After His Sister Gave the Bouquet, I Gave Her the Bride

Halfway through my wedding to my fianc, his old friends interrupted to come up and present gifts.

When it was his female buddy's turn, she pulled a bridal bouquet out of her bag, made from a used lace bra.

The crowd whooped, their eyes darting between the two of them with knowing looks.

The stuff on here is left over from when Rob was eighteen. I saved it all this time just to give it to you today.

My whole body went rigid. My fianc didn't explain a thing. He just gave a helpless little smile.

I made no move to take it, and she stood there, still holding it out.

Robert looked displeased.

"Maya, Stella Matthews and I have known each other for over twenty years. If there were really anything going on, would it even be your turn to worry? Have some sense."

I dropped my eyes and said nothing.

Back when his female buddy spread the rumor that I was the third wheel, he said she just liked to joke around, and told me to be sensible.

Later, when she clung to him every night to sleep beside him, he said it was just habit, and told me to be sensible.

Even when someone asked him why he liked me, all he said, flatly, was:

"She's sensible."

But today, I didn't want to be sensible anymore.

I tore off my veil and shoved it into his female buddy's arms.

"Consider it a gift in return. The bride's spot is yours."

...

Stella clutched the veil, a flicker of triumph in her eyes, then pretended to look troubled.

"Maya, Rob and I are just buddies. See, now you've misunderstood again."

"It's such a happy day, don't make a scene. Don't give everyone something to laugh at."

I ignored her. I slipped the ring off my finger and handed that over too.

"I'll get you the gown in a minute. If you'd rather, you can just wear the one you prepared yourself."

I gave a smile that wasn't a smile. The day I bought that dress, Stella had insisted on tagging along, saying she could help me pick.

But once we got there, she not only introduced herself as the bride, she fought me for the very style I liked.

And of course Robert took her side.

"She's anxious because no one will marry her. Maya, you're the sensible one, don't hold it against her."

At that, Stella started roughhousing with him in the shop, and as she leaned closer, the look between them turned into something else.

I just stood off to the side, watching Robert swallow, watching the color rise in Stella's cheeks.

They were clearly past the line of friendship, and yet I wasn't allowed to be angry.

Every time I lost my temper over Stella, Robert had the same line:

"We're just buddies. Aren't you the sensible one?"

...

Once I'd said my piece, I didn't bother watching how the guests reacted. I gathered up my skirt to head for the dressing room.

Robert realized I meant it and grabbed my arm in time.

"Maya, all these people are watching. Stop this, all right?"

His brows drew together, and before I could get a word out, Stella whined:

"Rob, don't be harsh with Maya."

"Maya, let me set him straight for you."

With that she swung a fist, only to trip on the step and pitch straight into Robert's arms, where he caught her neatly.

The next second, his friends clapped and cheered, ribbing them.

"There goes Stella with the same old trick. She doesn't want Rob getting married."

Stella didn't get up. She laughed and shot back:

"We're buddies. He promised he'd keep me company, so how can he go marrying first?"

My fingers curled in. I pulled my gaze away and took the chance to leave.

As the dressing room door shut behind me, all the fight drained out of me and I sank onto the couch.

Today wasn't the first wedding Robert and I had tried. We'd held nearly ten of them, and every time we reached the crucial moment, something went wrong.

Stella always found some reason or another to call Robert away.

And I had finally seen it clearly. What wasn't mine, I shouldn't go begging for.

I'd changed and was about to slip out first, but at the door I ran straight into Robert.

He looked me up and down, his face dark.

"Maya, when did you turn so unreasonable?"

"Stella's out there toasting your friends and family for you. She saved you a lot of embarrassment. You'd better thank her properly later."

I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes going red before I could stop them.

"Robert, if Stella's so wonderful, then go marry her. Haven't I already handed the spot over?"

"I really was a fool. It took until today for me to see the two of you for the pair of dogs you are."

Robert froze for a few seconds, whether because it was the first time I'd shouted at him, or because of the tears at the corners of my eyes.

Not that any of it mattered to me anymore.

I'd taken one step when he snapped out of it and had someone block my way.

"Maya, since you won't be sensible, then you can watch with your own eyes while Stella and I do the ceremony."

I couldn't break free, and had to be dragged along to the front hall.

Stella had already changed into her toasting dress and was leaning down to listen to Mrs. Sanchez.

To humiliate me, Robert had deliberately seated me at his family's table.

Mrs. Sanchez didn't spare me so much as a glance.

"I said all along this outsider wouldn't do. Nothing like Stella. I watched her grow up, and she's the daughter-in-law I'm happiest with."

A mocking smile tugged at my mouth. I turned my head away and pretended not to hear.

Stella was the picture of sweetness, throwing me a taunting look.

Robert led her over to stand in front of me.

"Stella went out of her way to help you. Hurry up and give her a toast."

Slowly, I stood with the glass in my hand, then threw it over Stella without a moment's hesitation.

