a Fer

ant, surrounded by a few familiar faces from college. Lucas smiled

ct. Or maybe that was just me. E

deepened, his expression mirroring the intensity of mine. His brow

ight of anticipation. My fingers clutched the small clutch i

rounded as he approached-gorgeous, eff

g my hand and spinning me around. "Black lo

smile-his dazzling white teeth, the way they contrasted against his tanned skin. My gaze dropped for a mo

of those dreams

hift-subtly, suddenly-into nightmare

ged to another world. Her fiery red waves cascaded over a generous ches

pped out of a screen and taken ove

her, lips slightly parted,

at familiar, beautiful smile. For her. She wrapped her entire body

the storm was echoing the turmoil inside me. Startle

than a whisper. The disappointme

smile, his arm still wrapped fi

I guess I can say girlfriend now, ri

o be a n

ver and over again. I'd never even heard of this

ered into a thousand pieces, and all my carefully laid plans were cru

ite smile as some friends called Lucas over. The cou

ed as I fought back the tears stinging behind my eyes. It was a mess of shame and humiliation. I fel

't yell. I couldn't curse. I couldn't break d

only made my chest tighten with suffocating anxiety.

e worried glances from the staff as I stepped

had taken hours. I didn't care about the perfect dress or my

inst the stone path as I made my way across wha

here, a car pulled up be

a split second, I t

at car-it looked just like his. Identical, even.

he'd noticed I left. Maybe he was coming after

to that

as him. Who el

pulled the door open, desperate to escape the downpo

I slid inside a

llapsed all

sn't