4: 4
We had barely stepped into the bridal shop when the clerk spotted Maggie and broke into a wide smile.
"Miss Cox, you're back! Here to try on gowns with your boyfriend again?"
"That mermaid style last time looked gorgeous on you. We just got a few new arrivals in today, would you like to—"
Then she noticed me.
"And this is...?"
Maggie laughed.
"Oh, this is Curtis's fiancée. I'm just tagging along today to help her look."
Curtis said nothing.
So he'd already brought her here before.
I thought back to our video call last month.
I'd shown him the gowns I'd saved online and asked which one he liked.
He hadn't lifted his eyes from his screen.
"Whatever you want is fine."
I'd asked when we could go to the shop to try them on.
He'd said we'd figure it out later.
So his "later" had meant coming here with someone else.
Maggie looped her arm through mine.
"What are you spacing out for, sis?"
"Today's all about you. I'm still waiting to drink at your and Curtis's wedding."
She turned to the clerk.
"Could you pull a few that would suit her? Nothing fancy."
The clerk glanced at me and grabbed one at random.
"This basic style is lovely too. Want to try it?"
Maggie pushed it into my hands and steered me toward the fitting room.
The fabric strained across me, the cut all wrong, the waistline sitting too high.
When I stepped out—
Someone snorted.
I don't know who laughed first.
"She looks like a chubby melon..."
"You know what, she kind of does."
"This is really Mr. Harding's girlfriend? For real?"
"She's nothing compared to Miss Cox."
Their eyes drifted to Maggie.
The corners of her mouth curled up, like she was laughing at me for not knowing my place.
Just then, someone walked in.
The moment he saw Curtis and Maggie, he hurried over:
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Harding! I was just wondering when I'd get you and Miss Cox in here."
"The weather's perfect today. Why don't the two of you do a proposal?"
His smile turned eager.
"We've been short on proposal shots lately. You two just stand by that backdrop wall, and the effect would be—"
People started egging them on.
"Do it, do it!"
Maggie's smile turned sly.
"Curtis, since everyone's saying it, why don't you propose to me? It's just for fun anyway."
Curtis stood in front of her, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Like he was caught up in the mood, like she'd left him no choice.
He went down on one knee.
She reached out her hand, laughing.
Around them, people clapped and cheered and snapped photos.
I turned and walked back to the fitting room.
Changed into my own clothes.
By the time I came out again, the room had gone quiet.
Curtis's brow furrowed at once:
"Anna, can you just—"
I cut him off.
"Curtis, let's break up."
A moment passed.
His expression went from stunned to furious.
"Anna, you're getting more and more out of line!"
"You think breaking up is some game? Do you need the whole world to bend to you before you're satisfied?"
I looked at him.
When we first got together, he used to call me at three in the morning.
Back then his eyes only saw me.
Now his eyes held everything except me.
"Whatever. I'm leaving."
I walked to the front desk, my voice low:
"Hi, I'd like to cancel a wedding scheduled for three months from now."
She paused. "You are...?"
"Anna Sawyer. September twentieth, the Grandview Hotel."
She checked her computer. "Are you sure? The reception deposit has already been paid..."
"I'm sure."
I pushed the door open and walked out.
The sky had gone dark by the time I got back to the apartment.
I packed as fast as I could.
And boarded a plane to Ashford.
That night.
Curtis came back to the apartment with Maggie.
Something felt off.
Anna's things were all gone.
Was she really leaving?
His thumb hovered over the message box.
Before he could type anything, a call came through.
"Hello, Mr. Harding. We received notice from Ms. Sawyer today that she wants to cancel the wedding booking scheduled for three months from now. Is it off, then?"
