3: 3
I let out a mocking little laugh.
"An accident? A hacker who somehow knew which complex I live in, which building, which floor? What a coincidence."
"Ruby, I made myself perfectly clear last night. You can cover for him with no bottom line, but I'm under no obligation to. Call off the wedding. We're through."
Ruby froze for a moment, then flushed with anger.
"I already told you, Cole had no idea. Nothing even happened to you. Do you really have to blow it up like this?"
"Instead of blaming an innocent person, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself. Maybe you're just so difficult to deal with that you've made an enemy somewhere. Otherwise why would they only forward your photos and not his?"
"The wedding's in five days. The invitations are already out. Cancel now, and even if you have no shame, the Hensons still do!"
Something seemed to occur to her, and she gave a scornful snort.
"Terry, we're both operating in Metro City, and in this circle reputation is everything. Break off the engagement for no reason right before the wedding, and aren't you afraid you'll drag your parents' name through the mud, that no one will ever dare do business with the Hardings again? Take my advice. Quit while you're ahead."
Before I could say a word, Cole called her on video.
"Ruby, babe, we're here, why aren't you down yet? You promised you'd come pick out a suit with me today. Ditch me and Daddy here won't be showing up to your wedding."
Ruby panicked at once. "No, if you're not at the wedding I might as well not have one. Wait right there, I'm coming down."
I watched her head for the door and asked, "Weren't we going to pick out the guest favors together today?"
Ruby paused, then frowned.
"A little thing like that, you can handle it on your own."
"Oh, right. Everyone else's doesn't matter, but Cole is my best guy friend. His favor has to be expensive enough. It has to hit him right in the heart."
"I sent you a picture of that diamond watch he likes. Go buy it today. On the wedding day it'll be a surprise for him. You pay for it. Consider it your apology to him."
She'd been gone only a few minutes.
Then Cole updated his social feed. Look at the face my best girl gives me!
There, in front of the passenger seat that used to be mine and mine alone, was a new decal in fancy script.
Reserved for my man Cole. No losers allowed.
At the same time, Ruby sent over the photo of the watch Cole liked.
I took one look and laughed.
I'd never heard of a bride wanting her groom to prepare a surprise for her best guy friend at their own wedding.
A limited-edition diamond watch worth nearly ten million, and she'd actually said it to my face.
Fine. If she was so set on having this wedding, I'd give her one.
I wanted to see exactly who ended up humiliated.
I opened that familiar profile and sent over the wedding venue and time.
Didn't you say you wanted to marry me?
I'm giving you the chance.
...
That night, my childhood friend Owen Mason called.
He'd booked a private room and rounded up a few of the guys to throw me a bachelor party.
Partway through, one of them came back from the restroom and sat down next to me with a strange look on his face, and said quietly, "Terry, I think I just saw your fiancee Ruby next door."
"Don't know if she's had too much to drink or mistook Cole for you. The two of them looked pretty close. You'd better go take a look."
Owen was sitting close and caught it.
We traded a glance, told the others to keep drinking, and slipped out with an excuse.
We got to the door of the room next door and found it slightly ajar.
And what was going on inside was a lot more than close.
The guy had just been softening it to spare my feelings.
Ruby was sitting on Cole's lap, half undressed, the two of them locked in a kiss neither one wanted to break.
They didn't come apart for a full five minutes, both of them flushed and breathless when they did.
Those girlfriends of theirs shrieked and egged them on.
"Wow, that was a real one. If that killjoy Terry were here, no telling how mad he'd get, hahaha..."
"Please. It was only for Ruby's sake that we bothered being civil to him yesterday. Doesn't he know Cole always comes first with Ruby? Who does he think he is, going after Cole."
"Right? Ever since he showed up we've had to talk in a separate little chat every time. So annoying."
I laughed at myself. So it turned out they'd never accepted me at all.
One of them looked at Ruby. "Ruby, you're really going to give the real wedding ring to Cole and put a fake one on Terry? Aren't you scared he'll be furious if he finds out?"
Cole toyed with the diamond ring on his ring finger and gave a sneering laugh.
"Scared of what? It's been like this every time. That idiot always gets sweet-talked right back into line, doesn't he?"
"My Ruby says all her money is going to Daddy here. Certain morons only deserve a ten-dollar knockoff~"
