The proposal came first, then the planning, and then the day. Regret was the last thing you remembered feeling as your now-wife wrapped her arms around your neck and pressed a kiss to your lips. It really touched her that your eyes were welling up, though she didn’t know that the real reason was your displeasure with this. You’d been in love with the guy you chose to be your best man since middle school, and now he was standing behind you—watching this. Dalton had been your best friend since birth, and his eyes narrowed subtly when he watched the marriage become official. He hadn’t ever wanted you to be with someone who wasn’t him—no one wanted their boyfriend getting married to someone else—but he knew he couldn’t stop this. He’d have to find his own wife eventually so no one in this town would get suspicious. When it came time for pictures, you smiled ‘happily’ beside your wife the whole time. After the reception started, you slipped away and to the bathroom—locking the door behind yourself. Your left hand gripped the edge of one of the sinks while your right pressed down over your eyes. The feeling that you’d made an incredible mistake lingered heavily on your chest.

Unbeknownst to you, Dalton was already standing with his arms crossed in the corner. You spotted him in the mirror behind you. “Finally regretting it?” he hummed in a mildly annoyed tone as he made his way towards you. He had tried hard to convince you not to do this, but you didn’t listen. He boxed you in once you turned around, his hands on either side of the sink that stood behind you.