What Goes Around (The What Goes Around Duet #1)

Chapter 1 A Lie I Didn’t Tell

"No."

For a second, I thought I’d misheard him. Every head in the church turned toward Thomas, including mine. The priest froze mid-blessing, his hand suspended in the air, and the whispers started immediately, ripping through the crowd like a wave.

Thomas looked like a ghost. His skin was pale, his eyes darting between the priest, the guests, and Payton, his bride, before dropping to the floor like he couldn’t bear to look at anyone.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice breaking. “I… I can’t.”

My eyes widened in disbelief and my stomach dropped as I watched Payton stumble a step back. Then she turned and ran, her white dress flashing down the aisle toward the back room, where just thirty minutes ago I’d been helping her fix her veil. Helping her smile.

"Payton!" Thomas called, stumbling after her.

I didn’t think. I just moved. My heels clicked against the church floor as I followed them, my heart hammering so loud it drowned out the murmurs behind me.

The door to the bridal room was shut. I could hear muffled voices inside, Payton’s, raw and furious; Thomas’s, low and broken.

My hand trembled as I knocked.

"Not now!" Thomas snapped.

So I waited. Five long minutes passed. My heart pounded, palms sweaty, my mind running through a dozen awful possibilities. Then came a sound, something shattering, then a choked sob.

"Payton?" I called, and without thinking, I pushed the door open.

The air inside was thick and tense. The vanity mirror was cracked, shards glittering on the floor.

A puddle of perfume spread across the tiles, the scent sharp in my nose.

Payton stood in front of the mirror, mascara running down her cheeks, breathing like she was seconds from breaking.

Thomas was behind her, wrecked, eyes red, guilt etched deep into his features.

Before I could speak, Payton spun toward me.

"You!" she screamed as her palm cracked across my cheek. The sting burned hot, shocking me speechless.

“Ah... what... Payton, what’s going on?” I stammered.

"How could you?" she screamed, voice breaking.

My pulse thundered in my ears. I looked between her and Thomas, desperate for an answer.

"What are you talking about? W-what happened?"

"You happened!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "You!"

I blinked, confused. “I don’t... what do you mean?”

"I mean my fiancé thinks he might have feelings for you!"

The air vanished from my lungs. “What?”

Thomas ran a hand through his hair, his eyes full of regret.

“I couldn’t keep lying to her, Ash. About the calls. The late-night talks. The connection we have. After you told me how you felt..."

"What?" I whispered, the room spinning. "I never... Thomas, I never said that."

The door burst open behind me. “What the hell is going on?”

Payton turned to her brother, eyes wild. “Nick! Did you know? Your precious Ashley has been cheating on you, with my fiancé!”

The room spun. My boyfriend stood frozen in the doorway, his expression turning from confusion to horror.

“I—I don’t know what she’s talking about,” I said, my voice trembling so badly it hardly sounded like mine. “I haven’t talked to Thomas. I haven’t cheated, I swear, Nick, I haven’t!”

"Liar!" Payton screamed. "Thomas told me everything!"

Nick looked at me like I was a stranger. His jaw clenched, his eyes cutting straight through me. I took a step toward him, desperate.

"Nick, please. You know me. I would never..."

“Don’t.” His voice was sharp enough to slice through my words. “Just... don’t, Ashley.”

After we got together, he never called me Ashley. Always Ash. Hearing him say it broke something in me.

“But I haven’t done anything!” My voice cracked. I looked around the room, desperate for someone, anyone, to see the truth in my face. Thomas couldn’t even meet my eyes. Payton was trembling, clutching her torn veil like it was the only thing keeping her together.

“I don’t even talk to Thomas! I swear, I don’t know where this is coming from...”

Nick shook his head slowly, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.

"So what, he just made it up? Out of nowhere? During his own wedding?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came. I didn’t know how to explain something I didn’t even understand myself.

The door opened again. My sister, Apple, stepped in, her eyes sweeping over the wreckage. Payton filled her in quickly and when Apple turned to me, her hand covered her mouth like she’d just witnessed something unspeakable.

“Ashley,” she whispered, stepping closer. “Tell me this isn’t true.”

“It’s not,” I said instantly, the words tumbling out of me. “It’s not, I swear.”

Apple glanced between Thomas and Payton, then at Nick, who looked ready to explode. Her expression softened with sympathy.

“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, tears welling up. “Ash, how could you? You know how much Payton loves him. And Nick, your own boyfriend?”

"None of this is true!" I cried, my chest tightening.

Apple shook her head, walking over to Nick and placing a hand on his arm in comfort. “I’m so sorry you had to find out like this, Nick. I tried to tell her. That flirting can be dangerous. That people can get the wrong idea. But I never imagined..."

I froze. “What? W- what are you talking about?”

She gave me a pitying look. “Ashley, please. Don’t make this worse. Everyone’s already hurt enough.”

"But I didn't do anything!!" I screamed desperately.

"Shut your fucking lying mouth!" Nick roared.

I flinched. Nick never yelled. He never cursed at me.

“Why would I lie?” I pleaded. “I swear on my life, I didn’t cheat.” My throat was dry, my breaths shallow and uneven. I didn’t even realize I was sobbing until I tasted the salt on my lips.

Nick’s fists clenched. Veins stood out along his arms. His whole body trembled with fury.

Behind me, Payton made a broken sound, half sob, half scream.

"Get out. Both of you. Just... get out!"

Thomas reached for her, but she shoved him hard. “Don’t touch me! If you don’t leave, then I will!”

She stormed out, the door slamming behind her.

Nick ran a hand through his hair, muttering a curse under his breath. When his gaze landed on me again, it was ice-cold.

“I can’t even look at you right now,” he said.

"Nick..."

He walked out.

Just like that. Like I was nothing.

Apple followed him, murmuring something I couldn’t even process. “She didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I’m sure...”

I turned to Thomas, my voice barely holding. "Thomas, what...?"

"Not now," he said roughly, brushing past me without meeting my eyes.

And me? I just stood there, alone in that shattered bridal suite, surrounded by the destruction of a wedding.

I couldn’t breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in.

I’d just lost everything without even knowing why.