Chapter 3

The card reader barely made a sound, and while the receipt was printing, Alex reached out and clamped a hand on my wrist.

The card reader barely made a sound, and while the receipt was printing, Alex reached out and clamped a hand on my wrist.

"Let's talk outside," he said.

I pulled, and I didn't get free.

Alex put more into it, and the bones of my wrist hurt under his fingers.

"Emily, there are people everywhere. Do you want them all watching this?"

I looked at the hand he had on my wrist.

"Let go."

He didn't move.

I raised my voice. "Alex, let go."

Everyone in the shop turned to look at us.

Alex's jaw tightened, and he finally let go.

My wrist was left with several red finger marks, glaringly obvious.

Sophie came over at a trot with the veil off and held against her chest, and her tears fell right on cue.

"Emily, don't be angry. I'll give the veil back. I honestly only wanted to try it for you."

She held it out in front of me.

I didn't take it.

Her hand stayed there, stiff, and her shoulders drew in.

Mom stepped up at once and put her behind her.

"Emily, that's enough. Sophie apologized. What more do you want?"

"Did she apologize?"

Mom stopped short.

Sophie sniffed. "Emily, I'm sorry."

I nodded. "I don't accept your apology."

Dad put his mug down hard enough that the coffee jumped out of it.

"Are you trying to embarrass this family today?"

I turned to him. "Dad, do you know which dress I have on today?"

He frowned. "Aren't they all white?"

The breath that had been caught in my throat let go all at once.

I turned to Mom. "Mom, do you know?"

She looked away, and her voice went hard. "I don't understand any of that."

I looked at Alex. "Do you know?"

Alex's lips moved, but no words came out.

Of course, he didn't know.

I picked out the wedding dress myself.

I stayed up late, tweaking the wedding plans.

I checked the guest list over and over.

I tasted candy for the favor boxes until my tongue went numb before I settled on one.

Alex said work was heavy, Mom and Dad said they were too old to run around, and Sophie said I had the best eye.

Every one of them pushed the wedding into my hands, and right then they were blaming me for making it ugly.

I folded the receipt and put it in my bag.

"I'll cover my share of the cancellation. I'll tell the Reed family myself."

Alex's face changed. "You wouldn't dare."

I looked at him. "Watch me."

He stared at me, and the anger in his eyes was something I had never seen on him.

"Emily, what is this about? Sophie tried on a veil. She's your sister."

I laughed, "She is.

"So she gets to try on my veil, be front and center in my photos, have my fiancé fuss over her earring, and my parents expect me to apologize," I said.

I took a step forward.

"Alex, why not put her name on the marriage license while you're at it?"

Sophie's face went pale.

"Emily, how can you say that about me?" she cried.

Her crying got louder, and the other customers started turning our way.

Alex looked back at her, drew his brows in, and his voice went cold on me. "Emily. Apologize."

That word again.

I stared at him for a few seconds, and the summer I was ten came back to me.

The kids downstairs were playing house, and Sophie was making a scene because she wanted to be the bride, and I wanted that white dress too.

She started crying.

Mom pulled me aside and pushed a basket of plastic petals into my hands.

"You look lovely throwing the petals, Emily."

I stood behind them and threw handfuls of them into the air.

The petals landed on Sophie's head, on the little boy's chest, and in the dirt.

Not a single one landed on me.

After that day, it felt like all I ever did was throw petals.

I threw petals for her birthdays.

I threw petals for her graduation.

I threw petals for the whole life everyone gave her.

And at my own wedding, I was still the one holding the basket.

I took my phone out of my bag and called the wedding planner in front of all of them.

Alex's face shifted, and he lunged for the phone.

I turned away, and my elbow hit the counter hard enough to curl my fingers.

The call went through.

The wedding planner asked, "Ms. Harper, is there anything else you need to change?"

I said, "Cancel the wedding."

Alex gritted his teeth. "Emily!"

I didn't look at him.

"Cancel all of it. The hotel, the emcee, the videographer, and the flowers. Handle the penalties per the contract and email me the breakdown."

The planner sounded stunned. "Ms. Harper, the wedding is seven days out. Are you sure?"

I stared out the shop window.

The sunlight came off the glass and burned my eyes.

"I'm sure."

I hung up.

Mom rushed over with her hand already up.

I didn't move.

Her hand froze in midair.

It wasn't that she couldn't do it. It was that people were watching.

Her fingers shook as she pointed them at my face.

"If you walk out that door today, don't come home."

I looked at her.

"Fine," I said.

That one word stopped her.

Even Dad was left speechless.

Alex frowned. "Emily, don't say things you'll regret."

I pulled the glass door open.

The wind came in and set the chimes at the door rattling.

I glanced back at them one last time.

"I'm not coming back."