31. Epilogue Noelle #2
A chorus of cheers surrounds me as my best friend Hannah clambers onto a black leather booth with a half-drunk vodka cranberry in her hand. Her silver mini-dress sparkles as the rooftop bar’s colorful strobe lights flicker across my group of closest friends and bridesmaids.
I smile up at her as they all cheer on what’s supposed to be the happiest time of my life.
Yet, I can’t help but fidget with the white sash that says brIDE TO BE draped across my body.
My stomach has been churning all night throughout my entire bachelorette party, and it’s not because of all of the shots and drinks that we’ve had.
“We love you, Elena! We’re so happy for you and Austin!”
“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride!”
“Congratulations!”
Everyone stares at me, some even lifting their phones to take pictures and videos. I should be over the moon about marrying my boyfriend turned fiancé of four years. It’s the right time, but… I just thought my life would be different at this point.
I thought everything else would’ve fallen into place for me.
“I’m getting married, bitches!” I shout as I lift a tequila shot before downing it, urging myself to get into the spirit of the party.
My friends clap and cheer before the group splits up, some going to the dance floor to dance in front of the DJ booth as he plays upbeat club music and others flagging down the waitress for another round of shots.
Hannah reaches out for my hand so that I can help her off the booth, her tall heels thumping against the floor. She smiles at me and gives the long, straight strands of my dark brown hair a little fluff before adjusting the silver princess crown on my head.
“Are you having fun? Did I do a good job?” Hannah asks with a hopeful gleam in her blue eyes.
“You did amazing, maid of honor,” I tell her before hugging her. She has been my rock through this because all of the wedding planning has been so stressful, and I don’t have any family around to help me.
“Let me take another picture of you,” Hannah says once she pulls away. She helps me smooth down and adjust the strapless sparkly white mini-dress that I have on before stepping back and lifting her phone. “Smile!”
I flash her a casual smile, but my heart pounds.
Soon I’ll be married to the man I’ve spent four years with—only I can’t picture the future.
Three weeks ago HR “restructured” me out of a job.
I’ve been smiling for photos while my savings bleeds and my inbox stacks polite rejections.
My PR career. My address. Even my relationship.
None of it looks like I planned. “Are you okay?” Hannah asks as she walks back over to me, the spot between her brows creasing in concern.
The last thing that I want to do is stir up trouble and drama because I’m having some last-minute wedding jitters. It’s normal. I hear about it all the time.
“Yeah, of course. I just need another drink,” I tell her, feeling only a little tipsy at this point.
We’re in Las Vegas! Miles and miles away from the boring, pointless town in Utah where I currently live. I should treasure this night while it lasts because Austin isn’t a fan of traveling. Who knows when I’ll get to come back?
“I’ve got you,” Hannah quips before striding off toward the bar.
I exhale slowly as a chilly breeze blows through my hair and whips against my bare skin, the bass of the loud music thumping in my ears. Part of me doesn’t want to return to Utah tomorrow.
Why would I want to go back to a place that feels so bland when I’m here in a city with so much life and excitement?
“Oh my gosh! Is that Austin?”
I whip around toward the elevator to see my fiancé, my balance wavering a little. I blink a few times, making sure that I’m not imagining him as he makes a beeline toward me. A small smile starts to cross my face, but it halts when I see the deep frown on his.
“Is everything okay? Why aren’t you at your bachelor party?” I ask him as he walks up to me and grabs my arm, directing me toward the glass wall that keeps people from falling off the roof.
“I need to talk to you,” Austin says, his eyes darting around to make sure that no one is coming up to us.
“What’s wrong?” My stomach already starts to sink, and I don’t even know what he’s about to say.
Austin draws in a deep breath before meeting my eyes. “I can’t do this. The wedding. The marriage.”
Bile rises up my throat as my stomach twists violently. “What?”
Austin rubs his hand over his clean-shaven jaw, acting far more nervous and fidgety than I’ve ever seen him act before. He’s usually the calm and collected guy with his head on straight. And he certainly always knows what he wants.
“I want to be with Gina.”
My eyes widen. “Gina? Like your co-worker Gina?”
Austin lifts his hands like he wants me to calm down. “Come on, Elena. Let’s not act like our relationship hasn’t been in the dumps for the past year.”
“Excuse me? You’re the one who started pulling away from me!” I snap at him, making my friends and random strangers look over at us. “Are you seriously saying you’ve been cheating on me? Is that what you’re telling me right now just a few days before our wedding?”
Austin sighs and drops his hands. “Look, I’m sorry, but Gina is willing to give me what I want in a relationship.”
His words make sheer rage boil in my blood, my face growing even hotter than it already was from the alcohol. I have sacrificed so much for him! And it wasn’t enough?
I’m not enough.
“What’s that? Sex every day even after working for hours? A dozen kids? Is she going to wait on you hand and foot?” I question him as I stalk toward him, my manicured fingers curling into fists.
Hannah and a few of my other bridesmaids hurry over to us. “What’s going on?”
Furious tears prick my eyes as I turn to Hannah. “He cheated on me with Gina! He wants to be with her!”
Gasps ring throughout my entire friend group as they form next to me and behind me. A moment of tense silence passes before they explode.
“You sick cheater!”
“How could you do this to her? You said that you loved her!”
“You just made the worst mistake of your life, you dog!”
My eyes water and sting as I glare at Austin, who tries to defend himself. The bar staff try to calm some of my friends down, but they’re not giving up. Not until Austin feels their full wrath.
Tension winds around my throat, making it hard to even swallow without it being painful. I thought he was pulling away from me because I told him I don’t want to be a stay-at-home mom. I want to focus on my career for now before having kids.
This whole time, he has been slowly building a life with another woman. Someone who I had a weird feeling about for the longest time.
I should’ve listened to my gut.
“Why wait until now? Why propose to her?” Hannah snaps at him, having to be held back by two other friends.
Austin shrugs in an exasperated manner. “When she lost her job, I thought she would be ready to start a family and stay at home!”
I lunge toward him, but Tessa and Katie catch me. “It was always about what you wanted! You never supported me like I supported you!”
We shout back and forth at each other until my throat hurts, and my head starts to spin. I’m ready to shove him toward the elevator until I see the doors slide open.
I freeze at the sight of three men in leather jackets striding out onto the rooftop with stern looks on their faces. Not just any men, though.
Tall. Muscular. Ridiculously handsome.
And a little intimidating if I’m being honest.
“Holy shit,” Hannah mutters from beside me, her eyes locking onto them as well.
One of the bar staff rushes over to the men and point in our direction, making my blood run cold. I think we’re all about to get into trouble.
Big trouble.
The three men head our way, and everyone is quick to shut up and pause as they reach our group.
Now I can get an even better look at them, and they’re even hotter up close.
The one who seems to be the leader and is the tallest steps closer with his blue eyes sweeping over the entire group. When they land on me, his gaze lingers before he speaks. Deep and firm.
“What’s going on here?”