Free Groomless - Part 1 by Sierra Rose Page B

made me laugh. Luke had left such a deep imprint on my life, and in our time together, he had made me a better person.
    “You look beautiful,” he said, answering the question I was too afraid to ask, “just stunning.”
    “Thank you. But, uh, t-this dress is a little tight.”
    “A little,” Kate repeated, chiming in with a slight chuckle.
    “I didn’t know you were getting married,” he said.
    “And why would you care, you dream-killing asshole?” Kate snapped, glaring at him.
    I motioned for her to stand down. She knew the entire story and was livid about what he’d done to me, but I didn’t need her to defend my honor.
    I stared at him, and no words would come out of my mouth. I felt flushed, and the room seemed to grow smaller by the second. I’d never seen him look so hurt. I could tell he wanted me to deny her accusation, and I would have, if my lips would have only cooperated.
    My mind flashed back to our kiss at the airport, to the declarations of love that we’d made to each other before he left me. It stung to realize that they were only sweetly worded lies, at least on his part. When my thoughts returned to the present, my heart was literally aching.
    Luke was looking at me, still waiting intently for me to say something.
    I had no idea what to say or how to respond to his presence or Kate’s words, so I opted to shift the attention to him. “I didn’t know you would ever come to New York City.”
    He winked. “My boss was Donald Trump.”
    “So you work in Trump Tower in Manhattan?”
    “I used to. Not anymore though.”
    “A real apprentice for the most famous boss in the world!” the bridal assistant said. “Wow! Have you met him?”
    “Yes, and he’s been a fabulous mentor for me. He taught me how to become an entrepreneur.”
    I tried to keep my hands from shaking, to no avail. “Well, congratulations. Looks like all your dreams came true.”
    He stared at me intensely. “Not all of them.”
    Our eyes locked, but no words were exchanged. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and we stared at each other in disbelief that our paths had crossed right there in New York.
    “Sorry to stare,” he said. “I just didn’t expect to see you in a wedding gown. So, uh…you’re getting married?”
    “You didn’t expect her to sit around here and wait, did you?” Kate said.
    “Of course not.”
    “I drove out here all by myself,” I said. “I went to school here, like I planned. I had a bit of a rocky start, but everything turned out for the best. I’m a fashion photographer now.”
    He gaze darted back to me. “Congratulations on going after your dream as well. You always had a fantastic eye for photography, a real natural.”
    “Yeah…”
    “I’m Julia’s husband,” Zack cut in.
    “Not yet you’re not, mister,” Kate scolded. “You haven’t exchanged vows yet…and I know you haven’t consummated it either,” she said, winking at him.
    He smirked at her, then held out his hand for a shake. “Um, I mean fiancé.”
    Luke shook his hand. “I’m Luke. It’s nice to meet you, and I wish the both of you the best of luck. Julia and I grew up together. She’s an amazing person, as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, but I’m sure you already know that.”
    “I do, and we’re gonna enjoy a long and happy life together,” Zack said. “I knew it the second I kissed her. She kisses like a sweet angel.”
    I motioned to Kate. “Um, this is my roommate, Kate.”
    She waved and immediately dropped the scowl from her face. “Hey!”
    Zack wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close, being so dramatic he had to be in line for an Oscar. “When I see this beautiful vision standing here in the dress she’s going to wear on our wedding day, it just makes me want to cry.”
    When he awkwardly tried to give me a fake kiss, I softly elbowed him. Zack was an awesome, sought-after model, but he was not great at acting and improve, and he was far too grossed out at