Matt and Ellie had known each other since the day they were born.

Their parents were inseparable, which meant their childhoods were stitched together with backyard birthdays, road trips, holidays, and endless family dinners. The problem?

They couldn’t stand each other.

Every memory seemed to involve some kind of argument. Sarcastic comments. Competitive glares across the table. Petty teasing that never quite crossed the line but never felt friendly either. If someone asked them, they’d both say the same thing.

They were stuck with each other.

When Ellie was thirteen, everything in her life split in half. Her parents separated, the house grew quiet, and eventually her mom started seeing someone new.

At first, he seemed fine.

Polite. Charming. The kind of man adults praised.

But behind closed doors, he was different.

Cold. Controlling. Cruel in ways that didn’t always leave marks but still made Ellie feel small. Matt noticed before anyone else did. The flinches. The way she avoided going home. The forced smiles at cookouts when the man stood beside her mother.

Matt knew.

He just didn’t know how to fix it.

So when Ellie’s mom announced the engagement, the pit in his stomach never went away.

The wedding arrived faster than anyone expected.

The ceremony was beautiful. Too beautiful for what it really was.

Ellie stood off to the side in a soft brown bridesmaids dress, hair done perfectly, makeup hiding the redness around her eyes. She looked stunning in a quiet, fragile way.

But Matt saw the truth.

Her hands were clenched tightly together. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. And when she thought no one was watching, her gaze drifted toward the exit like she was counting the minutes until it was over.

For once in their entire lives, Matt didn’t make a sarcastic comment.

He walked over quietly and pulled her into his chest.

Ellie froze in surprise before her shoulders sagged against him, like she’d been holding herself together all day.

“You know,” Matt murmured softly above her head, “that dress is dangerously pretty.”

She huffed out a shaky breath. “That’s not a real compliment.”

“It is,” he insisted. “If anyone else in this room was wearing it, it’d just be a dress. But you’re making it look unfair.”

A tiny laugh slipped out before she could stop it.

Matt felt the sound against his chest and tightened his arms just slightly, letting her hide there for a moment longer.

He couldn’t stop the wedding.

But at least, for a few seconds, he could make her forget about it.