"Thank you."

The scene dissolved into chaos. Her dress had been sheer to begin with, and now, soaked, her chest was on full display.

Robert scrambled out of his jacket and threw it over her.

"Maya Swanson, you've gone too far."

He rammed his shoulder into mine, hard, while everyone else looked ready to eat me alive.

I let out a breath and took the microphone.

"A word of advice, everyone. Stay away from cliques. As for this wedding, I'm the one calling it off. I'm not marrying Robert Sanchez."

I called a car home. As expected, the wedding fiasco was already all over town.

I stood in the doorway and looked around. The place was full of Stella, every corner marked with something that belonged to her.

When Robert and I first got together, I only knew he had a few childhood friends. I never expected one of them would be a woman.

Back then Stella showed up uninvited, and she settled onto Robert's lap like it was nothing.

"You must be Maya. I'm Rob's best friend."

A woman's instinct is rarely wrong. I could feel how much hostility Stella had toward me.

After that, wherever Robert and I went, she came along. Every outing for two turned into three.

"Maya, Stella and I grew up together, we've never been apart. It's just one more person. Don't mind it."

It took me a while to come back to myself.

We'd bought this place together, once. Because I loved Robert, I'd bitten my tongue again and again.

But now, I didn't want to anymore.

I called a renovation company to come remake the whole place. Once it was done, Robert came back with Stella and the rest of them.

"Rob, and the bride, we've got plenty of games lined up for the wedding night. Better be ready."

I stood across from them, meeting their eyes.

Robert noticed the change first. "Who told you to renovate?"

I turned around, my voice cold.

"I don't want any trace of anyone else in this house. And I don't need anyone's permission."

In front of Robert I'd always been gentle and easygoing. What he never knew was that I'd tamped down my real nature only because I loved him.

Robert started to say something, but Stella cut in.

"Maya, since I stood in for you at the wedding today, I'll take the wedding night for you too. No need to thank me."

The words were barely out before Stella hooked a finger in Robert's belt and pulled him toward the stairs.

Maybe to spite me on purpose, Robert didn't even shut the door.

The sounds got louder and louder. I meant to go out, but my feet were rooted to the floor, and I couldn't move.

When it was finally over and everyone had gone, Robert came down bare from the waist up, covered in red marks.

Seeing me stare straight at him, he looked a little smug.

"Maya, as long as you behave, I can throw you another wedding. But if you don't know your place, you're the only one who gets hurt."

Looking up at him standing there above me, I suddenly gagged, and ran into the bathroom and threw up.

Stella slept in our master bedroom. I watched Robert throw my things out of it with my own eyes.

I knew he was sulking at me. Any other day, I'd have gone right up and coaxed him, groveling. But today I just waited until he finished, then quietly picked everything up.

The gasping came from the room all night. I put in my earbuds to shut it out, but my heart still couldn't help stinging.

The next morning, Robert was taking Stella back to the Sanchez house.

As they were getting ready to leave, I'd already bought a ticket to France and was reading through a travel guide.

"You're going on a trip?"

I hadn't heard Robert come up behind me, and now he stood there, staring at my screen without blinking.

I shook my head. "I'm leaving."

Stella and I spoke at the same moment, and Robert's attention was pulled to her. He didn't catch what I said.

"What did you say?"

I stayed quiet. He went on.

"You're coming too. Stella may be my wife in name for now, but you still need to win my mother over. How else do you expect to marry into this family? Watch Stella and learn something."

I refused. It didn't matter. Robert forced me to come along anyway.

On the drive, Stella chattered nonstop, pointing at the trees and grass outside the window and reminiscing.

Robert answered every single line, even though he hated talking while he drove.

"Rob, do you remember that park? When we were kids we played house, and you insisted on being the dad and told me I had to be the mom. You said you'd marry me when we grew up. Who'd have thought it would actually come true."

I pressed my lips together, and happened to catch Robert watching my reaction in the rearview mirror.

Only when he saw my blank face did he chime in.

"Of course I remember. We were closest back then. You were my favorite."

When we reached the Sanchez house, I followed the two of them inside.

Mrs. Sanchez saw Stella and couldn't stop smiling. She slipped the jade bracelet off her wrist to put it on her.

"Stella, I've dreamed of Rob bringing you home as his bride. This is our family heirloom, passed only to a Sanchez daughter-in-law. Today it's yours."

Stella glanced at me as if by accident, took it, turned it over in her hand, then held it out to me.

"Maya, I'm just a stand-in. This was given to you. Go on, take it."

Mrs. Sanchez let out a cold snort and pulled Stella's arm toward her.

"Stella, I don't care who the bride was. You're the one who finished the ceremony with Rob. This bracelet belongs to you. Now be good and keep it."

Stella put on a reluctant show, pretending to resist while giving in, until Robert spoke up.

