Tangled Hearts

On the night before our wedding, my fiancée's ex-boyfriend lost in three rounds of Truth or Dare.

Round One was Truth. He had to confess the most intimate thing he'd ever done with the opposite sex.

Rob Ross shot me a wink. "That scar on Dorothy's thigh? I accidentally bit her there."

Round Two was Truth again. He had to reveal a secret no one else in the room knew.

He blushed a little. "When Dorothy was fast asleep, I took care of her physical needs for her."

Round Three was Dare. He had to kiss a lady in the room for a full ten seconds.

Without hesitation, he turned and kissed my fiancée, Dorothy Bryant.

Dorothy froze for a moment, then held the back of his head and kissed him back. As the room watched in shock, she pulled Rob behind a screen, and they proceeded to entwine passionately, oblivious to the stares.

The entire room fell into a stunned, suffocating silence. Every pair of eyes swiveled toward me. They all braced for an explosive outburst.

But when the pair finally emerged from behind the screen, still lost in each other, I was the first to break the tension by clapping enthusiastically.

"Such being the case, why not make him the groom tomorrow?"

...

Dorothy Bryant's pupils contracted, her body stiffening. She opened her mouth to explain, but Rob Ross's hand remained possessively draped around her waist.

"You're as sweet as you were ten years ago," he said playfully.

Dorothy shoved him away and stumbled toward me, her words spilling out in a frantic rush. "Finn, please don't misunderstand the situation. I had too much to drink tonight. I thought it was you I was kissing."

She shot a glance over her shoulder, and behind her, several prominent figures from the elite circle stepped forward, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Take it easy, Finn," one said. "The lighting in the room is dim. It's an honest mistake anyone could make."

I sized up Rob, whose features and overall build did resemble mine somewhat.

He raised an eyebrow with provocation, as if declaring, "You lost. She's mine, and she always will be."

I couldn't suppress the cold laugh that escaped my lips. "If she can mistake you for me so easily, then by all means, why don't the two of you take the altar tomorrow instead?"

Dorothy's face darkened. "It was nothing more than a single mistake that any woman could make under the circumstances. If you're going to throw a tantrum, at least choose the right moment! I broke up with him ten years ago. He just returned to the country, and you're causing this scene? How is he supposed to live with this? I never knew you were this petty."

The guests exchanged silent glances, knowing it was Rob who had initiated the flirtation, and Dorothy had eagerly followed his lead.

Pitying, almost sympathetic glances now rained down on me from all directions.

As Dorothy's anger boiled over,