Oops, I Married Your Buddy

Noah left me at the altar three times—for his precious Freya.

First time? She threatened to jump off a building.

Second? Said she was moving abroad.

Third? Sent a text saying she was getting forced into some arranged marriage.

Noah, usually Mr. Cool, freaked. Left a packed venue and turned me into a total joke. Again.

I called him. "If you don't come back today, I'm marrying someone else."

He laughed.

"Freya's young. You're too old to be playing games, aren't you?"

I clutched my phone, heart sinking. He knew Freya was bluffing. Still picked her.

That's when I finally gave up.

Later, after he'd calmed her down, he came looking for me.

"Pick a new wedding date," he said, like it was no big deal. "It'll be even grander this time."

A guy's voice cut through, smiling.

"Sorry, man. Gotta get my wife on the plane."

Ahern Hotel, Kelmark

The call cut to a busy signal. When I tried again—blocked.

Noah Robisch knew this was just one of Freya Gerth's little chaos bombs. And of course, he went along with it, eating up the drama, as long as I stayed in my lane.

Down below, the stares felt like bricks piling on my chest.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, blinking fast to keep it together.

Guests started trickling out. I could feel it—this was turning into a total disaster. Just like the last two.

I grabbed the mic and steadied my voice.

"The wedding reception's not over. Please, take your seats."

Gasps hit instantly.

"She's lost it."

"So desperate. Noah ditched her and she's still hanging on?"

"Like, what kind of wedding has no groom? Does she think walking through it solo's gonna win him back? He was never gonna marry her."

I took a breath, my knuckles white around the mic.

"If the groom bailed, we'll get another. Who wants to marry me? Right now."

The room exploded.

No one moved.

"Ten years with Noah? Probably used up. Who'd want her?"

"Sure, maybe for a quick hook-up. But marry her? Nah."

Every word felt like a slap. I started to sink—then someone snatched the mic from me.

"I will."

I looked up.

Johan Jaunez.

Noah's friend. The one who never even looked my way.

I froze.

Still burned in my brain—Noah faking sick just to impress Freya. His friends texted me in a panic, I rushed over... and ended up locked in a freezer all night. My knees still throb when it rains.

Then there was the river thing. Freezing water, on my period, him yelling at me to keep fishing. And that time he ditched me in the woods during a thunderstorm, like I was some stray.

Johan never joined their games. Sometimes, he even stuck up for me.

But fear twisted in my gut. What if this was just another one of Noah's setups?

Still, the crowd's taunts hit harder.

"Someone's really marrying her? Even trash gets picked up, huh?"

"She's bluffing.