Chapter 2

At home, Nolan put my heels back in the shoe cabinet, then turned and told me I had embarrassed everyone.

"You really made everyone uncomfortable tonight, Audrey."he said."Lucas didn't know what to do after you switched everything off."

I stopped taking off my coat.

He had followed me home instead of staying with Paige. I thought he came back to apologize.

"What did you expect me to do? Stay and laugh?"

Nolan sighed and went into the kitchen.

I followed him. I wanted an answer before he decided we were finished talking.

He filled a glass with water and set it in front of me.

"I admit the caption wasn't great," Nolan said. "But they were just messing around. It was just a joke."

He really didn't understand.

"I knew you'd liked her," I said. My voice was steady."That isn't the problem. The problem is that you joined in while they humiliated me."

"Humiliated you?"He repeated it with a tired disbelief. "Audrey, these are our friends. Nobody was trying to hurt you."

I gripped the counter behind me.

I had already told him that they had. He kept answering a different question, one where their intentions mattered and my face at that table didn't.

Nolan stepped closer. He looked tired.

"I proposed to you, Audrey. If I didn't want to marry you, why would we be having this wedding?"

He truly believed that.

He thought giving me a ring and a wedding canceled out everything else.

He didn't think he needed to respect my feelings, because he had already given me the ultimate prize: marriage.

Finally, Nolan exhaled and stepped closer, he drew me against him before I could step away.

"All right. I'll get the video deleted. I'll speak to them."

He put a hand on my shoulder. I stayed still.

"We're tired. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we will start fresh."

He waited a moment, then took my silence as enough.

He thought I was finally dropping the issue. He thought the problem was solved.

Looking relieved, Nolan let go of me. He turned around and walked into the bathroom to shower.

I stood alone in the quiet hallway. I listened to the sound of running water.

Then, I pulled out my phone.

There was a new email from Rachel, our wedding coordinator. She asked if my earlier message about halting the venue setup was a mistake.

I typed my reply quickly.

[It is not a mistake, Rachel.]

Instead, I opened my messages and texted my sister, Elise.

[Can I stay at your place? Pick me up on Friday.]

Elise replied instantly.

[Of course. I will be there.]

I looked around the quiet hallway. I had poured the majority of my life savings into buying this house with Nolan. This was supposed to be our forever home.

My phone buzzed again. Another text from Elise.

[How many nights are you staying?]

I looked down the hallway.

Through the open door, I saw Nolan walk out of the bathroom and into our bedroom. He reached over and turned on my bedside lamp.

He was leaving a warm light on for me.

I looked back at my glowing screen. I typed my reply to my sister.

[Don't book a return date for me.]