Page 3 of My Big, Fat, Accidental Billionaire Husband

Call me later? CALL ME LATER? Like we had a coffee date he needed to reschedule?

The minister looks stricken. “Miss Cole, perhaps we should—”

“No.” I cut him off, turning to face the rows of shocked faces. My mother is crying. Rylan’s mother looks mortified. My college roommate is already on her phone, probably updating her social media.

I wonder if getting jilted will go viral. Maybe I’ll become a meme. ‘Sad Wedding Girl’ or something equally devastating.

“Thank you all for coming,” I say, my voice carrying clearly through the chapel. “Unfortunately, there’s been a change of plans. The wedding is canceled. Please enjoy the reception. The food is paid for, and it would be a shame to waste it.”

A strange calm settles over me as I walk back down the aisle alone. The same aisle I just walked up with such hope. The string quartet has stopped playing, unsure what to do. I don’t blame them. There’s no playbook for this.

In the bridal room, I carefully remove my veil. My hands are steady. Too steady. I’m in shock, probably. That’s fine. Shock is better than the tsunami of humiliation and heartbreak that’s waiting to crash over me the moment I’m alone.

Can’t wait to start on those ten buckets of ice cream. I think I’ll pick up a couple of black forest cakes, too. Yes. That will do just nicely.

I’d swipe the wedding cake on the way out as well, but I don’t think I’d have the heart to eat it. Not after this. Not dry-eyed, anyway.

Sabrina bursts in, her face a mask of fury and sympathy. “That absolute bastard. I’ll kill him.”

“Get in line,” I say, attempting a smile that feels like it might crack my face in half.

“What do you need?” she asks, always practical. “Tell me what to do.”

What I need is to rewind time. What I need is an explanation. What I need is to not be standing here in a wedding dress with no wedding.

“I need to leave,” I say instead. “Right now. And ice cream. Lots of ice cream.”

As Sabrina helps me gather my things, I make a silent vow to myself:

Never again will I stand somewhere waiting for someone who isn’t coming. Never again will I put my heart, my plans, my life in someone else’s hands.

1

Tatiana

The Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas is a gleaming monument to excess, where the AC is cranked to arctic levels and the carpet is just busy enough to hide the sins of last night’s revelers.

“Tatiana! You’re staring at your phone again!” Sabrina yanks my attention back to our little entourage as we navigate the crowded lobby. “No work emails this weekend!”

I slip my phone into my purse with the reluctance of an addict surrendering their fix. “I was just checking the weather.”

“Uh huh,” Sabrina says, linking her arm through mine.

Our room is predictably gorgeous. Amazing what a few friends can afford when they split the bill. Jess immediately bounces on one of the luxury beds while Sabrina heads straight for the minibar.

“All right ladies, suit up.” Sabrina pulls out her hot pink bikini. “The Liquid Pool Lounge awaits!”

I unpack my modest black one-piece swimsuit, suddenly feeling like I’ve brought a library book to a nightclub. Which I’ve done, actually.

“Oh hell no,” Jess says, snatching it from my hands. “You arenotwearing corporate swimwear to the sexiest pool in Vegas.”

Before I can protest, she’s rummaging through her suitcase and producing a red bikini that looks like it might cover approximately 30% of my body. “I brought extras. This one’s perfect for you. Hot color, slutty cut.”

“I don’tdoslutty,” I remind her.

“Which is exactly why you need to start,” she counters. “When was the last time you got laid?”

I feel my cheeks heat up. “That’s irrelevant to our weekend activities.”

---