Chapter 2

But when it came time to exchange rings, Brad stalled.

Ashley had to ask him three times before he finally blurted out, "I've been sick for so long, I don't have many friends. I was hoping my old teammate could be a groomsman, but I didn't want to impose..."

Every eye in the place turned to me.

I looked at Ashley.

My wedding was hijacked, and I was already the laughingstock of the guests.

Could she really be that heartless, making me watch her marry someone else?

Seeing Brad, all vulnerable, Ashley's eyes welled up. She looked at me, pleading.

"Jake, you gave up the wedding. Surely you wouldn't refuse to be a groomsman."

I almost forgot.

Brad had faked his death during their peak love.

Ashley had picked me as a replacement, because she couldn't get over him.

Now, Mr. Perfect returned.

And I had dared to hope that she might actually love me.

I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and asked, "Is this one of the things I owe you?"

Ashley scowled, like she was annoyed that I brought it up.

She seemed to vaguely remember something.

She was about to ask, but when she saw that Brad was practically in tears, she gave up.

"Yes."

I nodded.

"Okay, I'll do it."

My grandma, who meant the world to me, was ravaged by illness.

Ashley swooped in and got her the best doctors and the fanciest hospital room money could buy.

My grandma lived another year, happy as could be, before she passed away.

As she lay dying, I asked her how I could ever repay her kindness.

Ashley stared at my face, lost in thought.

"Just being with me is enough," she said.

I knew she was just looking through me, at someone else.

"Ashley, there has to be a limit."

"Call me Ash."

She brushed aside the sadness in her eyes and said, "Okay, how about this? You unconditionally help me with 99 things, or I hurt you 99 times. Then, we're even."

She had forgotten about that.

No matter.

This was the 97th time. Two more to go, and I was free.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the stage.

As I passed their wedding cake, I saw Brad give a weird little smile.

I was wondering what that was about when someone slammed into me from behind.

I stumbled forward and crashed into the cart.

The cake was a mess, and my knee slammed into the cart, sending a jolt of pain through my body.

People gasped.

Brad sighed.

"Jake, if you didn't want to be a groomsman, you could have just said so. You didn't have to fake a fall and ruin our cake."

The guests who saw what really happened started to jeer.

"Jake, stick to gaming. Your acting skills are embarrassing."

Ashley was about to check if I was hurt, but hearing that, she just gave me a disappointed look.

"Your suit's a mess. Go change."

Brad put his arm around her.

"It's okay. I don't care about details. Let's not keep everyone waiting."

Ashley started to say something, but I had already walked on stage.

"What happened to your leg?" she asked.

Brad shrugged.

"Jake, you gotta step up your game. If you really want Ash to feel sorry for you, you should have hurt your hand."

"Next time, maybe pick a different target," Ashley snapped.

She was furious, but seeing the crowd, she just warned him, "Keep your little schemes to yourself, and stop embarrassing me. We'll talk about this later."

I smiled sadly.

Every guest was a sycophant. When I was on top, they were all over me.

Now, Brad was the golden boy, and they were trying to get on his good side.

With them and Ashley on his side, anything I said was pointless.

Thankfully, Brad behaved for the rest of the ceremony.

When the guests had cleared out, I was about to leave when Brad stopped me.

"Don't rush off, teammate! We need you for the party tonight!"

I clenched my fists, and looked at Ashley.

Ashley raised an eyebrow, and scolded Brad.

"That's enough. Go wait in the car."

When Brad was gone, she explained, "Don't listen to him. It's just a get-together with some old friends."

She looked at my leg.