Page 128 of Insta Bride

Elena, Elena, I choose Elena. Elena, Elena, I choose Elena.

I had to admit, the line had gotten stuck in my head. Along with Kye’s voice.

As soon as Bree called time on the dress rehearsal, I bolted for my room. I needed time to think. I also needed to get a different song stuck in my head.

Amidst all the bustle of pre-show chaos, I needed time and space—and my phone.

“I’m sorry, Ms Mercer, we’d prefer you not have any contact with external influences until after the show.”

My marriage was a joke. Even to the producers, who kept calling me, Ms Mercer.

A joke to the social media whores who’d decided to label me as Kye’s Candy after someone had snapped us talking at the nightclub, CandyShop.

To my family who were quietly counting the days until I put the madness and embarrassment behind me. Not that they’d endeared themselves to my husband on the few times we’d gotten together. Daddy didn’t trust a man who hadn’t played rugby, and mummy didn’t trust anyone who refused to laugh at her jokes.

I’d changed my name in person, but hadn’t gotten around to making it official at work or my driver’s licence. I guess, part of me wanted it to be real, but didn’t want the effort of changing my name back if it didn’t work out.

“I understand you don’t want me distracted, but I want my phone. I want my headphones. I want to block out everything and I want to sit in a room, on my own.”

“We’d prefer to keep you and Kenzie together.”

“I’d prefer to be kept on different sides of the country.”

Wait. There was a way to get what I wanted. “Look, you’re in charge but if you insist on throwing us together, I can’t promise not to get all our fighting out of the way before the ceremony.” I smiled, “When do you want Kenzie to scratch my eyes out? Backstage without cameras or onstage, with?”

“Let me see what I can do.”

I hadn’t waited for an answer, wandering around corridors. Assuming that once they found me, I’d explain that having a phone would have made me easier to contact.

I hadn’t meant to find the ballroom. Or hear Kye.

Or want to believe what I’d heard.

My security detail had caught up with me and pulled me out of sight after Kye saw me, but not quickly enough to stop me from hearing the rest of the conversation.

Kye didn’t know I heard his declaration.

Kye didn’t know I loved him.

Until now, I hadn’t dared to believe—Kye could love me?

This whole dating, wedding, everything had happened so quickly that I’d forgotten why I’d applied to the show in the first place. Yes, I wanted my friends to stop nagging me about dating. But I also wanted to have fun with a side of finding love.

What was the worst thing that could have happened? Falling in love with the person I got matched with? That I fell in love with my husband?

Or was the craziest twist finding out he might also be in love with me?

The song, Elena played again.

“Aren’t you sick of it by now?” My chaperone asked before handing over my phone and headphones.

“I need a couple of hours to catch some sleep. I promise not to leave the hotel and I promise not to give any interviews or selfies.”

“But—”

“It’s going to be a long night.” I gave her a sincere smile. “I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t you grab a coffee or find a first aid room and take a nap?”

Losing my security detail and chaperone, I had time to match Kye’s grand gesture with one of my own.

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