Page 4 of The Mistletoe Promise

“Amanda,” he says gruffly. “This is on me, I’m glad that I managed to let you know before the wedding. When was the big day?”

I laugh bitterly. “Today,” I say, wiping away my tears. “You caught me five minutes before I was about to walk down the aisle.”

"Today?" Mike's voice is a mix of shock and concern. "Jesus, Amanda. I'm so sorry. I didn't realize?—"

"It's not your fault," I cut him off, my voice steadier now. The initial shock is wearing off, replaced by a cold, hard anger. "You did me a favor. Better to know now than after I said 'I do.'"

I can hear the muffled sounds of the wedding guests chattering outside my dressing room door. My bridesmaid, Cherry, will be coming to fetch me any minute now, expecting to see a blushing bride. Instead, she’ll find a woman on the warpath.

"What are you going to do?" Mike asks, hesitation clear in his voice.

A smile spreads across my face, but there's no warmth in it. "I'm going to give them exactly what they want—a show."

I end the call and toss the phone onto the vanity. My reflection stares back at me: hair perfectly coiffed, makeup in need of a touch up, and white dress a vision of beauty. Today was supposed to be a happy day. Now, my heart has been broken by two people who I loved.

I quickly fix my make up, not wanting anyone to know what’s about to happen or that I’m anything other than a blushing bride.

There's a knock at the door. "Amanda? Are you ready?" Cherry asks as she enters the room. “You really do look beautiful,” she whispers as she pulls me into her arms. “Are you ready?”

I pull in a deep breath and nod. “Ready,” I tell her with a smile.

It takes us a few minutes to be ready as my dad and Cherry argue, not that I can blame them, they’re so in love and my mom has ruined their relationship too with her bullshit. But I’m praying that after today, the two of them can get their shit together and not let whatever the hell mom’s plan was ruinsomething amazing. I wasn’t happy when I found out about Cherry and my dad—hell, no one would ever be happy that their best friend was dating their dad—but I saw how happy she makes him, and that’s all I want for the two of them.

Dad walks me down the aisle and I plaster on the perfect smile. I try not to laugh when dad presses a kiss to my cheek but ignores Aaron’s outstretched hand that he wanted my dad to shake. My dad never liked Aaron, he’s always thought I could do better—the cheating is a huge factor as to why my dad hates him—but today it’s all going to be over with.

"I want to thank everyone for coming and sharing this special day," I say, my fake smile still etched on my face. "It means a lot to us both that you're here."

Aaron smiles brightly and all I want to do is punch him.

"Today was a day I had been dreaming about since I was a little girl. My dad—who's the best man in this world—made me promise that I'd marry a man that made me feel as though I was the only girl in the world." I turn to face my dad and give him a genuine grin. I should have listened to him. I really should have, maybe, I wouldn’t be in this position. "I thought I had that."

Murmurs sound around the church at my words and I watch as Aaron's face falls, his happy expression gone and in turn he's shocked. He's not the only one, everyone seems to have a confused expression on their faces.

"Imagine my surprise when I found out that he cheated not once, not twice, but three times. I was stupid enough to forgive him the first two times, but no more. Especially not when the woman he's cheated on me with is my own mother."

I hear the outraged gasps, the angry curses from my brothers, and see the fake tear-filled eyes of my mother.

I grit my teeth, trying my hardest not to let the tears fall, I grip the engagement ring he got me, pull it from my finger and throw it at him. It hits his face and I’m disappointed that it didn’tdo any damage. I pull in a ragged breath, fuck, I need to get the hell out of here. I reach for the hem of my dress and run back down the aisle.

I don’t stop until I reach the little room I was in just before the ceremony and the moment I’m inside, I begin to pace. What the hell am I going to do now?

The door opens and I spin on my heel, my heart racing, God, please don’t be my mom or Aaron, but relief washes through me when I see Cherry walking in.

"I'll kill her," Cherry says, her fists clenched at her sides. "I'll happily do it."

This is why she’s my best friend. God, I love her. "Remember, Cherry, orange isn't your color," I say, trying not to laugh. "We've spoken about this for years."

"It's bullshit, we both know that I'd rock orange. I just couldn't handle prison time."

My lips twitch as I stare at her. But when I do, I see the pain in her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Cherry asks. "I'd have stopped this bullshit and would have saved you the pain."

"I know what mom did," I say softly. "I know that she lied to you about what was going on between her and my dad. I should have told you the truth, I was just so deeply hurt by what she'd done. I'm sorry, Cherry."

My mom told Cherry that she and my dad were getting back together. Not only that, during the wedding dress shopping, my mom told me I needed to lose at least twenty pounds otherwise I’d look like an elephant as I walked down the aisle. I was so hurt, I didn’t know what to do, and then add on the bullshit she told Cherry, I couldn’t handle it all.

"Don't worry about it," Cherry says softly. "Your dad should have told me, had he done, then your mom's words would never have worked. But it is what it is. Now, what are you going to do?"

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