Page 117 of The Fiance Dilemma

We walked along the hallway that led to the front of the shop, and the moment we got there, all heads and eyes turned.

All words, plans, explanations fled my mind. “I…”

“I’m calling off the wedding,” Matthew said.

Every single person in the bridal shop froze.

Then Cameron—who I assumed must have gotten here with Matthew—stood up from some bench he’d been perched on. His jaw clenched.

“Calm down,” Matthew said, fingers squeezing mine. “She’s holding my hand.”

“We’re…” I trailed off. Again. “We’re together. It’s just—”

A sob broke free from Adalyn. Everyone turned toward her.

“It’s all okay,” I rushed out. “We’re okay. We’re not breaking up.” I kept my eyes on my sister, avoiding Andrew’s as he stood on one side. Avoiding Bobbi’s, too, that I could feel on my profile. “It’s all so complicated. But we’re just not getting married. I—I can’t. I don’t think I ever wanted to.” I searched for Charleene’s gaze, finding her pale. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the dress. I promise.”

“You better believe that gown is being paid for,” Bobbi intervened. She walked closer to where we stood. “You have no idea how hard it was to keep everyone from going to check on you while you were in that dressing room.”

My cheeks flushed slightly, but it wasn’t with embarrassment. It was with the memory of Matthew’s words.Let them hear.My hand was squeezed, and I squeezed back. “Thank you. We had much to discuss.”

Bobbi rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky the commotion outsidewas distracting enough.” She sent Matthew a glance. “I might have underestimated you, Blondie.”

“What commotion?” I asked, before Matthew could say whatever had him smirking like that. “There was a commotion outside?”

Bobbi spared a look at my father, who stood in the exact same spot, still silent. “Andrew decided to show up,” she explained. “Unlike we’d agreed. Someone must have caught wind of it and there were a few people with iPhones outside. Everything’s so low-effort these days. Regardless, the photographers attracted people. A crowd. And they were interested enough in you to stick around. Especially after your boo here entered the shop like we were keeping you hostage.”

Matthew’s exhale was so forceful that I glanced over at him. He met my gaze, a muscle in his jaw jumping. “Cam told me where they were taking you and I asked him to turn around and drive here instead. We were already on our way when Bobbi called.” So that was how he’d gotten here so fast. Slowly, every piece started coming together. His attention returned to Bobbi. “Now that you’ve had a chance to get your word in, we’re leaving.” He took a step forward. “I’m taking Josie home. Cam, Ada, let’s—”

The woman’s hand fell on Matthew’s shoulder. “Nuh-uh. Not so fast. We need to talk. The wedding—”

“Is not happening,” Matthew interjected.

Bobbi’s eyes narrowed before turning to me. “The dress,” she said, softly but stubbornly enough for me to stiffen. “Is it still wearable?”

My voice was apologetic but firm. “I’m not wearing it. I can’t. I’m sorry, Bobbi.”

“Pick another one.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, Shark,” Matthew intervened.

Bobbi huffed a laugh. “Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to. Because this is ridiculous. You can’t cancel a wedding just based on a few tears and a quickie in a dressing room. This—”

“It was all a hoax,” I rushed out. “We were never engaged.”

Silence fell. Thick and sudden.

I inhaled. Deep. Then out. Matthew’s hold of my hand unmovable. “We—I convinced Matthew to do this with me. For me. To pretend we were engaged to be married until all of this went away. It wasn’t supposed to escalate this fast or this far. I didn’t want to become an issue, to be a problem. I didn’t want to be a bigger problem than I already was. A misstep that came to bite you in the ass. It was stupid, and reckless, and over-the-top for something that started as a harmless way for me to make Bobbi leave my porch. I…” A big gulp of air left me. “I’m so sorry.”

There was a long moment in which I could only hear my heart drumming in my temples. Feeling disoriented, I looked around. Bobbi was shaking her head in denial. Adalyn and Cameron were blinking at us, eyes wide, wider than I’d ever seen. Charleene was gone, probably to scream into one of the velvet pillows I’d defiled on her couch. And Andrew… paled.

“I’m not sorry,” Matthew said. “About a single fucking thing.”

“Matthew,” I warned. But it came out half-heartedly. God, I loved him so much for saying that just to break the strange silence. “We are sorry. This was stupid. It was my idea.”

“I’m not sorry, Josie,” he repeated, and turned to look at me, as if we weren’t standing in the middle of a room filled with people, giving them news that would alter big plans already in place. As if our coming clean wouldn’t have consequences. He brought our hands up, to his chest, and mine felt so, so empty without his ring. “Be sorry if you have to, but I won’t pretend I am. I’m not sorry I stumbled upon your driveway that night. I’m not sorry you thought this was your way to fix a mess that wasn’t yours. I’m not sorry I played fiancé when IknewI’d end up falling ridiculously in love with you. And I’m not fucking sorry we’re calling off a wedding you don’t want.”

I stared up at him, at a loss for words. I… “I love you.” I really did.

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