Your hands tremble as you look at yourself in the mirror—veil perfectly pinned, dress flawless. You should feel ready. Instead, your heart is racing like a warning bell in your chest.

The knock at the door is soft.

You expect your mom. Or Sarah. Or Topper.

You don’t expect Rafe.

You freeze.

“Don’t marry him…” he says, barely above a whisper, his voice thick with emotion.

You turn slowly. “Rafe… what are you doing here?”

He takes a breath. “Don’t marry him…”

Your throat tightens. “All those people out there are waiting for me—”

“Yes, they’re—” he steps forward, eyes locked on yours, “but they also want you to be happy, which you’re not going to be if you go through with this…” His voice cracks. “Tell me I’m wrong and I’ll leave.” Silence. “You can’t. Because it should be us up there and you know it.”

You back up a step, struggling to breathe. “It isn’t that simple.”

“It’s only that simple,” he says, with that desperate fire you remember so well. “You told me you love me. I know it was true.”

You blink through tears. “It is… of course I love you, Rafe. I’ve always loved you. I love you more and more every day… if it’s even possible to love someone that much.”

You stare at him. This is the boy who once shattered you. The boy you never stopped loving.

But then there’s Topper. Waiting at the altar. Safe. Loyal. Everything Rafe never was.

Your name echoes from down the hallway.

“Are you ready?” someone calls.

You look at Rafe. And then down at your ring.

You don’t know what you’re about to do. But you know your heart’s no longer quiet.