All Chapters of Notes from a Broken Future: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I declined the call.A second later, Mom texted.[You graduate in one week. You said if you weren't married by then, you'd let me set you up.][Think it over. Then call me back.]After I started college, Mom never got over the average school I'd ended up at.She believed it happened because I hadn't followed her plan.So, to stop me from ruining the rest of my life, she decided to arrange my marriage.She'd brought it up a million times over the past four years.And I'd said no every time.But Joshua's parents didn't allow dating while he was in school.So we hid everything from our families.Our relationship.Our apartment.Of course, I never dared tell Mom I already had a boyfriend.Or that we'd promised to get married after graduation.I'd been so sure I would marry Joshua.So when Mom said, "If you're still not married after graduation, you'll do what I say," I'd agreed like it was nothing.Gwen had already slipped into the kitchen and taken her place beside Joshua

The front door opened.Then closed.After that, nothing.Not a sound.Joshua had left.Even knowing I'd heard everything, he still chose to leave with Gwen.I picked up my phone.A new friend request had come through.Mom had sent me his profile.So this was the man she wanted me to marry.I accepted the request and immediately typed out the truth:[My mom is married to Luke Landon, but he's not my biological father. He's my stepdad.][My real dad got violent when he drank. When I was six, my mom got together with Luke. After the divorce, she didn't take custody of me.][Later, my dad got drunk again and drove me to see her. He died in the crash. I lost a kidney because of that accident.][And I lived with my boyfriend for four years.][If you're okay with all that, then we can talk about the setup.]I wasn't trying to scare him off.I just didn't want to hide anything from a man who might end up being my husband.Besides, with baggage like that, I figured no one woul

He remembered the first note.He'd written it seriously four years ago.After graduation, he would marry Nellie.That had been his biggest wish.But the second note was soaked in regret.It said if he could do it over, he never would've lived with her before marriage.The third was worse.It said he wanted a divorce.It even called Gwen his true love.Those two notes were dated six years in the future.Ridiculous.Joshua almost laughed.No—this was completely insane.He snapped a picture and sent it to Nellie.[This joke isn't funny. Don't you think it's ridiculous?]Still nothing.Joshua was done with the silent treatment.He crossed the street and headed for Nellie's medical school.The graduation party was still going.He found her class and looked everywhere.No Nellie.Panic started creeping in.He stopped a girl who looked familiar. "Excuse me. You're Nellie's friend, right?"The girl looked at him like he'd lost it. "I am. Who are you?"Joshua let out a b

Cole wrapped an arm around my shoulders and eased me away from Joshua.Melinda clicked her tongue. "Joshua, how old are you? Still this reckless? Dinner's over, and you're only just getting back. Where were you?"But Joshua kept staring at me.Then at Cole's arm around me."Let go." He was still catching his breath. "I said let go. She's my girlfriend."Melinda's smile froze.I slid my arm through Cole's. "This is my husband, Cole."Joshua's eyes burned, full of anger. "I know you're mad at me."I messed up. I shouldn't have brought Gwen back to our place, and I shouldn't have..."He stopped."Whatever. Be mad if you want, but you can't just marry some random guy."I wanted to tell him Cole wasn't random.But I didn't feel like explaining.I turned to Melinda, who looked painfully awkward, and smiled."We should go. We'll visit again sometime."Then I got in the car and left.Joshua tried to stop us, but Melinda grabbed his shirt.In the rearview mirror, I couldn't hea

Joshua didn't seem to be home.Michael and Melinda quickly welcomed us in.Melinda grabbed my mom's hand, both of them smiling their way through small talk.I didn't know if my mom knew what Melinda really thought.I just knew watching them perform was exhausting.Gwen greeted me first."It's been six months. You've changed a lot."She wasn't wrong.My hair was longer now.Money really did change things.I'd only lived with Cole for six months, but I was finally getting the care I needed.I'd filled out.I looked healthier.I smiled politely. "You've changed too."The bright, confident woman I remembered was gone.Her golden curls were gone, replaced by short black hair.Six months pregnant, she barely looked like the dazzling woman I'd first met.Joshua didn't come downstairs until dinner.He looked surprised to see me.He froze on the stairs.Gwen walked over, took his hand, and led him to the table.He pulled away and sat right across from me.During dinner, he