the night I g

... laid there. Eyes open. Heart racing. Mind spinning like it was running on caffeine and chaos. Every time I closed

en flinch wh

e I'd left something behind, but too long to pretend like none of it had happened. I had smiled my way through that meeting, nodded at

et? A single word, maybe. But instead, I got the kind of

at hau

e, hair in a bun, hoodie zipped to my chin, and a

xury Atlanta, Southern Bride, Vogue Weddings even teased a potential exclusive. The engagement announcement was simple: two high-society fami

ooked

her silk crepe gown, laughing with Bennett on the balcony of some country estate in Savannah.

thing about i

the same smile I'd seen at the meeti

undreds of couples and managed to set aside my own feelings every single time. But this wasn't just any groom. This was Bennett. T

her: Emily Rowe. Her name pulled up pages of socialite coverage, philanthropic highlights, debutante balls, and Southern charm spotli

e was nice. Too nice. And

line launching next spring. She'd been featured on Forbes 30 Under 30. She hosted charity luncheons. Her Instagram was a curated drea

t all feel l

l wore the leather watch I bought him for his first promotion. (He didn't.) For the way I scanned old posts for hint

"Emily + Bennett Wedding Prep: Mood boards & Logistics."

t him ge

hose words fo

I alre

ing charts, and the dress fittings all I wanted. But no matter how many appointments I set, how many bouquets I

man who, despite everything, I couldn't completely let go of. Even if I told myself a hundred times that

t just about

essional. I couldn't let whatever emotional

. She deserved that. She was trusting me with the most important day o

s than an hour, Emily would be here for her dr

to f

olor schemes. The accessories. Everything was already set. Emily had approved all of it. We were gettin

I wasn't carrying the weight of a past I wasn't allowed to revisit? How could I help her say yes to

wer. But there wasn't

t a time. This was my life now. And no matter how much I wanted to for

t work. I had