Page 9 of Fauxmance

When the stranger-whose-name-I-still-didn't-know started banging on the doors, my eyes shot to his in panic.

"Hey, don't do that," I said.

"Why not?" he asked. "Nothing we've tried so far has worked."

"What if you shake something loose, and we end up plunging to our deaths?"

My words made him laugh, but I was completely serious.

"It's not funny," I said. "Haven't you ever seenSpeed? I doubt Keanu Reeves is coming, and we're trapped in here. I-I'm too young to die. I haven't even lived yet."

"Ah, come on. Don't be so dramatic. They'll find us eventually."

But even as he yelled, no one came.

"I can't die here," I repeated. "Mom will be miserable without me. She'll cry for weeks, years, I'm sure of it."

The guy huffed. "We're not going to die."

Shaking my head, I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and clasped my hands.

"Hi God," I said, "it's me Magnolia. I know you have a lot to do, so I won't keep you, but—"

"Are you seriously praying right now?"

"Yes." I shot him a glare. "Do you have any better ideas? Besides, a little prayer never hurt anyone." Getting back to it, I said, "Anyway God, sorry for the interruption. My life's kind of a mess. My sister's wedding, as you know, is right around the corner, and I'm supposed to be her maid of honor. It's a big deal—at least to me."

My elevator companion muttered something under his breath, but I didn't catch it.

"Sean, my boyfriend, dumped me, which he says I should've seen coming. But I didn't. He did it in this reallycrappyway, too." I shook my head. "My dress won't fit. My tire gave out. I didn't get to have my weekly appointment with Dr. M. And now, I'm stuck in this elevator with a stranger, who seems to have an attitude problem."

"Me?" he said. "You're the one threatening people with needles."

I disregarded that. "If you could please help us out of this, I'd be ever so grateful. Ooh, and please look after the doc's family, too. She had some kind of crisis which was why she had to cancel. Please look after them and us and my mom, sister, and all of the bridesmaids and everyone suffering around the world. Thank you in advance. Amen."

The elevator didn't suddenly start moving.

A bright light didn't shine down from above.

Nothing happened, but I could breathe a little easier.

Talking really did help. My prayer had been short, but I thought I hit on all the basics. Still, I had so much left to say. It was crazy. If my life was going to end here, I wanted a clear mind. I had to get a few things off my chest, and unfortunately, there was only one person I could say any of them to.

The gorgeous stranger was staring at me.

"Feel better?" he asked.

I gave a shrug. "A little. Could you tell me your name?"

"Why?"

"I don't know if you noticed," I said, "but we're currently stuck in an elevator together. With no means of escape, no one coming to the immediate rescue. It might be nice to know who I'm talking to."

He cocked his head. Instead of answering, he said, "I wouldn't have taken you for one of those girls."

"What girls?" I asked.

"The ones who are wedding-obsessed and excited to be bridesmaids."

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