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Chapter One - Elle
“If you hated Henry so much, why didn’t you say something?” I demanded an answer from Talley, my maid of honor and best friend, as I wrenched the veil anchoring my updo in a complicated mass of curls. “I’ve been engaged to the guy for ten years, and now you decide to tell me what you really think of him?”
“It’s your life, girl. You get to make the decisions, good or bad.” Talley patiently nudged my fingers away as she disentangled the veil’s comb from the snarl my jerky motions had caused. “I’m just here to love you. Besides, would you have listened to me if I said anything?”
No, I wouldn’t have listened. I’d have attributed her low opinion of the asshole who just stood me up in front of two hundred people to jealousy or possessiveness. She’d always hated how much time and attention Henry demanded, but hey, that ceased to be an issue the second his cowardly exit from our relationship made itself known.
Did I mention two hundred people witnessed my humiliation? More than half of them were people I hardly knew. Henry was the one who insisted on a big wedding with invites to people he hadn’t seen in years, including his favorite elementary school teacher and his entire Wolf Pack troop.
I went along—like I always did—and now I was the one left facing the fallout.
“I can’t believe he did this to me.” I batted a stray lock dangling over my forehead and dropped onto a hard wooden chair, a huge gust of hurt and disbelief—and maybe the tiniest bit of relief—escaping from the depths of my lungs.
“I’m glad it happened before you had kids.” Talley picked up a hairbrush from the vanity where I’d readied myself for the ceremony a scant thirty minutes ago and ran it through my hair in soothing strokes.
I squeezed my eyes shut to block out my lace-clad reflection, imagining the sharp sizzle of a campfire doused with a bucket of water, thin white wisps of smoke drifting skyward. Cold, damp embers—that’s all I had left after ten years.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it right now,” Talley’s words sounded far off, “but Henry did you a favor. Showed you his true colors and saved you from wasting any more time.”
She was right…again.
How had I not seen it? OrhadI seen it and been unwilling to acknowledge the hundreds of compromises I’d made to accommodate Henry’s druthers. He’druther I iron his work shirts instead of sending them out. He’druther no bread or rice or pasta in the house to avoid carbs. He’druther we spent holidays with his parents instead of creating our own traditions. He’druther schedule sex first thing Sunday morning before the weekly grocery store run followed by a top to bottom housekeeping sweep through the condo.
“Routine is the secret to success, Elle.”Gawd, how many times had he pitched that nugget at me?“Stick to the routine, Elle. That means scooping Whiskers’ litter box Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, not Sunday, Thursday, and Saturday.”
“He can scoop his own cat poop from now on,” I grumbled.
“Hmm?” Talley set the hairbrush down and stood behind me, hands firm and reassuring on my shoulders.
“Nothing important.” I opened my eyes and met her gaze in the mirror.
Five-ten with long wavy ebony hair, killer curves, and hazel eyes that shifted color with her mood, Talley had a fierce, intimidating, kickass personality. I’d get no sympathy from her, but I knew she had my back. Whatever I decided in the aftermath of this debacle, she’d be there for me.
“I sent your parents home in the limo and told Henry’s brother to handle everything else, including his mother. I see where Henry gets his drama llama instincts. The woman insisted someone call 911 because she was having palpitations. I sat her down in a pew, pushed her head between her knees, and told her she’d be fine.”
It was impossible to hold back a braying laugh at the thought of Mrs. Sturtmutt in such a position, mainly because she was as wide as she was tall and insisted on wearing pink wool suits two sizes too small even in June in Michigan.
“You’re heartless.” My chest burned, but I didn’t know if it was anger, mortification, heartbreak, or gratitude for my best friend.
The past half hour was a jumble of disconnected bits and pieces. The wedding planner whispering something to the minister, a deer-in-the-headlights expression on her face. Silence echoing in the cavernous stone church as the minister stutteringly announced Henry had eloped with his dental hygienist. The rustle of nervous guests, unsure if they should remain seated or leave at once. My distraught parents: my mother’s cheeks ashen while my dad’s darkened with fury to brick-red.
And through it all, Talley grinding out a litany of threats once she got her hands on “that spineless turd.”
She’d whisked me back to the brides room and locked the door, shouting for everyone to go away while she rummaged in her bag for the rose-gold monogrammed flask I’d given her for her birthday two years ago. She tipped it to my mouth, the Knob Creek whiskey she favored burning my throat. I guzzled it down as she left the room just long enough to check on my parents and help my almost-mother-in-law practically kiss her own ass.
“Good riddance. Now you can find yourself a real man.” Talley gestured for me to stand.
I got to my feet, wobbling as the booze and reality landed a one-two punch.
“I’m no better than Henry,” I whispered as she unzipped the fussy wedding dress. I’d wanted a satin sheath, but Henry preferred the organza ruffles.
“The man never deserved you.” She peeled the gown off me, letting it billow around my ankles.
I instantly felt lighter, as if I might float off through the narrow, arched window set into the stone wall.
Shaking my head, I repeated the words. “I’m no better than Henry. Not a pair of balls between us. I’ve been having second thoughts since we set the date, but I told myself it was pre-wedding jitters. ‘Every bride has them, right?’”
“Oh, Elle.” Talley spun me around, hands bracketing my shoulders, eyes softening to topaz. Softening with care and concern, not sympathy. She’d practically raised herself and her younger sister and had zero tolerance for wimps and whiners. “No more settling for less than you deserve. I’ll loan you my extra set of cajones until you find your own. Henry’s no-show may be the best thing the guy’s ever done for you. The question is, what now?”
