Page 70 of A Little Bit Engaged
She wasn’t a real bride. She wasn’t going to be one. Not anytime soon.
All of this was fake.
But staring at her reflection, she knew…
Being a real bride—Brody’s bride—was what she wanted. To marry her best friend.
Somehow, she needed to stop pretending and go after what she wanted, except…
Cara had been pretending for years. Always doing and being what her sister and parents needed. Brody, too. Never doing what Cara needed or wanted.
This couldn’t continue.
Not the wedding charade.
Not denying her needs and what she wanted.
Not taking any chances.
She had to change, but how? Could she do it?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
At the wedding rehearsal on Thursday, the Bay View House staff outnumbered the guests. Only Brody’s family, his agent, Matthias, and his personal assistant, Ainsley, were in attendance. Tomorrow—their supposed wedding day—more of his friends were expected. Cara was happy they had stuck by Brody despite the bad press. She wished she could say the same of her friends.
On her side of the aisle, there would only be a handful of people—Geoff and her coworkers from Cassandra’s Attic. They were the only people left in Cara’s circle of acquaintances, her only remaining friends. Her parents hadn’t bothered with an RSVP. And Caitlin…
A For Sale sign hung in the window of the condo Cara had called home these past three years. At what point would Caitlin allow things to go back to normal?
Cara guessed never.
Which was why last night and earlier today, Cara had put off talking to Brody. Instead, she’d submitted more resumes to libraries, some with openings and others without, across the state and country. Until she knew what would happen with Brody after they “broke up,” she had to keep searching for a job. That was the responsible thing to do.
Safer than telling him how she felt, too. Tomorrow…
The charade would end.
They had debated who should be the one left at the altar. Cara had wanted to be the no show so people wouldn’t think she was trapping Brody. He was fine with being jilted, but he worried her dumping him could vilify Cara with his fans. She would be better off in the long run being the victim. That would allow her to gain sympathy so she could rebuild her reputation. They’d decided to do that.
After brunch, she would arrive at The Bay View House to have her hair and makeup done. She would put on her magical dress and then wait for her groom to arrive. Except Brody wouldn’t show up.
Cold feet.
Regrets.
A change of heart.
So many reasons existed, but the statement released to the media by his spokesperson would be vaguely worded. The public and media would be asked to respect their privacy at this difficult time. An announcement about her “miscarriage” would occur later.
The plan seemed doable, and she had no doubt she could play the role of the jilted bride.
Tears came easily these days, so she wouldn’t have to pretend to be upset about being left at the altar. She was sure there would be ugly crying, none of it faked, but as a pregnant bride with no groom to marry, she would eventually be forgiven for her role in the scandal, according to Brody’s publicist.
“Since everyone is here, let’s run through how this will work tomorrow.” Sariah wore a slim skirt and button-down blouse. “It won’t take long.”
Cara stared at the last row of white chairs. She would walk down the aisle alone.
No biggie. She was twenty-eight and not a real bride. This was only a rehearsal. Tomorrow, the pretending would stop. This would all be over.