"If Mom's giving it to you, keep it. You've been walking off with my things your whole life and never once looked embarrassed about it."

Stella stuck out her tongue.

I lowered my eyes. What a cozy little family of three, if only I weren't in the picture.

At dinner, dish after dish came to the table, and one glance told me they were all Stella's favorites.

I'm from the North. I can't handle spicy food. She, on the other hand, can't eat anything without heat.

Robert came out last, carrying a plate of boiled spinach that he set down in front of me.

"I know you can't eat any of that. But after all these years we're all used to Stella's taste. I made this specially for you."

I gave a small laugh.

"Robert, do you think I'm supposed to be so touched that I throw my arms around you, tell you I was wrong, beg your forgiveness, amazed that you love me this much?"

He didn't say anything, but his face said it all.

"You seem to have forgotten. I don't eat vegetables."

The smile froze at the corner of his mouth.

Stella noticed. She patted Robert's shoulder, and the two of them sat down one after the other.

I barely touched my chopsticks the whole time. Robert was busy shelling shrimp for Stella, even though he's badly allergic. Red welts had already come up along his neck.

Afterward we didn't go home. We went to a bar instead, where Robert's friends had put together a party.

He clearly wanted me to squirm, so he forced me to come along too.

Robert and Stella took the couch. I found some corner and sat down.

"Rob, what's it like, marrying one of the guys?"

Robert smoked his cigar and said nothing. Stella grabbed a throw pillow and tossed it at him.

"Don't talk nonsense. Maya's right here. Ours is only pretend. If Maya gets upset, Rob's the one who'll have to smooth it over."

Hearing her bring me up, everyone wore a different expression. I was the only calm one.

Only today did I realize that letting go of someone takes just a moment.

Less than five days before I was set to leave, things between me and Robert eased up a little.

My change caught him off guard. He thought I'd finally come around.

"Maya, you've changed. If you'd been like this sooner, I'd never have had the heart to ignore you."

I gave him a small smile. "Then I'll be like this from now on. Would that be good?"

I hadn't smiled at him in a very long time. Robert went dizzy at the sight of it, and before he could stop himself he leaned in to kiss me.

Stella appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Rob, I think there's a bug in my room. I'm scared. Come help me catch it."

Robert stepped back and went up to her without a second thought.

Watching this, Stella walked slowly over to my side.

"Maya, I like Robert. You know that, don't you?"

"And he doesn't see me as just a friend either. Otherwise, on a day as important as his wedding to you, how could a few words from me pull him away?"

"I'll be honest with you. Mrs. Sanchez wants the two of us to turn the pretense into something real, and Rob hasn't refused. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave on your own."

I stared at her for several seconds, then couldn't help shaking my head and laughing.

"Stella, I really do feel sorry for you. You like him, but you don't dare say it, so all you can do is cling to him as one of the guys. But don't worry. He's trash. I have no interest in fighting you over him."

Stella shook all over with rage. She left me with a "We'll see about that."

At dinner she refused to come down. I sat at the table and ate like nothing was wrong.

Robert coaxed and pleaded, but she wouldn't budge. Finally, at his wit's end,

"Maya, Stella won't come to dinner because she thinks you don't like her. Go and apologize to her."

I stopped mid-motion, my eyes going wide, unable to believe what I'd just heard.

In the end, I gave in anyway.

Stella pouted again and asked Robert to take her out, on the condition that he not bring me.

To make her happy, Robert agreed to all of it.

"Maya, once I'm back this time I'll hold a new wedding for you. Just be good and wait for me at home."

I'd meant to leave with him, but then it occurred to me: wouldn't it be far more interesting if I ran out on the wedding instead?

I sneered inside, kept it off my face, and nodded sweetly. "Don't worry. I won't get jealous over Stella anymore. She's one of your buddies, after all."

Robert pulled me into his arms the way he always did. I choked down my disgust and didn't push him off.

Stella narrowed her eyes, her chest heaving fast.

I stayed home, watching the gloating photos Stella sent me every day.

Robert took her all over the place, filming plenty of cozy little videos.

After they got back, he threw himself into the wedding arrangements.

Mrs. Sanchez wasn't happy about it, but she couldn't talk him out of it.

Our friends were even more baffled.

"What is Rob even thinking? If he really likes Maya, why would he keep ditching her for Stella? And if you say he likes Stella, then why is he holding another wedding with Maya?"

This time Robert really did seem invested, handling everything himself, making it grand.

On the day, the familiar faces arrived one after another.

Once again I sat in the waiting room, and Stella looked at me coldly.

"Maya, do you think Rob will drop you for me all over again in a little while?"

I brushed a strand of hair back. This time, who dropped whom was anyone's guess.

When it was my turn to walk out, Stella went in a step ahead of me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Rob, I like you. Please, don't marry Maya, all right?"

Robert's mouth fell open. And then the makeup artist came rushing in in a panic.

"This is bad. The bride is gone."