Page 4 of Game Changer
Damn, this song!Pressure builds behind my eyes and cheekbones.Why couldn’t this be the moment I’d imagined when I chose this beautiful music that I love so much?The piece ends with tinkling piano notes and soaring violins, and I nearly lose it.
I catch my best friend’s eye.Grace’s mouth is tight, her eyes shadowed.She gives me a tiny nod, and I know she’s telling me she’s with me whatever I do.
“Friends, we have been invited here today to share with Molly and Steven a very important moment in their lives.In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as wife and husband.”
I don’t hear much more over the buzzing in my ears.My hands are sweaty, my skin clammy.Then I’m called on to say my vows.
Grace hands me my phone.
With shaky fingers, I unlock it and reveal the screen ready for me to read.Facing Steve, I begin.“I’m supposed to say something now about our love and the promises we make to each other.”I suck in a breath.“But I’m not going to do that.Instead, I’m going to read the text messages that Steve has been exchanging with a woman named Claire.”
Stunned silence falls over the room.I feel Steve tense, and I flick my eyes up to his.He stares at me, his eyebrows pulled together, his mouth open.I lift my own eyebrows then resume my reading.“ ‘I can’t wait to be with you again.After the wedding, things will settle down to normal and we can be together again.’ ” I scroll up.“ ‘Your body is incredible.I love making you come.’” Another one…‘I love you.I can’t stop thinking about fucking you.’”
Shocked gasps fill the air.
“What are you doing?”Steve whispers, trying to grab my phone.
I step back, set my jaw and keep going.“ ‘I only w-wish Molly could give a blow job like you do.’” I pause.“This one’s from Claire.‘Baby, you know I love your big cock.’Then there are the pictures.A selfie of the two of them.A topless photo of Claire.And a lovely dick pic from Steve.Also from Steve: ‘I want to smack your ass and fuck you hard from behind.’”
I’m really shaking now.Grace steps closer and slides her arm around my waist.
I look up at Steve again.“Obviously, I can’t marry you today.”I turn my head toward the guests.“I’m sorry, everyone, there isn’t going to be a w-wedding.”
Pandemonium breaks out, a muted roar rising as everyone starts talking, some rising from their seats.
I turn to my parents, who had no idea this was coming.“I’m sorry.”
The shocked expression on their faces nearly takes my knees out.
Grace holds onto me.“We’re with you, Mol,” she whispers.
“I need to get out of here.”
“Of course.”
We bolt down the aisle, threading our way through people.I vaguely register shocked, concerned faces but I try not to look at anyone, my humiliation complete.We make our way to the dressing room where we prepared for the ceremony not long ago.
My other two bridesmaids, Allison and Brielle, follow us, locking the door behind us.
I head straight for the champagne bottles on the counter, picking up one we were drinking earlier that’s still half full.I lift it to my lips and drink straight from the bottle.
Grace is beside me, rubbing my shoulder.“Attagirl,” she murmurs.“You did it.”
“I did.”I swipe my fingers beneath my nose.“Why do I want to cry?”
“Because your heart is broken.”She leans her head against mine.“I’m so sorry.That ratfucking bastard.”
“I want to throat-punch him,” Brielle says fiercely.“In fact, I think I might go do that.”
“I’m coming with you.”Allison scowls.“Motherfucker.”
Before I can tell them not to bother, they’ve disappeared.I grimace at Grace and sink into an armchair, clutching my bottle of bubbly.
“I’d like to castrate him,” she says, grabbing another bottle and a flute.“But I don’t want to do jail time.”
I guzzle more champagne, the bubbles pleasantly stinging my nose and throat.“He’s not worth it.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes.Only twenty-four hours ago, I totally thought Steve was worth it.Worth marrying.Worth loving.
