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Chapter 4

Auteur: Thai Ginger
Laughter burst out inside.

My fingers curled tight.

"Don't start," Norah cut in, soft and perfectly timed. "We're just mentor and mentee. Don't say stuff like that. What if Bella gets the wrong idea?"

"The wrong idea? We all see how close you are."

"Yeah. Skeet, what do you think?"

A beat of silence.

Then Skeet, easy and lazy—

"What is there to say? Drink."

He didn't deny it.

Which meant he accepted it.

The laughter got louder. Someone teased,

"Alright, alright, we'll drop it. Norah, pour your mentor a drink—"

Norah laughed softly.

Through the door, I could almost see it—that perfectly timed shy look.

My chest tightened.

Then slowly eased.

I should've seen it sooner.

The late-night "overtime."

The sweet edge in her voice notes.

The flicker in his eyes when he looked at her.

And that time—

The perfume on his collar.

Not mine.

Not his either.

When I asked, he said they'd sat close in a meeting. Picked it up from some coworker.

I believed him.

Seven years. From a crappy rental to a place of our own—I thought I knew him better than anyone.

Turns out, that was just me thinking.

A voice cut through from inside.

"Oh right, Skeet—I got Bella's wedding invite. Next Saturday? You actually showing up as the groom?"

Skeet said nothing.

The room went quiet for a few seconds.

Then someone asked, low, "So... is the wedding even happening?"

Another scoffed. "Happening? They've been together seven years and didn't marry. Now suddenly it's on? You buy that? I don't. Seriously—at her age, she's still trying to pressure him? Why do that to herself?"

"Exactly. She'll be thirty next year, right? How's she supposed to compete with Norah? Young, pretty—"

"Enough."

Skeet finally spoke, but it wasn't sharp.

The guy laughed. "Alright, alright, no more Bella. Let's talk about Norah. She's way better. That face, that body..."

I stopped listening.

I asked the building supervisor to give Skeet the bank card, then turned and left.

***

Third Person POV

The next day—wedding day.

Skeet didn't even know why he woke up early, threw on his custom suit, and drove over.

Outside The Grand Marlowe, the air buzzed like a party already in full swing.

A smile tugged at his lips.

'Fine. If the vibe's this good, I'll go through with it.'

He straightened his bow tie.

Then—thunderous applause from inside.

His heart stuttered. He rushed forward and shoved the door open—just in time to see the stage.

The emcee's voice blasted through the speakers.

"The moment you've all been waiting for!"

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  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 12

    But something changed.A kiss before we left in the morning.At night, curled up on the couch, his hand stayed wrapped around mine.On weekends at the grocery store, he pushed the cart while I tossed in snacks. He'd glance back, smile, shake his head. "Buying junk again?""It's junk, but it's good."He didn't argue. Just let me load up chips and junk.One night, I jolted awake from a nightmare. He was already up, gently patting my back. "You're okay. I'm here."Another time, we fought.Over something small. I don't even remember what.I stormed off and slept in the guest room. When I woke up in the middle of the night, he was on the floor outside the door—like he thought I'd leave.I stood there, staring at him curled up on the floor. The anger just... faded.I walked over, crouched, nudged him.He blinked awake. Saw it was me. "You're up? Want some water?"My nose stung. My eyes burned.He panicked, sitting up fast. "What's wrong? Bad dream? Are you sick?"I shook my he

  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 11

    I heard about Skeet's resignation four months after the wedding.That day, I ran into my old coworker Abbey downstairs at work. We talked for a bit, then she leaned in, voice low. "Did you hear? Skeet quit."I paused. "What happened?""Project went sideways," she said. "Core tech and trade secrets got leaked. Client lost it, wanted someone to take the fall. Later they proved it wasn't him, but the rumors were everywhere. He couldn't stay."I said nothing."And Norah," she went on, "I heard Skeet's suing her. She's probably in serious trouble.""Mm." I left it at that.Abbey studied my face. "Uh... you okay?"I smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"She relaxed, made small talk for a minute, then headed out.I stood there, watching her disappear into the crowd.I felt calm.Really calm.Not fake. Not forced down. The kind that hits when you've finally let go.He quit.He and Norah fell apart.His career crashed.To me, it felt like hearing about a stranger.No ache. No sadness.

