She lets out a long exhale. “No—I mean yes.” Pausing, her eyes get slightly misty. “Things have been a little strained with Matt lately, and seeing you and your boyfriend, and how sweet he is with you, just made me feel a little sad about my own relationship.”
My lips stretch into a straight line. “As your wedding planner, I can tell you it’s perfectly normal for your relationship to be strained during wedding planning. It’s stressful, and you’re blending your families together. It’s a big undertaking. But,” I hesitate, “as your friend, woman to woman—the right guy won’t ever make you wonder. The right guy shows up. Your future husband never makes you feel like your wants and needs are a burden.”
She nods slowly, the worry in her brows deepening the longer I speak.
“Marriage isn’t just a wedding,” I continue. “It’s one of the strongest, most legally binding contracts you’ll ever enter into. The person you pick as your partner needs to be someone, who even at their absolute worst, is still better than anyone else you could’ve chosen.”
Tears start to shine in her eyes, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m—I’m not sure if I should go through with it.”
My shoulders rise as my gaze settles with hers. “So don’t.”
Tonight is my last free Friday evening for a while. With my schedule packed full of weddings to prepare for, I fully intend to make the most of it. And because of that, I can’t wait to get home and have Dominic all to myself.
As I step out of the winery, the excitement to get home has me quickening my pace toward the parking lot.
I’m supposed to wait for Gavin to finish up, but he has at least another hour left of work, and I don’t have an hour of patience left in me.
It’s been so long since anything has happened, I’m reaching the point of accepting Stuart was the one behind everything. It makes the most sense.
I’ll just text Gavin when I get home. No harm, no foul.
With the winery in my rearview mirror, I let out a breath, relaxing into my seat. It’s a short drive home, and I finally got my car back from the shop. The sun is still out, my favorite playlist is blasting through the speakers, and soon enough I’ll be jumping into Dominic’s arms, giving him my favorite greeting.
At the stop sign that acts as the divide between the viticulture area of Red Mountain and downtown, my phone buzzes with a new message. Glancing at the screen, I see it’s from an unknown number.
UNKNOWN
I’m done waiting for you.
My stomach drops. I look around the vacant road with nothing but acres of vineyards stretched before me and not a car in sight.
I shake my head, willing away the panic rising in my chest.
The message isn’t necessarily nefarious. It could be nothing.
Determined not to let myself spiral before I’ve had a chance for Dominic to determine if it’s something to worry about,I continue the drive home, gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual, and ignoring the pit that’s now taken residence in my stomach.
Halfway home, I notice a dark sedan in my rearview mirror. At first, I think nothing of it, but every turn I make, the car follows. My heart rate accelerates. I take an unexpected left; the sedan mirrors my move.
My phone buzzes with another message.
UNKNOWN
Time is up.
A frenzy grips me, my chest tightening as my breaths come in shallow gasps.I press the accelerator, weaving through traffic, taking random turns in an attempt to lose them. The sedan matches my every move, its headlights glaring in my mirrors.
I remember a narrow alley behind The Jackalope, barely wide enough for a car. Swerving sharply, I enter the alley, scraping the side mirrors against the brick walls. The sedan hesitates at the entrance, unable to follow.
Emerging onto a different street, I make a series of quick turns, finally losing sight of the sedan. My hands tremble as I navigate the remaining streets home, constantly checking the mirrors for any sign of pursuit.
Pulling into the driveway, I barely take the time to turn off the engine before jumping out. Dominic is exiting his patrol SUV, having just gotten home.
He takes one look at me and rushes to my side.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” His words are hurried.
I collapse into his arms, the adrenaline finallycatching up to me.
