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When she hears her name, Stella seems to snap out of her daze.
“No wonder he works so much,” she says, meeting my gaze with a weak smile.
Owen exhales heavily. “Babe, it’s not like that.”
“Not now,” I tell him. “Only Stella.”
She stands and walks across the room, leaning her back against the wall.
“I keep thinking about my mom,” she says, her eyes filling with tears. “It’s like the cheating is horrible and I have to process it at some point, but for the past few months I’ve been in this mode where I know there’s not much time left with my mom. I think...” Her voice shakes and she stops, clearing her throat. “I think she’s been holding on for my wedding. And this is going to...”
“You’re a disgusting little bitch,” Claire whisper hisses at Owen. “I hope your ho gives you every STI science has a name for.”
I point at Claire. “Do it again and I’ll make you wait in the hallway.”
She looks away. I get how she feels—thank fuck nobody in this room knows how very much I get how she feels—but this is about Stella.
“My mom helped me plan every last detail of this wedding,” Stella says, her gaze on mine.
Her long, dark hair is straight today. Sometimes she wears it wavy and other times straight. When she first moved in a few doors down from us, she almost always wore it in a long braid down her back. I still remember every feature of that fearless little girl with skinned-up knees and a bright smile. She saw some older boys being mean to a stray cat once and rescued it, not caring that she got clawed up in the process.
“She tells me all the time that it brings her peace to know I’m getting my fairy tale ending,” Stella says softly.
Owen groans, likely because he’s no longer Prince Charming, but the villain.
I move closer to Stella, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “She wouldn’t want you to marry someone you don’t want to marry. Whatever you do, it has to be what you want.”
Owen cuts in. “Babe, if you’ll just let me explain.” He walks over to us, his expression tortured. I’ve never been so disappointed in another person as I am in him right now. He didn’t just fuck around on Stella, he brought that woman to their wedding and fucked around two hours before the rehearsal dinner.
“It doesn’t matter,” Stella says, her voice thick with emotion. “You cheated. However many times it was or whatever the reasons were, you cheated.”
“But I love you. I’ve never loved anyone but you. That was stupid and selfish and it’s behind me now.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, and you were behind her less than an hour ago.”
He flinches. It’s all I can do not to punch him. He knew damn well it was stupid and selfish before he did it, and he has no one to blame for any of this but himself.
“Babe, when we get to the rehearsal and say our vows, you’re going to remember how right this is.” Owen begs. “All our friends and family are here. Let’s do this for your mom.”
Claire gasps and comes over to us. “Don’t you dare guilt her over her mom!”
Stella gives me a helpless look. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you still want to marry him?”
“No. But...”
“Stella, no,” Claire cautions. “Your mom loves you and she’ll understand.”
Stella shrugs. “I’m considering faking my way through it and divorcing him once my mom passes away.”
I glare at my brother. This wedding was going to be hard enough for Stella as it was, knowing her mom only has weeks to live. That asshole just made things infinitely harder.
“I’ll take that,” he says. “And I’ll spend every minute trying to change your mind.”
“No!” Claire cries. “You are not marrying him. I love you too much to let that happen.”
“Enough from you, bitch,” Owen snaps at her.
She flies at him and I make it just in time to get between them. Owen shoves her by the shoulder and I push his chest with both hands, sending him stumbling back a few feet.
“Don’t fucking speak to her or lay a finger on her again,” I warn. “You’re the only one in the wrong here. She’s just standing up for Stella.”
“Look at my fucking face! I’m gonna have a black eye at my wedding!”
“She’s not marrying you!” Claire turns to Stella. “Don’t. Let’s cancel the rehearsal and sit down with your mom and the other bridesmaids.”
Stella shakes her head. “It’s just not that simple. My mom is getting weaker by the day. My brother is happily married and this is her dream—to see me marry Owen before she dies. I’m not taking that away from her.”
“Not even if it’s a lie?”
Stella’s expression crumples.
“Hey,” I say to Claire. “Take it easy on her. This has to be her decision.”
