Chapter 2

Nobody laughed then.

“Who else would marry you?” Mason demanded.

Natalie reminded me my parents were downstairs. Drew offered to let me win the next vote.

I dropped the wig into the trash.

Mason caught my wrist. The ceremony was at another hotel, and the cars were waiting. He dragged me downstairs and put me in the last car.

“Get through today. I'll make it up to you tonight.”

Then he joined Paige in the first car. They'd voted on that, too. Objecting would have made me shallow.

Natalie sat beside me, lecturing me about being generous.

Her phone was angled toward me. Another group chat. Four members.

She's fine now, Natalie typed. Same as always.

Drew answered that I'd spent weeks securing the venue. I'd never actually cancel.

Paige apologized for causing trouble. Mason immediately told her it was my fault for having no sense of humor.

Then he posted a photograph of them together in the lead car. His arm around her. Her white dress against his dark suit.

Natalie typed: Still can't believe you two liked each other and neither would admit it. Then Sophie got in first.

Drew supplied the rest. Mason had accepted my confession to make Paige jealous. The votes had been arranged to give them time together.

Mason's next message was worse.

Sophie makes sense as a wife. She's dependable. Paige has bigger dreams. I'm not going to hold her back.

I'd had dreams, too. Once, I'd been at the top of my class.

I looked away from Natalie's screen and messaged a man I'd known at college.

You used to say you'd come if I ever needed you. I need help leaving my wedding. Will you come?

Elliot Grant replied before I'd put the phone down.

Send me the address.