  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 10

    "What are you thanking me for?" he said. "We're legally married. It's my duty to protect you."Legally married.He said it so casually, but it made me pause.Right. We were husband and wife now.Even if this was rushed. Even if we'd met less than ten times. Even if there was still that thin layer between us—Legally, he was my husband. I was his wife."Go to sleep," he said. "We're seeing my parents tomorrow. Dinner.""Okay." I shut the door.I was in bed, and Andrew's face wouldn't leave my mind.At the wedding, the lights hit him just right, tracing him in a soft gold glow...Something in my chest eased, quiet and slow.***Married life was calmer than I expected.Andrew stayed busy—out early, home late.We lived in a luxury condo in Eastbrook. Two bedrooms, a living room in between.Basically roommates.But not really.Every morning, I woke up to breakfast already waiting on the table.Sometimes cream soup with a few small sides. Sometimes a sandwich and milk. Some

  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 9

    Skeet stared at her. "Say it again."Norah went pale.Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor."Wait—let me explain... I was just joking with a friend—""Joking?" He stepped in. "You called my fiancée washed-up. That's a joke?""That's not what I meant—""You said I was dumb. Said I was asking to be played. That's a joke?"Her lips shook. Nothing came out."That smart home project," his voice turned cold, "was that your plan from the start?"She stayed silent.That was answer enough.Skeet let out a laugh.It sounded hollow. Mocking himself.Late nights flashed—him grinding through overtime.Norah showing up with coffee, smiling. "Thanks for all your hard work."Those "urgent revisions," her eyes red. "Only you can help me."His coworkers joking about it. He never shut it down. Low-key felt proud.Look at him—the young, pretty mentee clinging to him.He called it charm.It was a trap.And for that trap, he shoved away the woman who'd stood by him for seven

  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 8

    "Norah's way better than Bella. That face, that body..."He hadn't pushed back.Why not?Too drunk?Didn't want to kill the vibe?Or—for a split second, did he actually think Norah—young, pretty—looked better than Bella after seven years?He didn't know.He didn't want to.Skeet tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and started the car.Then froze.No clue where to go.The office?Didn't want to.The staff apartment?No way.The place he shared with Bella?Gone. Sold.Seven years, just... erased.Moving in. Fighting over furniture. That light she always left on when he got home late—All of it, gone.He pulled over and dropped forward, forehead against the wheel. Didn't move.Time passed.Finally, he lifted his head, started the engine, and drove.Not to work.To find Norah.***By the time Skeet pushed through the glass doors, it was already dark.He didn't even know why he came.To question Norah?Thank her?Or just... get an answer.How did he los

  • Thanks for Skipping Dress Day   Chapter 7

    Bella held no hate. No resentment. Not even disappointment.Just calm.That calm crushed the last bit of hope in Skeet's chest.Because only someone who's let go completely looks at you like that—like a stranger."Bella..." His voice came out rough, barely his. "I... I can explain.""No need.""I really can—""Skeet," she cut in, steady, "that night, I went to your staff apartment."He froze."I came to give you your share from selling our place. Half was yours. But when I knocked, I heard things."His face shifted.He remembered.That night—his staff apartment. A few coworkers drinking, talking. Norah there.Jokes about him and Norah. Comments about Bella's age—"What did you hear?" he asked, instinctive.Bella didn't answer.She just looked at him.For a split second, something dim flickered in her eyes.Then it was gone.Back to calm."It doesn't matter anymore."She turned, slipping her arm back through Andrew's."Skeet," she said softly, "we're done."We'r

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