Chapter 1

On my thirtieth birthday, Elliot Layfield asked me to meet him at the city hall.

He specifically told me to wear a wedding dress and bring my ID. He said he prepared a big birthday surprise for me.

But when I arrived at the entrance, he laughed with the group of friends behind him.

He said, "See that? She really showed up in a wedding dress with her ID. Pay up, all of you."

Then he turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Faye, it was just a joke. You didn't take it seriously, right?"

When I stayed silent, he grinned again. "If you're really that desperate to get married, you can just go inside and grab any random guy to marry."

Everyone burst into laughter.

They mocked me as Elliot's most loyal romantic backup, saying I would rather stay single forever than marry anyone else.

However, when I walked out of the city hall with my new husband, holding a freshly issued marriage certificate, Elliot froze in place and went pale.

*****

I watched as Elliot went from one friend to the next, taking their cash with a smug grin.

That was when it hit me that this was another one of their stupid bets, all to make me look ridiculous.

The ones who lost the bet made sure to roast me first, then roll their eyes at me.

"Faye, do you know how much cash I lost because of you? Come on, use your head for once."

"How many times do we have to say it? Elliot's not someone you could ever land. Did you seriously think he'd marry you?"

"You've been played at least eight, maybe ten times now, and you still keep falling for it? Girl, there's no cure for that level of dumb."

I bit down hard on my lip, my nails nearly breaking skin as I clenched my fists.

After collecting his winnings, Elliot walked over in a few quick steps, putting on a show of concern.

He asked, "What's wrong, Faye? Not happy?"

He turned to his friends and called out, "Hey, you jerks, it's Faye's birthday. Cut her some slack, will you?"

Just when I thought maybe Elliot finally grew a conscience, he fished a bill out of his pocket and handed it to me.

Elliot grinned, "Thanks for helping me pocket 500 bucks, Faye. Here, take 50. Go treat yourself to a tiny cake or something for your birthday."

As soon as he finished, the whole crew cracked up again.

"Elliot, you're too soft-hearted. Careful, Faye's so obsessed with you she can't help herself."

"Didn't you see her show up in a wedding dress? She's just a nobody dreaming way out of her league, thinking she could ever land Elliot."

If this had been before, I would've fallen apart right there, sobbing and begging Elliot to please stop hurting me already.

But this time, I took the 50 bucks from Elliot, cool as ice.

"Thanks. The marriage license fee is 45 dollars and I didn't bring any cash. Guess you chipped in for my wedding," I said.

Elliot couldn't help but crack up.

He said, "Faye, are you dumb or what? You actually thought I'd marry you? Isn't it obvious? I was just playing you for laughs.

"I've seen desperate people before, but you're on a whole other level."

He wrinkled his nose and shook his head, looking at me like I was something he'd just scraped off his shoe.

Even though I was braced for it, his words still stabbed me right in the heart, tearing me up inside all over again.

I had found out yesterday that Elliot had made me the subject of a bet.

Last night, he called me.

His voice was softer than usual on the phone. "Faye, meet me at the marriage registry at nine tomorrow morning. I've got a special birthday surprise for you.

"Oh, and make sure you dress up. Put on that new wedding dress you bought, and bring your ID. Don't be late. I'll be waiting."

After hanging up, my heart was pounding like crazy.

I had just posted about trying on and buying a wedding dress on my feed.

Did he see that post and decide he wanted to marry me?

But not long after, I received a video.

In the video, Elliot was pulling up my wedding dress post and showing it off to his buddies.

One of them asked, "What's Faye going on about?"

One of his buddies piped up, "She's just desperate to get hitched. She's pushing thirty and still single, so she's gotta post stuff like this to get some attention."

"Honestly, Faye's just jealous Elliot's got himself a new girl. She's posting this on her feed to stay relevant," another snarked.

Elliot's new girlfriend was Donna Hovey.

Donna came from a prestigious, well-educated family, and Elliot treated her like the apple of his eye.

Elliot shook his head. "Having a girl like Faye cling to you is a real headache.

"Tell you what. I'll make a bet. All it takes is one phone call, and Faye will show up at the marriage registry tomorrow, all dolled up in that wedding dress. Who's up for seeing her make a fool of herself?"

One of them laughed, "What if you lose, Elliot? If you do, have Donna put on a dance for us!"

Before the guy could even finish laughing, Elliot decked him right in the face.

Elliot's expression turned ice cold. "If you want to die, just say it. You think you're even worthy to say Donna's name?"