“Erica, I don’t want to fight about this again,” I mutter.
“Then don’t. Just call it off and fix your shit. I don’t thin?—”
“No, not this again. I don’t have time for this right now.”
I’m getting ready to leave for the wedding rehearsal before our rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner for the wedding that was never supposed to happen. Yet here I stand.
The wedding is tomorrow, and it doesn’t look like we’re going to pull the plug on this charade before I walk down the aisle and say I do to a man I don’t love.
“Zahirah, have you asked yourself why you’re doing this?” Erica says from her perch on the arm of the accent chair in my living room.
I turn from the mirror to look at her. We lock eyes and her brother comes to mind right away. He has the same hazel eyes she does.
Eyes I know so well. I stop myself from going down that road. This isn’t about Bentley.
That was another life, another time. I had to let that dream go. No matter how much it hurt.
It was better to let go than to keep hurting each other. I shake my head clear. I can’t blame this mess I’m in on Bentley, not this time.
“He’s my friend. His grandmother is so sweet. It would break her heart if we told her the truth.”
Erica gives me a pointed glare. She’s the only one I’ve told the truth about all of this. What started out as a simple favor has blown up in my face.
I chew on my lip and begin to shake my hands out again. The ring on my finger feels so heavy and as if it doesn’t belong. I thought it was too much for a fake engagement from the time Gilbert gave it to me.
However, it did make sense that he needed to give me such an expensive and over-the-top ring. It would have looked strange otherwise. My fiancé is a wealthy man.
Another reason for me to freak out. This could all go so wrong. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“So you’re about to marry a man you don’t love because you don’t want to hurt his grandmother’s feelings?” Erica scoffs, folding her arms over her chest. “God, I wish I never talked you into that first date. This is all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. We should head out. Gilbert and I will figure something out before tomorrow evening. I just need to make it through tonight.”
“Really? You’re going to go through with this? What about your mom? What about Aaron?”
“Erica, the last thing I want to do is make this more complicated than it already is. Mom will understand. I’ll figure everything else out.”
She sighs and stands. “I think I should tell you something before we leave.”
A nervous look comes to her face. I know my friend too well to think anything about to come from her mouth right now is going to make any of this better.
“If it’s not going to better my mood, I don’t want to know. Save it for after tomorrow.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and I almost tell her to spill it. However, a glance at the clock tells me we need to go. My childhood friend will just have to hold whatever it is in. I’m grateful to Erica for all her support.
Over the years, she’s had my back even in times she probably shouldn’t have. I love her like my own sister. I have love for the entire Coswell family.
I try not to feel guilty as that thought crosses my mind. There’s so much I’ve been trying to keep from them. The lies have been adding up. Gilbert has been doing me as big a favor as I have been doing for him.
Erica pulls me into a tight hug. When she releases me, she cups my face in her palms. Tears are brimming in her eyes.
“Whatever happens tonight, promise me you will follow your heart and do what’s best for you, not everyone else,” she says.
“I promise.”
“Good, I’m holding you to that. I love you, best.”
“I love you too. Stop it before you make me cry,” I choke out.
