A husband for the holiday

ASSIE

"If anyone has a reason why these two shouldn't be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," the priest said.

"I do!" The large double doors of the church suddenly burst open, revealing my sister.

"Mia?" I asked in confusion, wondering what was going on. My younger sister was supposed to be my chief bridesmaid, but at the last moment, she had informed me about an emergency that would keep her out of town on my wedding day.

Her sudden presence at the church made no sense at all.

Or maybe it was a surprise for me. My mouth began to curve into a pleased smile.

"Gabe, I love you!" She declared, and my smile froze on my face.

"W-what?" I stammered, but she ignored me, her blue eyed gaze locked on my groom. As she began to march down the hall, camera flashes started going off.

"I love you, Gabe and I know you love me too. I'm tired of keeping this thing between us hidden like a dirty little secret," she began to walk toward the altar, "And anyway, the baby growing inside of me can't be kept a secret forever."

Gasps went up around the church, and the camera flashes became more aggressive. I felt frozen as I watched my groom step away from me, eyes shining with delight.

"You're pregnant?" He asked her.

She nodded shyly and a second later, he pulled her into his arms and dipped her into a kiss that Disney princesses would have been jealous of. I staggered backward, feeling like someone had stuck a knife into my chest.

Pregnant?

No, this was a nightmare and any second I'd wake up.

"Holy shit," my bestfriend whispered behind me, making it clear that this was reality.

"What the hell is going on here!" I barked, causing them to finally pull apart. Mia shot me a smug smirk that I ignored. She had always had a habit of wanting what I had, but never in my life would I have thought she'd manage to wiggle her way into my marriage.

Gabriel cleared his throat, and I knew what he was about to say even before he said it, "Cassie, I'm sorry, but I can't marry you."

"I d-don't understand," my lips were trembling too much to get the words out, "Y-you l-love me, we love each other. I mean, we_"

"He doesn't love you!" My sister snapped.

"Shut up!" I snapped back.

"Don't you dare speak to my wife like that," the man I had dedicated four years of my life too growled at me.

It was the final straw that made me lose the battle against the tears I had been fighting against, "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

I had moved out of my apartment, left my job, sold my car and everything, in preparation to become Gabriel Stuarts wife. After all, I couldn't work as a lowly office clerk and drive my beat up Peugeot as the wife of a millionaire.

"We have to get out of here," Jeanne informed me, "Any moment now, the paparazzi will be here."

"Listen to your bestie, Cassie," my sister taunted, "There's nothing left for you here."

I turned away from them and saw that almost all the guests had their phones out videoing the humiliating event. At the front seat, my parents looked horrified.

"Cassie_" my father stood up, sympathy lacing his voice.

I didn't want anybody's sympathy. I just wanted to run and keep running till I had outrun this mess.

"I need your car keys," I told Jeanne desperately, and without question, she handed them to me. I gathered my heavy dress in my hands and raced down the aisle, ignoring the camera flashes and snickers.

As soon as I burst out of the church doors, I ran into a wall of paparazzi, eager to document the worst day of my life.

"Miss Love, can we get a statement?"

"What happened in there, miss Love?"

"Is it true that your sister stole your groom?"

Tears blurring my vision, I pushed through the pressing crowd, ignoring their endless questions and raced to the parking lot where my best friend's tiny sports car waited. I wasted no time jumping into it and tearing out of the parking lot.

Only when the church and all the horrors of what was supposed to be my perfect wedding had disappeared behind did I give in to the heart wrenching pain.

My shoulders shook with my sobs as I navigated the car through unfamiliar streets. I finally pulled over when I became too overwhelmed to drive and climbed out of the car, feeling weighed down by both my heartbreak and the eight thousand dollar wedding dress.

I stumbled my way into the ramshackle bar across the street, ignoring the strange looks I received.

I settled into a stool at the bar and called for the bartender, "I want a bottle of anything that can make me piss drunk. I don't want to be able to think for the next few hours."

His eyes widened, "One bottle of whiskey coming right up."

"Rough day?" A deep voice asked.

I turned my head to the man at my side and went a little lightheaded even though I hadn't touched any alcohol yet. The stranger had to be the most gorgeous man on the planet, and I stared at him unabashedly.

"You can say that." I replied.

"Here's to drinking to forget." He raised his bottle and I clinked it with mine.

"To Mia and Gabriel getting eaten by blood thirsty sharks at their honeymoon," I said.

The man's brown eyes crinkled with laughter, "Ouch. Let me guess, they're the reason you are in a wedding dress?"

"Also the reason I no longer have a job, an apartment, or anything at all," I took a swig of my drink, "I can't even afford a plane ticket out of Vegas. Ugh, I don't even want to think about them anymore. I need a distraction."

"How about we play a game."

I looked over at him with suspicion, "What game?"

He smiled at me, and I almost melted into a puddle at his feet, "Rock, paper, scissors, but the loser has to drink."

"Deal." I grinned at him, "Fair warning though, I'm really good at this game."

His smile widened, "Me too."