Page 81 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

My heart thuds as the truth of his words sinks in. Yes, we’ve all made mistakes, but what matters now is how we move forward. And deep down, I know I want to move forward with Theo by my side.

“Okay,” I whisper, reaching for his hand. His fingers intertwine with mine, sending a spark of electricity up my arm. “Let’s give this a chance.”

“Really?” Theo asks, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips.

“Really,” I confirm, mirroring his smile.

As if on cue, the taxi pulls up beside us, bathing our intertwined hands in a pool of yellow light. We step inside, and as the car takes off, I lean into Theo’s embrace.

43

OAKLEY

The next morning, trepidation claws at my chest as I lift my hand to knock on Iris’s hotel door. One, two, three knocks echo through the silent hallway. The lack of response sends a chill down my spine. Bracing myself for the unknown, I reach for the doorknob and find it unlocked. Pushing the door open, I step into an eerily pristine room.

“Hello?” My voice sounds small in the empty space. “Iris? Are you here?”

The room has already been cleaned—not a single trace of Iris or her belongings remain. Confusion and disappointment hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me feeling stranded in this alien environment.

“Where could they be?” I mumble under my breath, my heart racing as I wrack my brain for answers.

Desperation drives me from Iris’s room, and I make a beeline for Avery’s door. I pound on the wooden door, hoping against hope that they’re both inside.

“Guys, are you in there?” I shout, my voice trembling with urgency. Once again, silence greets me, and dread coils around my heart.

Swallowing hard, I turn the handle and push the door open. It mirrors Iris’s room—immaculate and devoid of any signs of life. Panic threatens to choke me, but I force myself to take deep, calming breaths.

“Get a grip, Oakley,” I tell myself, trying to muster some semblance of control. “They wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye…right?”

The ocean breeze caresses my cheeks as I storm out of the hotel, frustration and worry gnawing at my insides. Where could Iris and Avery be? My mind races with possibilities, but none of them bring me any comfort. Just as I’m about to pull out my phone and call them, a familiar voice cuts through the frigid air.

“Oakley! Hey, wait up,” Reid calls out, jogging to catch up with me. His breath fogs in the cold and his wavy blond hair is tousled by the wind, reminding me of how disheveled he looked after last night’s party. I can’t help but snark at him.

“Nice of you to join us this morning, Sleeping Beauty. You seen Iris or Avery anywhere?” My tone is laced with sarcasm, but beneath it, desperation claws at my chest.

Reid’s green eyes darken with concern, and he runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, uh, about that…they left early this morning.”

My heart drops like a stone, and a sharp pain stabs through my chest at his words. Left? Without a word?

“Wait, what do you mean ‘left’?” I demand, my voice faltering. “Why didn’t they tell me?”

“Look, Oakley, I don’t know all the details, but they said they had some urgent business to attend to back home.” Reid’s expression turns apologetic. “I guess they didn’t want to wake you up or something.”

“Or something…” I mutter bitterly under my breath, anger and hurt swirling together like a toxic cocktail inside me. My best friends, gone without even a goodbye. It feels like a punch to the gut, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.

“Hey, don’t take it personally, okay?” Reid says gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You know how they are—always caught up in something.”

“Caught up in something” or not, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been left behind like an afterthought. My heart aches with a sense of betrayal I can’t quite shake off, but I’m not about to let anyone see just how much this stings.

“Whatever, it’s fine,” I lie, forcing a tight smile onto my face. “I guess it’s just one more day anyway, huh?”

Reid nods, his eyes searching mine for any hint of the turmoil I’m trying so hard to hide. “Yeah, but hey, you’ve still got us, right?”

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know,” I say, forcing a lighthearted tone. “Guess I should start packing up my things too.”

Reid studies my face for a moment, and I worry that he’ll see through my fragile facade. But he simply nods, his green eyes filled with a mixture of concern and understanding. “Do you need any help packing?”

I shake my head, the smile still plastered on my face. “Nah, I’ve got it covered. Thanks, though.”

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