His 'Practice' Bride, Her Real Wedding

the penthouse window, a millio

ht around my waist,

was electr

" he murmured, his voice a

w York, a secret world carved out

e y

ts like this, of hushed wh

l marketing director, a wom

s one, all-con

Olivia's younger brother, wa

beautiful, charming boy wh

he way he made me fee

recy felt heavy, a coa

ghtly, his blue ey

Ava. You kno

ssessiveness was there, a thre

nly yours." I mea

, breathing in hi

le shaky. "When can we... when can

ment, then relaxed

onger. I have things to sort out, you k

re always vague

hose to believe

ief washed ov

lingering, a kiss that seale

pulling away. "Got to mee

was gone, leaving me alone with the

head down. Maybe I'd catch Olivia befo

or, I heard voices from a side

And his friends

y coming back next

high school obsession. The one he never qu

ce light, almost smug. "My

ens to your little five-year train

ing p

od ran

a sound that mad

lot about what women want, how to be the perfec

me, each one a

t was just to get good for Ch

trategy. "Ava's smart, sophisticated. If I can keep her happy, Chloe will be a piece

ractice. A wa

feet. My carefully constructed wor

sharp pain in my chest, so

th to stifle a sob, a raw,

ay from the door, a

tairs, my heels clattering,

e y

ation party. He was just a kid, really, barely twe

me relentless

Our special secret, Ava. It make

sedly wiser, had fa

romises. The way he kept me s

nt he was after. I

ol. A step

es for a future – they were

ed me. I wasn't a par

terminated because the real ob

air, the cool night air doing noth

his discarded

m him. Away from this city

ngly, went clear

only one t

av