Chapter 3

He didn’t argue. He only patted my shoulder.

“Being a bridesmaid is exhausting. Get some sleep. Chloe can’t get a ride, so I’m going back to take her home.”

“Okay.”

I went inside alone. By the nursery we’d planned four years ago, I stopped. It had become a storage room.

Under a dusty crib lay old letters, ticket stubs, photos from trips, and our university memories. The bottom photo showed Ethan carrying me beneath a cherry tree. On the back, he’d written: I’ll carry you for the rest of my life. Promise.

I was still holding the photo when he came home.

“Looking through these?” he asked lightly. “Feeling nostalgic?”

“Did you get her home?”

“Yeah. She lives far out.”

He reached to help me up. I stood on my own.

“Ethan, let’s break up.”

He smiled like I’d made a silly threat over the bouquet. “You’re still upset? I’ll order you an even bigger one tomorrow.”

He headed for the bathroom.

“Within a week,” I said to his back, “I’m getting married.”