My Best Friend Saved Me, Then Stole My Fiancé And My Wedding Chapter 01

My Best Friend Saved Me, Then Stole My Fiancé And My Wedding Chapter 01

One second before the accident, my best friend Sloane Mercer stepped in to save me.

She woke up with no memory of who she was.

She looked at my fiancé Reid Calloway and claimed him as hers.

The four of us decided to play along. For her recovery, we said.

Month one. Sloane got my bachelorette trip.

She held Reid’s hand and kissed him while everyone cheered. I trailed behind, carrying all four of their bags.

Month two. Sloane moved into the apartment Reid and I had picked out together.

Reid had my name taken off the deed and replaced it with hers.

Ny sister Clarissa Whitmore told me it was fine.

“She lost her memory protecting you, Maren. We’re just doing what it takes to trigger it.”

I believed her. I smiled through every single one of their little performances.

Then month nine hit.

I got my bridal makeup done and rushed to the venue.

Sloane was already there, arm-in-arm with Reid, greeting guests in my wedding dress.

Clarissa caught my arm.

“Sloane found the dress last night. None of us had the heart to stop her, so we’re letting her have today.”

Graham Sutter flashed a grin.

“Come on. You’ve already played along eight times. What’s one more?”

Something bitter crawled up my throat. The wedding ring on my finger dug into my skin.

I glanced up. Sloane was wearing the other ring.

It fit her perfectly.

That was when it clicked. The dress had always been one size too small for me.

Because it was made for her.

Every guest in that room knew the truth. They still raised their glasses and called her Mrs. Calloway.

It turned out I was the only one not in on the joke.

And the joke was on me.

I forced a smile so tight my jaw ached. Then I pulled the ring off my finger.

Fine. I knew what came next.

I’d give them their ninth performance. Their last one with me in it.

…

The ring hit the bottom of the metal trash can with a sharp clink.

Clarissa and Graham both froze.

Clarissa opened her mouth.

Sloane cut her off before she got a word out.

“Maren! You’re finally here. Look at me. Don’t I look amazing?”

She grabbed the hem of her dress and spun around, not waiting for an answer.

“Reid and I walked past a bridal boutique once, and I barely even mentioned this dress. I can’t believe he remembered.”

“And this ring. It’s exactly the one I’ve always wanted.”

“Reid told me everything. You’ve been helping him plan all of this behind the scenes. Maren, I can’t thank you enough.”

My chest went hollow.

So that was why Reid swapped out the dress I’d spent months choosing.

That was why her ring had a diamond twice the size of mine.

Every detail of this wedding I’d poured myself into was never meant for me.

Not a single piece of it. Not from the start.

I let out a broken breath.

Clarissa jumped in before I could open my mouth.

“Of course she does! Sloane, you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. We need pictures. So many pictures.”

Graham caught on fast. He scooped up the camera.

“Yeah, yeah! This is perfect. Everybody get in here. Group photo!”

The guests crowded in, confetti poppers in hand.

Clarissa and Graham squeezed in next to Reid and Sloane. The front row filled up, leaving no room for me.

Graham shoved the camera into my hands. “You always take the best photos, Maren. Get a ton.”

The lights dimmed.

Sloane tilted her head against Reid’s shoulder. My dress. My veil.

Reid looked down at her like she was the only person in the room.

The crowd pressed in around them. The perfect couple. Everyone said so.

It looked exactly like the wedding I’d been dreaming of.

Someone started chanting from the back.

“Kiss! Kiss!”

Reid flushed. He almost pulled back.

But Sloane was already up on her toes, pressing her mouth to his.

My mind went completely blank. The cheering hit from every direction.

Graham raised his voice.

“Maren! Hello? Take the picture! This is the moment!”

My hands found the camera. I lifted it.

A confetti popper went off next to my ear.

Streamers rained down around me. I pressed the shutter.

One shot. Two. Then a dozen more.

The cheering swelled and faded and swelled again.

Reid and Sloane shifted from one pose to the next. Kiss after kiss after kiss.

Everyone was laughing.

I was the only one crying.

I stood there, paralyzed, until someone gently bumped my elbow.

“Ma’am, the reception is starting. Would you like me to find you a seat?”

I blinked. The space in front of me was empty. Everyone had already gone inside.

Three hundred seats. All taken.

Not one of them was mine.

I looked at the staff member and shook my head.

“No. Thank you.”

If there was no place for me, then I didn’t need one.

And I didn’t need the four of them, either.