The Night Before Our Wedding, I Replaced Myself With My Best Friend Chapter 04

The Night Before Our Wedding, I Replaced Myself With My Best Friend Chapter 04

Fireworks exploded overhead, lighting up their smiles.

Nathan looked up and saw me.

“For you.” He handed me an untouched milk tea, so casually, as if the person he’d just shared a straw with didn’t exist.

Ice-cold, syrupy sweet. Molly’s order. I didn’t like sugar or cold drinks.

I looked him in the eye, enunciating, “I’m. On. My. Period.”

He blinked. “Oh.”

Molly cradled the cup he’d drunk from, completely unfazed. “Nathan’s terrible, forgetting his girlfriend’s period! That’s a crime!”

Nathan smiled softly at her.

Molly pulled me onto the bench. “You walked out at the bridal shop. Nathan was so worried.”

They were so in sync. He said she felt guilty; she said he was worried.

I didn’t bite. I just watched her, waiting.

She shifted, uneasy, glancing at Nathan.

He cleared his throat, struggling. “Forget the wedding gown. You can wear that white dress from your birthday, it’ll do.”

“And?”

Another exchanged look. “Tomorrow, on the aisle, I’ll walk with you, and you’ll walk with Molly. You in the middle. How’s that?”

I gaped, certain I’d misheard.

A bride in no dress, flanked by a groom and a overdressed bridesmaid.

The wind carried his next words. “That whole ‘father giving away the bride’ thing is outdated. Molly’s your best friend, she should walk you down. It’s more meaningful.”

Even numb as I was, the sting hit.

“Nathan, do you remember what you told my dad at the engagement dinner?”

“Of course.” His tone softened. “I said I’d give you the best.”

Then he pivoted. “That’s why I want your closest friend beside you at your biggest day.”

I stared at his face like I’d never seen it.

After a long silence, I forced out one word. “Fine.”

He exhaled, visibly relieved. “Elena, I knew you’d agree.”

The wind had cleared my head completely.

That night, we went home. I shoved the box of his things at him.

“Tradition, groom and bride don’t sleep together the night before. Take the condo. I’ll see you at the hotel.”

He hesitated, but I blocked the door. He sighed. “Fine. But get some sleep. I’ll be waiting.”

He left, and I saw him text someone. I knew who.

I locked the door, called my realtor. “List my apartment. Rock-bottom price.”

Then I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the place I’d called home for five years.