you, Ethan. You get to marry the person you love. I'll never get that."

She wipes her eyes. "I got diagnosed with lupus last month. The doctor said it doesn't get better. I always dreamed of a big wedding before I— before I couldn't anymore."

Ethan's face changes. I watch it happen in real time.

He turns to me. "Val. Let Rae take your place in the ceremony."

Dani actually screams. "Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND? She wants to wear the dress now? Who exactly are you marrying today, Ethan?!"

"It's symbolic," Ethan says, like he's explaining to a child. "Just the ceremony. Paperwork's still Val and me, tomorrow at the courthouse."

He turns back to me. That soft voice again. The coaxing one.

"Baby. You gave me three days. What's one more hour? It's just a ceremony — the wedding night is what matters, right?"

"I swear. Let Rae have the ceremony. You and I have the wedding night. Deal?"

The guests are already whispering. The groomsmen are looking at me with pity.

I look up at him. Calm. Steady. Smiling.

"Okay."

Ethan exhales. Leans down and kisses my forehead. "That's my girl. Always so understanding. Head up to the apartment. I'll be there the second this is done."

Perfect.

I didn't really want to walk down that aisle anyway.

We'll just skip straight to the wedding night.