I Sat Trapped In The Wedding Car For One Whole Hour Chapter 02
Savannah’s words hung in the air. Nobody spoke.
Ethan’s voice dropped as he looked at me. “Well? What do you think?”
I couldn’t believe it. “You seriously need me to answer that?”
The air turned sharp. Savannah grabbed my arm, her eyes
already reddening. Her expression changed instantly, and her voice became fragile.
“Hazel, don’t be mad. I know it’s not about the spotlight. You
just hate how much time Ethan spends with me. But come
on. You know me. I would never, ever go after my best friend’s guy.”
I looked at Savannah. In that moment, a sharp, hot ache spread through my chest.
Sophomore year, Savannah walked in on her friend at a
motel with her boyfriend. After the breakup, she locked
herself in her dorm and skipped every class. I was the one
who stayed with her, took care of her, and slowly pulled her
out of that dark place. And now, this was how she thanked me.
Ethan grabbed Savannah before she could walk away.
Whatever hesitation he’d had was gone the second she started crying.
“Hazel Murray, it’s just a dress. Do you really have to make things this ugly?”
My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms. One wedding, two brides. If this ceremony actually happened, did he realize how painful and unforgettable this moment would become?
No. He’d thought about it. He just didn’t care.
I watched his back as he went to get the gown, then turned and walked straight into the house.
When I was setting up the house, I’d placed a pearl necklace in the master bedroom nightstand. It was an heirloom from my grandmother. I was taking it back.
But the moment I stepped inside, I froze.
Our wedding portraits which I’d framed and hung on the walls, were gone. Replaced by hideous abstract paintings with twisted shapes.
The bed that should have been covered in rose petals and ribbon was a complete disaster.
From the drapes to the furniture, nothing was what I’d spent months carefully choosing.
Ethan’s mother shuffled in awkwardly and started fixing the bed. “Savannah said you young people don’t do wedding portraits anymore. And she said blackout drapes are best for sleep. They’ll help you and Ethan rest better.”
I stared at the rose petals and ribbon scattered across the floor–what was left of the bed I’d decorated for our wedding night. I cut her off. “They slept in this bed last night?”
His mother shook her head quickly. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Ethan knows his boundaries. He slept in the guest room.”
I let out a cold, quiet laugh. If he really had boundaries, he never would have let Savannah sleep in here at all.
I looked around. This house, from the bare drywall to every piece of decor, was something I’d built after work and on weekends, scraping it together before the wedding.
Ethan had once told me, “Hazel, this house is in your name. You’ll always be its only owner.”
And now, a few words from Savannah had erased all of it.
Thankfully, the master bedroom furniture hadn’t been touched. I found the necklace and headed out.
In the living room, a few kids had crowded around Savannah, who was now wearing the wedding gown. They stretched out their little hands, voices high and sweet.
Are you the princess? You’re so pretty! Do you have candy?”
The kids were too young to know better. They just assumed the person in the dress was the bride. The guests burst out laughing at the mix–up.
I thought Ethan would correct them. Instead, he turned around, grabbed a handful of candy, and pressed it into Savannah’s hand. She looked down, shy and flustered.
He gestured for her to give it to the kids, then bent down and coaxed them. “You got your treats. What do you say?”
The kids beamed and shouted in unison. “Thank you, pretty bride!”
The kids kept giggling and saying it, and Ethan’s eyes crinkled with delight. Savannah lowered her head, looking embarrassed by the attention.
I grabbed the train of my dress and kept walking, my face completely blank.
Ethan called after me. “Where are you going? We haven’t finished photos.”
lifted my gaze to meet his, my voice cold and cutting. “It’s ten–fifty. By the time you and Savannah finish photos, there won’t be a single person left at the chapel.”