Chapter 5: The Final Confrontation

The car sped along, the radio playing softly in the background. I stared out the window, watching the world rush by in streaks of gray and gold, my mind replaying every moment, every lie. My fingers traced the edge of my seat, searching for something solid in the whirlwind of loss.

Arriving at the hotel entrance, valet parking attendants moved briskly, and the lobby buzzed with wedding planners arranging floral bouquets. Before getting out, I saw today's bridesmaids and groomsmen—mutual friends of Tyler and me. After all these years together, our social circles have long since merged; there's no distinction between us.

They stood not far away, waving at us. But I didn't move. Tyler didn't move either.

Maybe sensing something was wrong, I saw their smiles fade into confusion from a distance. One of the bridesmaids leaned over to whisper to another, and a groomsman pulled out his phone, glancing between us and the hotel doors.

Tyler seemed to sense it too. He lowered his head, gripping the steering wheel tightly, refusing to open the door.

I sneered, forcefully turning his chin to make him look at them, the gesture echoing a shared joke from college days when I'd tease him for being shy.

"Tyler, have you thought about how to explain this to them?"

He was forced to look over, his gaze meeting our friends. I watched his jaw clench, his eyes darting between the faces of people who had been part of our story for years. The weight of their expectations, their shared memories, seemed to press down on him, making his hands tremble against the leather steering wheel.