THE BRIDE HE NEVER WANTED

ELENA

The hotel hallway smelled likeJasmine.

My heart hammered as I pressed the keycard against Suite 412-Victor's room. Our room, technically, since we were getting married in exactly fourteen hours. I'd left my own suite three floors down because I couldn't sleep, because pre-wedding excitement had me wired, because I wanted to surprise him with the silk lingerie I'd bought for tonight.

Surprise. Right.

The card beeped green. I pushed the door open quietly, already smiling.

The living room was dark, but golden light spilled from the bedroom doorway. I heard music playing softly-our playlist, the one we'd made together. My chest warmed as I slipped off my heels, wanting to catch him off guard.

Then I heard her laugh.

I froze in the middle of the room, my brain refusing to process what my ears were telling me. That was Jessica's laugh. My maid of honor. My college roommate. The woman who'd helped me pick out my wedding dress yesterday.

"Victor, we really need to stop." Her voice was breathy, familiar in a way that made my stomach turn. "The wedding's tomorrow morning."

"We have time." Victor's voice, low and satisfied. "Elena's probably asleep anyway, dreaming about her perfect day."

They laughed together, and the sound felt like glass breaking in my chest.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the bedroom. The door was half-open, and I could see everything.

Jessica's dress was on the floor. Victor's shirt hung off the bedpost. They were tangled in the sheets-expensive sheets I'd picked out for our honeymoon suite. His hands were in her hair, and she was looking at him the way I thought she looked at me-with actual affection.

"You're terrible," Jessica said, but she was smiling. I could hear it.

"You love it. Admit it-this is so much better than your last relationship."

"Shut up and kiss me."

He did.

My phone slipped from my trembling hand and hit the hardwood floor with a crack that echoed like a gunshot.

Everything stopped.

Jessica's head whipped toward the door. Victor's eyes went wide. For one horrible second, we all just stared at each other.

"Elena-" Victor scrambled to sit up, reaching for the sheet. "Wait, this isn't-"

I ran.

"Elena, please!" His voice followed me down the hallway, desperate and panicked. "Let me explain!"

Explain what? I'd just watched my fiancé kiss my best friend in the bed that was supposed to be ours. What explanation could possibly matter?

I jabbed the elevator button over and over, my whole body shaking. The doors opened-thank God-and I threw myself inside, hitting the lobby button like it was Victor's face.

He appeared at the end of the hallway, wearing only his boxer briefs, his hair messed up from Jessica's hands.

Our eyes met as the elevator doors slid shut.

I made it to my car before the tears came. Big, choking sobs that I couldn't control. I gripped the steering wheel and tried to breathe, tried to think, but