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“He wasn’t good enough for you, Ny,” my other friend, Grace, said softly. “And he’s a fucking fool.” He’d caused a lot of pain today, but now he’d upset a lioness, and if anyone knew how to hold a grudge, it was Grace. If he changed his mind and tried to come crawling back, she’d make him regret it.
The music started as the door opened but I held up my hand to stop the pianist as my wedding planner rushed in behind me with a mic in hand, giving it to me and stepping aside. Even she wanted no part of this, not that I could blame her.
Everyone’s eyes bored into me and there was concern and confusion on their faces. They likely thought it was a delay, an accident, anything but the truth. No one would expect this from Lance of all people. My former mate was responsible to a fault, punctual, but caring.
Or at least that was the lie I’d bought into. I guess I never really knew the real Lance if this is what he was capable of all along.
“I’m so sorry to tell you all that Lance has decided he doesn’t want to get married today,” I started, taking a shaky breath as more tears threatened to fall. The mic gave feedback and I winced, but continued on. “The wedding is off. I’ll make sure your gifts are returned to you. I apologize for making you wait for nothing.”
Whispers filled the space but I had already dropped the mic with a thud and turned to leave.
“Wait, this can’t be right,” Lance’s dad protested as he rushed to my side. I wordlessly handed him the note and from the shock and defeat there, he recognized it as his son’s writing as well. If I had any doubts, he’d just chased them away. “I’m so sorry, Nyla. You didn’t deserve this from your mate. There has to be—”
“I’ll be fine, Calvin, it’s alright,” I said in a hollow tone as I turned away. My flowers fell to the ground. It was me finally letting go of any dreams I had of spending my life with Lance. The final nail in the coffin that was our relationship.
Grace and Mackenzie caught up easily, not saying anything and I knew they were panicking on my behalf.
“I need vodka. So much vodka I forget who he even was,” I growled as we got back to the dressing room. Angry tears were now falling and I was ready to curse every man who ever existed. Calvin was right, I didn’t deserve this. He could have backed out any time before today. My heart was shattered, but so was my pride.
“I’ll make sure the planners handle canceling everything they can. The caterers are already done setting up, so we’ll have enough food to feed an army,” Mackenzie said. She was a fixer by nature, so she was already in her element making sure this didn’t have to turn even more stressful for me.
“Donate it, there’s a homeless shelter down the street. Have them change locations and call the shelter to see if it’s okay,” I said absently but I was already heading for the front door. Once we set our mind to something, we horses didn’t look back. My mare was a stubborn and prideful creature and so was I; we wouldn’t be moping around because of this setback. We’d pick ourselves up and move on with our lives.
After enough shots to forget this ever happened.
And maybe a good, solid cry over some ice cream at some point.
“You can’t go to the bar like that. You’ll be explaining all night where your groom is,” Grace pointed out. I hated how delicate she was being with me. We weren’t the types to hold back and I didn’t want anyone’s pity.
“Well, I’m going regardless,” I said. “I’m as strong as a horse, remember.” My words were said through gritted teeth, but I continued to repeat my favorite mantra in my head, reminding myself that I couldn’t let this ordeal be a weakness.
“Then I have an idea.” My favorite lioness smirked and I knew it was going to be good. “Have you ever seen a ‘trash the dress’ photoshoot?”
“Yeah,” I hedged. Part of me hated the idea of ruining the gorgeous gown, but now it was tainted by what could have been if the stupid antelope shifter hadn’t have run from me. I knew they were known for their speed, but I never thought he’d use it to run as far as he could from what we’d built.
“Let’s do one. We’ll trash it with paint, cut it short and spicy, then go get blackout fucking drunk,” she said. “I’ll even call my brother to drive. He’s responsible.”
I snorted. “That’s an understatement.” My thoughts and emotions were so loud in my head it took several deep breaths before they calmed. My horse wasn’t happy and wasn’t afraid to let me know, but right now I needed to not think about it. “Let’s do it.”
Grace was already on the phone while I plotted my revenge, planning to post all over my social media why I was trashing my dress. He didn’t get to walk away from this unscathed.
An hour later, we were at the park, yellow paint and a giant pair of fabric scissors in hand. Bending over, I took the scissors to the countless layers of tulle and satin until it brushed just above my knees. Every tear and slice I gave it was satisfying and helped to dry the rogue tears that continuously threatened to fall.
There was something freeing about destroying the dress I’d spent far too much money on. It was cathartic and by the time I dropped the scissors, I was breathing hard but felt oddly light.
“Paint?” Grace asked as she held up the box containing the array of small cans of yellow in different sunny and pastel shades.
“Absofuckinglutely,” I grinned. Not wanting to be coated in paint I started to slip out of it and laughed at the choking sound Grace made as I whipped it off my body. “Breathe. I’m covered.”
She huffed at me but took my discarded dress and hung it from a low-hanging branch so we could decorate it.
“Good, because a public indecency fine is not how to make this day better,” she growled.
She ignored my laughter and popped off all of the lids quickly and I grabbed a thick brush and snatched up the most vibrant shade, sticking the brush in before splattering it on the dress.
Traitorous tears started to fall again as I thought of Lance’s face. I violently flung paint at the dress. Then I thought of his words, his false promises of having kids and a life. Another color flung angrily at the white dress.
It continued like that, Grace never stepping in. Instead, I heaved out my breaths as I attacked the wedding dress with all of the colors, letting out the heartache and hurt he’d forced me to face.
