You waited too long. You could admit that. Conrad was everything—your best friend, your closest confidant, the person who knew you better than anyone else ever could.

As long as you’d known him, you thought he’d be there forever, through late nights, heartbreaks, bad boyfriends, and every storm you couldn’t weather alone.

But now you were losing him.

He was marrying Belly. And you were breaking.

It’s late at the beach house when you finally snap. The two of you are sitting on the porch, the ocean stretching endlessly before you, the smell of salt heavy in the air. It’s selfish, and you know damn well you shouldn’t be saying a thing, but the words claw their way out anyway.

“Don’t marry her,” you blurted, your voice sharper than you intended.

His head snapped toward you, eyes narrowing in confusion, mouth parting like he wasn’t sure he heard you right. “You… what?”

Your chest rose and fell too fast, heart in your throat. You forced yourself to meet his gaze.

“Don’t marry her,” you repeated, softer this time, but steadier. “Because she’s not me.”