Chapter 1

"I do."

The words felt strange on my tongue, but I said them clearly.

The man across from me, Andrew Lester, smiled. It was a calm, steady smile that reached his eyes.

The officiant pronounced us husband and wife.

As Andrew leaned in to kiss me, my phone, tucked away in my maid of honor's purse, started vibrating nonstop. I knew who it was. Ryan Clark. My childhood friend, my tormentor, the man I was supposed to be hopelessly in love with.

The doors to the rustic Texas vineyard burst open.

And there he was, just as I knew he would be.

Ryan stood there, looking handsome and heroic, his hair perfectly messy. He strode down the aisle, his eyes locked on me.

"Gabrielle, don't do this," he said, his voice ringing with fake emotion. "You can't marry him. It's always been me. You know that."

A murmur went through the guests. Some looked shocked, others looked like they were watching a movie.

He reached the altar and grabbed my hand. "Come with me. Run away with me, Gabby. I love you."

I looked at Andrew, my new husband. He just gave me a small, reassuring nod.

This was the moment. The performance.

I let Ryan pull me down the aisle, away from the altar. His friends, positioned near the exit, started cheering and whistling.

Once we were outside, out of sight of the guests, his entire demeanor changed. He dropped my hand and started laughing. A cruel, ugly sound.

"I can't believe it," he crowed to his buddies. "She actually did it. She ditched her own wedding for me."

His friend, Mark, slapped him on the back. "You win, man. One hundred bucks. I honestly thought she'd finally grown a spine."

Ryan turned back to me, his face a mask of contempt. "Seriously, Gabby? You're this pathetic? It was a bet. Just a joke."

He gestured back towards the venue. "Go on. You can go back and finish your little wedding now. If he'll even have you."

I just stared at him. I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I felt nothing.

This was the final confirmation of something I had realized weeks ago: the boy I grew up loving was a monster, and my love for him was a disease I was finally curing.

"Are you done?" I asked, my voice even.

He looked surprised by my calmness. "What?"

"I asked if you are done with your little show."

Before he could answer, I turned my back on him and his snickering friends and walked back toward the heavy wooden doors of the vineyard hall.

As I pushed them open, a loud POP echoed through the room.

Confetti cannons exploded, showering me in glittering paper. The guests were on their feet, cheering and applauding.

Andrew was waiting for me right where I'd left him, at the altar. He held out his hand.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Lester," he said, his voice warm. "Ready to get on with our future?"

I took his hand, a real smile finally breaking across my face.

"Absolutely."

The doors swung shut, leaving a stunned and furious Ryan Clark outside, locked out of my life for good.