Chapter 1

Morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains and shone across the bed. Wilma Lambert turned over and nestled into my arms before placing a gentle good-morning kiss on my chin.

"Good morning, honey." Her voice was soft and filled with affection.

"I'm going to try on my wedding dress. Once you've finished confirming the final wedding venue setup, come find me. You need to try on your suit again, too."

Seeing the tenderness in her eyes, I ignored the uneasiness caused by that prank web app and nodded.

Hank was already waiting for me when I arrived at the boutique.

He busied himself running back and forth, helping me confirm the suit size and matching cufflinks.

"Tim, you're going to be the most handsome guy tomorrow in this custom-made suit!" Hank looked at me and punched me playfully on the shoulder.

"I can't believe my best friend is getting married. I'm actually feeling a little emotional."

I looked at him and smiled as well. "Go try on your groomsman suit. You're the one who has to help me hold my liquor tomorrow."

Hank picked up the groomsman suit and went into the fitting room next door.

I returned to my fitting room and changed out of my suit. Just as I was about to ask him what that ridiculous link he'd sent me that morning was all about, my phone screen suddenly lit up.

It was another message from the web app.

[Hank is pressing her against the wall of the fitting room next door and making out with her. He says she looks too sexy in her wedding dress, and he can't control himself.]

My gaze instantly turned cold.

Right then, several dull thuds came from the fitting room next door. It sounded like someone's body knocking against the wooden wall.

My entire body instantly felt tense. I walked over and knocked on the wall. "Hank, what's going on in there? Did you fall?"

The fitting room next door went silent for two seconds. Hank's voice then came intermittently from inside. He sounded slightly out of breath.

"I-It's nothing! Tim, I just tripped."

Without hesitation, I stepped out of my fitting room and yanked open the curtain next door.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Hank was the only person inside.

He had his back to me, and he was struggling to fasten the buttons on his groomsman vest. When he saw me enter, he jumped and turned around with a flushed face.

"Crap. This vest is way too tight." Hank awkwardly tugged at his collar. "I couldn't get the buttons done no matter how hard I tried. I pulled too hard and almost slammed into the wall."

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him. Could I really have been imagining things?

But then I noticed that his entire body was unnaturally flushed. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead and neck, and even his breathing was more labored than usual.

"How did you get so sweaty? I was right next door. You could've asked me for help." I casually helped him undo the buttons.

"The air conditioning here isn't working, I guess. It's stuffy–" Hank's eyes darted around briefly.

After watching him get changed, I sat down in the lounge area, lit a cigarette, and began recalling the years the three of us had spent together.