Not His Bride Anymore Chapter 02

Not His Bride Anymore Chapter 02

He froze for half a second. He reached for the proposal.

His phone buzzed.

His hand changed direction smoothly. He grabbed the phone off the coffee table.

A voice message from Celeste.

“Fair and square. Don’t you dare back out.”

Callan laughed. He replied with one word.

“Fine.”

When he looked at me again, a Cartier LOVE bracelet appeared in his hand.

“You like it?”

I stared down at it. Stunned.

That bracelet had been sitting in my Amazon cart for almost a year.

Every time, I couldn’t bring myself to buy it.

I never thought he’d notice.

“Thank you.”

I pressed my lips together. I whispered the words.

The warmth hadn’t even reached my chest when I felt it.

A sudden emptiness on my left ring finger.

“Since you like it—let me borrow this ring for a bit.”

He saw my face freeze. He smiled and kissed my knuckles.

“The venue bet. Celeste won, remember? Her prize is this ring.”

He paused.

“Don’t worry. She’s just playing. She’ll give it back before the ceremony.”

The living room lights hit Callan’s face. For a moment, he looked exactly like he did four years ago.

He’d pointed at the engraving inside the band. Grinning like an idiot.

“Love of my life. Eden. It’s not just a ring. It’s everything I feel for you.”

Turns out everything he felt could be loaned out that easily.

I smiled. Softly.

“No need to give it back.”

Not the ring.

Not the man.

Callan’s brow furrowed. He stared at me. He looked like he was about to speak.

The front door opened.

“Eden! I brought your favorite—vanilla latte!”

Celeste walked in like she lived here. Because she practically did.

She shot me a playful wink. Then she punched Callan’s arm.

“I’m freezing. Give me your jacket.”

Callan sighed and stood up. He grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door.

“There are blankets everywhere. Why do you need mine?”

He complained. But his hands moved with practiced ease as he draped it over her shoulders.

I watched. Silent.

Callan had a thing about cleanliness. Even I wasn’t allowed to touch his jacket.

Celeste was always the exception.

I’d asked him about it once. Frustrated.

He’d said they grew up together. It had always been that way.

But that wasn’t true.

When Callan and I first got together, Celeste had been my best friend. She smiled wider than I did.

She’d lectured Callan. Keep your distance from other girls.

Including her.

Once, the three of us went to dinner. Callan put food on her plate out of politeness. She’d picked it right off.

Then her family went bankrupt.

Callan gave her a job at his company. And somewhere along the way, things shifted.

“Eden? You don’t mind me wearing this ring, right?”

The testing voice pulled me back.

I looked up. I caught it. That flash of triumph she couldn’t quite bury.

I curved my lips.

“It’s just a ring. Why would I mind?”

“We’re best friends. You want the man? You can have him too.”

Celeste flinched. Her eyes reddened.

Callan immediately stepped in front of her. His voice went cold.

“Eden. That’s too far. Apologize.”

Just the truth. She’d gambled on my wedding how many times now? Not a single sorry from anyone.

I ignored him. I pulled out my suitcase and started packing.

Callan froze. His jaw tightened.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

I didn’t turn around.

“It means the wedding is yours. We’re done.”