Page 109 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

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DORIE

The morning of Eliza’s wedding was perfect. The sun was out but not too hot. There were zero clouds, which was a rarity. It was the kind of day that felt like it had been plucked straight out of a fairytale.

For Eliza.

For me, it was hard to feel the magic. The past several days had been a blur of frosting, fondant, and sleepless nights. I’d thrown myself into finishing Eliza’s wedding cake, using it as a distraction from the ache in my chest that hadn’t gone away since Kaisen walked out of my bakery.

Since he shattered my heart into a million pieces. It seemed like overkill. I didn’t understand why he felt like he needed to tell me we were a thing only to dump me a day later. Why couldn’t we have just kept things at arm’s length? Why did he have to make me think there was a real chance we could have something?

I stood in front of the mirror in Eliza’s bridal suite, my hands trembling as I slipped the diamond earrings Kaisen had given me into my ears. They sparkled in the light, a painful reminder of what could have been. I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue, trying to keep my makeup from smudging. Eliza had insisted on hiring a makeup artist to do all of our makeup. I didn’t want to mess up their hard work. Even if it did feel like a bit much. I felt like I should we be walking a red carpet instead of a white aisle runner.

I wasn’t sure why I was still wearing the earrings. Maybe because they were beautiful. Maybe because they felt like a piece of him I wasn’t ready to let go of yet. Or maybe because, deep down, I was still holding on to the hope that this wasn’t really over.

Did I think he was going to look at me and see the earrings and change his mind?

Maybe.

“Dorie, are you ready? We’re leaving for the church in ten minutes.” Eliza pulled me back to the present.

I turned to see her standing in the doorway, her wedding dress billowing around her like a cloud. She looked stunning, radiant, and for a moment, I forgot about my own heartbreak. This was her day, and I wasn’t going to let my sadness ruin it.

“You look amazing,” I said, forcing a smile. “Cullen’s going to lose his mind when he sees you.”

She grinned, spinning in a slow circle. “I know, right? I feel like a princess. Or a cake topper.”

I laughed, though it came out more like a choked sob. Eliza’s smile faded, and she crossed the room to take my hands in hers.

“Hey,” she said softly. “Are you okay? You’ve been crying all morning.”

I shook my head, blinking back tears. “I’m fine. It’s just… my twin sister is getting married. It’s a big deal.”

She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “Is that really all it is?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. That’s all.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push it. Instead, she pulled me into a tight hug. “I love you, Dorie. Thank you for being here for me.”

I hugged her back, my throat tight. “I love you too, Eliza. Always.”

She stepped back. “Is this ridiculous?”

“Is what ridiculous?”

“The dress. The big fairytale wedding. Did I go overboard?”

I smiled and forced down my heartbreak to step into my role as her maid of honor. This was the freakout I knew was coming. She’d been doing well, but it was bound to happen eventually.

“Eliza,” I said, taking her by the shoulders and looking her straight in the eyes. “You did not go overboard. This is your day. If you want to walk down the aisle in a dress that could double as a parade float, then you do it. Cullen’s already head over heels for you—he’s not going to care if you show up in a potato sack. But today? You’re a goddess. Own it.”

She let out a shaky laugh, her lower lip trembling. “A parade float? Really?”

“A stunning parade float,” I corrected, squeezing her hands. “Look at you. You’re glowing. And don’t even get me started on this dress. It’s like someone bottled up every romantic dream you’ve ever had and turned it into fabric. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

Her eyes welled up, and she quickly blinked back tears. “Don’t make me cry again. The makeup artist left like an hour ago, and I can’t redo this winged eyeliner to save my life.”

I laughed. “You’re not going to cry, Eliza. You’re going to walk down that aisle with your head held high, because you look like absolute royalty, and Cullen is going to take one look at you and forget how to breathe. And then you’ll say your vows, and everyone will cry for you because this wedding is going to be perfect.”