Page 145 of The Bridges I've Burned

Music started, and soon, the wedding party was headed down the aisle. Eli escorted Millie. Billy escorted Molly, and then I stepped up and took Elena’s hand.

I told her this wasn’t the end, but as I escorted her down that aisle, I couldn’t help but feel like I was saying good-bye to her.

And she didn’t even know.

She glanced over at me and smiled, and a small piece of my heart shattered.

Would she understand why I left, or would it feel like a betrayal?

It didn’t matter because as I watched Marin walk toward Macon, I knew I’d do anything to make them happy.

Even if it meant that I wasn’t.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ELENA

“It’s your fucking wedding day!” I hollered, jumping on the bed at the ass crack of morning.

Marin groaned.

“Get up, loser!” I plopped down, tucking my feet underneath me as I poked her with my finger.

“Jesus, what time is it?” She rolled over to check her phone, and her groan turned into more of a screech. “You woke me up at six thirty in the goddamn morning? Why?”

“’Cause it’s your wedding day and we have a whole day planned.”

“We do?” She eyed me curiously.

“Yep.” I grinned. “Come on.” I ripped the covers off her. “I’ll tell you all about it over a big cup of coffee.”

She sat straight up. “Coffee?” Her hair was wild, frizzy curls scattered everywhere. There were pillow marks on her face, and her breath smelled rancid.

Yikes, we have work to do.

“Decaf coffee,” I amended.

She grimaced, making me laugh, but she got up all the same. We headed into the kitchen, and I spent the next hour or so plying her with decaf coffee and pastries while we talked about the day.

Her day.

“Your mom and sister want to come over while we get ready,” I told her.

“That will be fun.”

“And—”

Marin’s phone began to ring.

I looked down at it and rolled my eyes. “Seriously. You can’t even make it all morning without talking.”

She didn’t dignify that with a response and instead answered. “Hello, husband-to-be!”

I nearly gagged. She continued to nibble on a doughnut while listening to Macon, and then I heard her respond.

“Really?” She turned to me. “Macon said the reporters in front of the inn are gone.”

“Gone?”

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