Chapter 1 Hello?

“Shit, no.”

It just slipped out, loud enough that Lily snapped her head up from her favorite book.

Our chill Saturday vibe? Officially dead.

“What’s wrong, babe?” she asked.

Instead anwering, I just shoved my phone to her face. The screen showed a fancy digital wedding invitation covered in elegant script and floral decorations.

Lily squinted. “It’s just a wedding invitation. Since when do you hate happy couples?”

"Look at the sender," I groaned, collapsing into the couch like my soul left my body. "My cousin. Dad's side."

She read it and her whole face shifted. “Oh.”

Yeah. She got it immediately.

She knew exactly who they were. The side of the family with perfect memories for everyone else's failures and zero hesitation about reminding you of them. Mine was their forever favorite.

The worst part wasn't even my fiancé, Daniel, leaving me at the altar. It was that everyone knew. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Three hundred guests.

For weeks, my tiny studio turned into a tissue graveyard. Sometimes I still woke up expecting my engagement ring to be there. It never was.

Lily was the real one, though. She showed up with takeout, asked no questions, held my phone hostage so I wouldn’t drunk-text my ex like an idiot.

“So… just go,” she said, trying to sound casual.

“It’s not that easy!”

She gave my shoulder a gentle pat that somehow managed to feel comforting and condescending at the same time. “If you don’t want to go, don’t go.”

"I can’t.” I sighed, sinking deeper into the cushions. “Smith family rule number one: if there’s a party, you show up. No excuses.”

Well, there were two acceptable excuses.

A doctor’s note saying you were basically dying, or a signed affidavit proving you were physically chained to your desk.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table. Mom’s name lit up the screen.

“Speak of the devil—”

“Hey!” I shot Lily a glare, even though I secretly agreed with the nickname.

While I forced the brightest fake smile I could manage, Lily was silently cracking up beside me. Then I answered the call.

“Yes, Mom?”

“Did you see it?”

“See what? The flood warnings?” I played dumb.

“Emily Smith! Stop playing around. No excuses! You’ve ditched too many family events already. Don’t embarrass your father!”

"What? I—"

“Just be there. No excuses!”

Click.

The call hung up.

I dropped the phone and let out the longest sigh of my life. 

Silence settled over the apartment.

"So…“ Lily slowly reached for another potato chip. “Now what?”

“What do you mean?” Playing dumb was the best way to save the day.

“You’re still going, right?”

“Ugh, I don’t know!” I rubbed my face, frustration bubbling over.

Lily leaned forward. “Let me translate your existential crisis. The problem isn’t the wedding itself. It’s the very empty plus-one slot, right?”

My brain buffered. She sat up straighter with eyes sparkling in a way that never meant anything good for me.

“I know some guys.”

It took me three full seconds to catch on before my eyes widened in horror.

“Strangers?! Lily, you know me. My social battery dies after one ‘nice to meet you’!”

“I’ll introduce you,” she said, like it was the simplest thing in the world. “Then you pick the best actor for the role of Emily’s perfect boyfriend.”

“No way!” I shot back. “I can’t just fake-hold hands with some random guy. I need a full background check before I even consider it!”

“Okay, fine. You only need one guy you can actually trust to pull this off so your family buys it. Right?”

“Yeah…”

Then I saw that look. The one that meant she'd already figured it out. My stomach dropped in an instant.

“I know exactly one guy.” Lily's smile grew wider. “Bet we're thinking of the same person.”

Damn it.

There was only one name.

The guy I'd spent the last two years trying to forget. The guy I used to text first about every little thing. Until one day... I just stopped.

She wasn't actually going to say his name... Right?

“It’s Austin.”

I flinched. Then immediately pretended I hadn't.

“No, it’s not!”

Lily snorted. “You’re terrible at lying.”

Funny how two years could pass and his name still landed somewhere between my heart and my stomach.

"You’re the worst.”

“Relax, Em. He’s literally perfect for this.”

“Shut up!” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, refusing to give her the satisfaction. 

But Lily just kept looking at me with that knowing grin.

“What?” A mutter escaped from my lips.

“You know exactly what.”

“Don't.” I jabbed a finger at her. "Not. One. Word."

She tilted her head. “You should call him.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Why not?”

I scrambled for a reasonable excuse and failed miserably. “Because… it’s Austin!”

“Exactly!”

“No!” A groan slipped out while I stomped my foot. “You don’t understand!”

“It’s just one phone call.” She wouldn’t let it go.

And I kept refusing her idea, shaking my head. “Besides, Austin won’t agree—”

“Wanna bet?” Lily cut me off, that smug smile back on her face.

The whole of me froze as I realized my phone was already in her hand.

“Give me my phone back!”

I lunged for it, but she was too fast.

“Lily Morgan, don’t you dare—”

Shit. She’d already hit the call button.

Please go to voicemail. Please be busy. Please—

The ringtone barely lasted two seconds.

“Hello?”