A couple days after the press conference, I waited for Noah at Miranda’s Brew for lunch. I nibbled on a turkey sandwich while my coffee cooled. Soon, I spotted Noah at the counter as he paid for his coffee and salad. After Noah finished at the counter, I waved him down. I smiled broadly as he br
“We’ll need the blue and gold tablecloths,” I instructed Terri as she and a couple other employees packed the supplies for Lisa and Bob’s wedding. With only two days left until the wedding, we needed to make sure that everything was ready and available for use. “Silk or lace?” Terri asked. “
The night before their wedding, Lisa and Bob reserved a couple tables at L’Amour for their rehearsal dinner. Made of the bridal party and immediate family only, it was an intimate gathering of family and friends. To my surprise, I received an invitation along with Andrew’s. We sat near the head
“I was going to save my toast for the wedding, but I think that right now feels like the best moment for it.” Andrew turned to face Lisa. “Lisa, I cannot believe that you are getting married tomorrow.” He took a deep breath to control his emotions. “It seems like just yesterday that I was te
Blue and gold draped the Victorian-style ballroom. The light of the chandelier twinkled on the glitter of the gold fabric, creating a starry-night effect across the white ceiling. A Moon Goddess altar had been erected at the far end of the room, beneath a life-sized portrait of the building’s founde
After Lisa’s departure, everyone in the ballroom stared at me. I did not lose my composure. I knew I had done what was right, even if Lisa could not see it at that moment. Then chaos broke. The guests departed en masse. A wave of them headed for the open bar to try and catch one last cocktail be
I stumbled into my apartment after 11 p.m. that night. Everything had been returned to Ever After Weddings, and Terri had volunteered to preserve the wedding cake until we could get a hold of Lisa and ask her what she wanted done with it—what little was left. I was exhausted but, at the same time, e
Andrew and Lisa sat at the dining table in the mansion, glasses of wine cradled in their hands. Lisa had changed out of her wedding dress and into a tank top and yoga pants, and Andrew had undone the tie and removed the jacket of his three-piece suit. Andrew patiently watched Lisa, while Lisa stared
That night, long after the last of the guests had left for their rooms, Andrew and I returned to the presidential suite to find that the staff had decorated it in preparation for our stay. All the décor, right down to the bed sheets, had been switched out for matching red and gold pieces. The light
Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him. As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess bega
One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effor
“Let’s continue this in the bedroom,” I said, breathless. Andrew nodded his agreement. I pulled Andrew to his feet as he stuck the ring box back in his pocket. Then I dragged him back to the bedroom, leading him by the tie. Not that he needed to be dragged; he would have followed me anywhere by th
Andrew texted me and said his flight was delayed by a few errands he had to run, so I waited. And waited. I waited for an entire day, and even began to worry that Andrew had changed his mind. Then I heard a knock at my door. I leapt off the couch and rushed to answer it. Stopping just short of the
Noah left the next day. I took him to the airport, we exchanged a hug and a brief farewell, and then I watched him walk through the gate. That was the last time I ever saw him. With a heavy heart, I returned to an empty apartment. All our furniture and my belongings—what little I still had—were the
Sensing the urgency in Noah’s voice, I leaned in closer. “What is it?” I asked, trying to suppress the anticipation in my voice. Noah’s grip on my hands tightened. “I’m going to study financial law in the human world.” I froze. My heart thumped hard against my ribs, so hard that I thought th
The nightmares did not stop. In fact, they got worse. By the end of that week, I was having at least one every night, and it was showing in behavior during the day. I could scarcely stay awake. At my new branch of Ever After Weddings, I had to sneak off into the breakroom whenever there were no cu
I dreamt of the Lunar Festival. Noah and I walked hand-in-hand through the stalls, enjoying the sparkling lights and the company of our new pack mates. Yet something was off. I could feel a chill in the air, a foreboding that I could not quite shake off. “We should get out of here,” I said, tryi