Not My Christmas Wedding

Chapter 1

Harper

Seeing Asher’s engagement to Kenzie hit me like a bullet to the stomach. He called off our engagement in June, just a month after moving back to Frosthaven Falls from our shared home in Pittsburgh to be closer to work.

He works remotely, creating websites as a freelancer.

For a brief moment, he was swamped with clients and making good money. He believed being in the city would benefit us both. “You’ll have more clients to photograph in the city than back home, and I can network. It’ll be perfect,” he said.

I was content living in Frosthaven Falls, close to my family, but I loved Asher and wanted to follow him anywhere.

Then the money dried up for him. Meanwhile, I had been booked solid, photographing weddings nearly every weekend for the past two years.

I had paid most of the bills for over a year, and it was clear that Asher resented me for it.

Though he could have pursued more work, he chose to stay home, playing video games and blaming the market.

My dream had always been to marry on Christmas Eve at Starlight Manor, stepping outside with my husband beneath twinkling lights and fresh snow. We had everything planned, and I’d even paid for the venue because it was my dream. But we canceled too late to get my money back.

I still held on to hope—hope that Asher was just having cold feet after being together for so long. Fifteen years, in fact. We met at thirteen and had never spent time apart since. It took him fourteen years to propose.

“It’s natural,” I told myself. “He just needs to experience life a little more. He’ll see that life is better with me.”

Even when I found out that Kenzie and Asher were dating, I convinced myself he would come back to me. My sister wanted to confront Kenzie, but I insisted it was fine. Everything would work out in the end. It had to.

Now, I just feel foolish. He’s marrying my best friend. I wipe away tears as I stare at her Instagram post.

Kenzie Marks and I had been inseparable since the third grade. She cried when I moved to Pittsburgh and had even visited a few times. But once Asher returned home, she cut contact with me, and now I understand why.

When my phone rings, I almost decline the call. I don’t want to talk to anyone, but it’s Gina. I know she won’t stop calling until I pick up, likely already planning how to confront Kenzie.

“Hey,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t tell her I’ve been crying.

“That bitch.”

Such a classic Gina response makes me snort despite my sorrow. “How long do you think they’ve been engaged?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened right after he moved back. I was told they were practically all over each other at the drive-in that first weekend. And driving his mom’s convertible? Not the smartest choice.”

The thought of them together churns my stomach. “I’m okay, Gina. Really.”

“No, you’re not, but we’ll pretend because I think you need to.”

My big sister can be an annoying brat, but I love her, especially now.

“That’s not why I called, though. I saw her post pop up. Don’t watch her story. Trust me.”

I swallow hard, knowing I’ll end up torturing myself by watching it later. “What was the real reason you called?”

“Well, you weren’t home for Thanksgiving—”

“I’m sorry, Gina. I just couldn’t risk running into them.”

“I know. Trust me, I know. I do my best to avoid them; I don’t want to spend my Christmas savings on bail money.”

God, I love her. And I miss her. “What did I miss at Thanksgiving? Something exciting? Or was it full of drama?”

“Exciting. Totally exciting. And I need you to come home. Soon.”

“You’re pregnant!” I gasp.

“I’m engaged. Thanks for bringing my happy news down a notch.”

Engaged? Gina and Lance have been together almost as long as Asher and I were. I never thought they’d make it official. They’d be the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell of our small town.

“Congrats! Why do you need me to come home?”

“Because we’re getting married the weekend before Christmas, and I need your help planning everything. And… I need the best photographer in the state.”

Planning a wedding just a week before mine was supposed to happen? “Gina—”

“Please tell me you don’t have anything booked. Pretty please. I need you, Harp. I love you, and I miss you.”

I can’t bring myself to admit that I have nothing planned this month because I stupidly clung to the hope that Asher would realize he can’t live without me.

I wanted to be ready to drop everything and rush home at a moment’s notice to marry him on Christmas Eve, even if it meant a simple ceremony with just family and an officiant from the internet.

“Gina—”

“I’ll pay you. I swear I’ll pay you. Please? I need my little sister. You know how Mom gets. You’re the golden child. Well, next to Eric, but he’s the only boy.”

I laugh, glancing around my apartment, still cluttered with remnants of Asher’s presence. I paid for most of this stuff, yet it’s strange how a space can feel so empty despite being filled with things.

“You realize that makes me not the golden child,” I reply.

“Oh, please. Eric still lives at home—”

“Because it’s winter break, and he’s a senior in college.”

“Yeah, like we moved home for winter break in college?”

I roll my eyes, knowing she can picture it. “I didn’t go to college, remember? I took night classes for a business degree so I could take pictures during the day.”

“But you moved out when you were nineteen, and I moved out when I was eighteen. How were we ever going to have hot sex with our boyfriends while living under Mom and Dad’s roof?”

Another eye roll escapes me. “That wasn’t the reason I moved out.”

“Oh, right. That was me. Still, you got to have sex in your apartment with Asher. Even if Mom believes we’re still virgins.”

I’ll never confess to Gina that Asher and I didn’t have sex all that often.

When we first lost our virginities, he couldn’t get enough, but then it tapered off.

In Pittsburgh, when he was making good money, it was more frequent.

But after that, it dwindled again. When he left, it had been over six months since he last touched me.

“I’ll see what I can move around and let you know,” I lie.

I’d like to think I’m just buying time to find a good excuse to back out, but deep down, I know I won’t find one. I couldn’t do that to Gina, no matter how much I want to avoid returning home to see my ex-fiancé and my ex-best friend all lovey-dovey during my favorite time of year.

“I love you, Harper. And don’t worry. When we run into the two traitors, I’ll make sure not to leave witnesses,” Gina says as if I’ve already agreed to come home.

Who am I kidding? I’ll be in Frosthaven Falls by tomorrow afternoon.