Chapter 1

Betsy 

The cool water cascaded down my body, easing the ache in my muscles but doing nothing for the one in my heart.

I just found out that my second brother’s best friend, the one I’ve had a crush on for as long as I can remember—is finally settling down.

But the worst part? It’s not with just anyone. It’s her. My high-school bully. Tears streaked down my face, blending with the shower water.

Why does she always have to take everything I want? She took my friends, stole my high-school life with her constant bullying and insults, and now she’s taking the one man I’ve been longing for all this time.

I crouched low and cried softly. My heart felt like it couldn’t bear it. I was so crushed, like I wanted to disappear.

I stayed under the running water, crying until I had no tears left to give.

Eventually I stood, turned off the shower, and wrapped a towel around my chest.

I walked slowly into my bedroom and glanced to the side. There, neatly placed on the side table, was the invitation card with their names:

Oliver Saint  

and  

Aqua Reed

The sight broke me all over again. Fresh tears slipped down my cheeks.

They say life doesn’t always go the way we plan, and I learned that the hard way.

I shouldn’t feel this destroyed, like I’ve lost something that was ever truly mine. He never once looked at me that way.

The only person he ever truly saw was Aqua. Not me. Even when I stood right in front of him, I was invisible.

To him, she was everything. And that truth made jealousy burn heavy in my chest. Aqua never had to try, she got him without effort.

It was never that simple for me.

No matter how carefully I did my makeup or picked my clothes hoping he’d notice, nothing changed. To him, I was just one thing: his best friend’s sister, Betsy.

Not the Betsy who loved him quietly for years.

Not the Betsy who filled diary pages with his name.

I really don’t want to go to their wedding. I don’t want to see her in that white dress, sparkling with jewels, walking down the aisle to take his hand.

I don’t want to hear him say his vows while looking at her like she’s his whole world. But who am I kidding? I have no choice.

I have to be there and watch it all, even if it tears me apart, just like the last two years of their relationship have slowly been doing.

This time, I know it will finish me.

If I don’t show up, people will ask questions. My oldest brother will tease me about it. He’s always known I liked Oliver. When they first started dating, he looked at me with worry, though when we were alone he’d joke about it the way brothers do.

But it was never funny to me. It hurt like salt in a fresh cut.

And besides, Oliver handed me the invitation himself. He looked straight into my eyes with that bright smile and said, “Here, it’s good news.” I took the envelope, and the second I read the names, my heart slammed so hard I was sure he could hear it.

My eyes stung with tears I refused to let fall, but I forced a big smile—the kind that squeezes your eyes shut. “Wow! Congratulations. You’re getting married,” I managed, even though inside I wanted to scream.

He nodded, proud. “I wanted you to be one of the bridesmaids, but Aqua said the spots were already taken,” he added, sounding a little sorry.

Honestly, I was relieved. Standing beside her as a bridesmaid would have been unbearable.

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t stay in that moment any longer. “No problem,” I said, the words scraping out.

He smiled again. “Thanks, Bet. I’ll be expecting you.”

As he walked away, my lips trembled. I had to bite them to keep from calling his name, from begging him not to marry her, from spilling that I loved him.

But I didn’t.

The second he was gone, the tears I’d held back poured out, and I broke down in silence.

I’d dreaded this day for so long, and now it was real.

And here I was, wrapped in nothing but a towel, shattered over a man who was never mine.

The day finally arrived.

I kept my makeup light, just enough to look put-together and hide the redness around my eyes. My hair was already styled; all that remained was to slip into my green dress.

A soft knock came at my door. I turned. “Yes, come in.”

The door opened, and Barnes, my oldest brother, stepped inside.

He looked sharp in his black tuxedo, hair neatly combed back. His green eyes moved over me gently before he came further into the room.

A small smile touched his lips. “You know, if you don’t want to go, you can stay home,” he said quietly. “I’ll tell them you’re not feeling well.”

I shook my head right away.

What would skipping change? They’d still get married. Hiding behind an excuse would only make me feel like a coward, and I hated that idea more than facing the pain.

“I’m fine, really,” I said, trying to pull up a smile.

He nodded, his gaze still steady on me. “Hey,” he murmured, stepping closer and drawing me into a warm, tight hug.

My lips trembled against his shoulder. His kindness almost broke the dam again.

“There are so many guys out there,” he said softly against my hair. “You’ll fall for someone else one day.”

But he didn’t get it.

I didn’t want “someone else.”

I wanted Oliver. Only him.

And deep down, I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel this way about anyone again.

As he pulled away from the hug, I gave a small smile. Barnes cupped my face gently in his hand.

“I’ll be waiting outside,” he said. “We’re almost late.”

I nodded as he turned and left the room.

I looked back at the mirror, at my own reflection. I didn’t look like someone going to a wedding, more like someone heading to a burial.

But maybe that was right. Today I would finally bury the feelings I had for him, the day he would be joined with someone else.

I really hope I can do this, bury my love for the man I truly ever loved.