Until the Final I Do

Chapter Two

BROOKLYN

"Let me see it again!" Tori squeals, tugging on my hand like an impatient child. Her eyes lock on the diamond glistening on my finger as if seeing it for the first time.

It's been official for over a month, but she just got back from visiting family in Texas. To her, this is breaking news.

"I still can't believe it," I say softly, half to myself.

"Believe it, girl. Beyoncé was right—if you like it, put a ring on it," she grins. "But y'all were only dating a few months! That's record-breaking speed."

"I know," I laugh nervously, gently pulling my hand back. "Be right back."

I walk over to the dresser, grab an envelope, and return to the bed. Crawling across the sheets, I hand it to her.

"I sent these out a few days ago, but I wanted to give yours in person."

She tears into it like a kid on Christmas morning. Her fingers unwrap the card, and her eyes dart across the text.

"July twenty-fourth," she says, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting."

"What?" I ask quickly, my heart skipping.

"That just happens to be the day you and he-who-shall-not-be-named started dating. Coincidence? I think not."

I swallow hard. Maybe I had clung to the date. Maybe it still haunted me in ways I didn't want to admit. Liam doesn't know. Is that wrong?

"I just like the number twenty-four," I lie flatly.

She smirks. "Uh-huh. Let's see if you stick to that story when Spencer gets his invite."

I sit straight up. "What?! He doesn't even know I'm engaged."

Tori gives me a guilty little smile. "Don't be mad, but... I may have slipped one of these invites into the mail with his address."

"You what?" I gasp. "Tori!"

"Come on, Brooklyn. Just admit it. You're not over him."

Her words hit harder than I expect. And she's right—I'm not. If Spencer showed up right now, I don't know that I'd have the strength not to run into his arms. That's the worst part.

He left without warning, without a real goodbye. Just vanished—taking a piece of me with him.

The room falls quiet, heavy with everything I won't say aloud.

Tori speaks up again, softer now. "You never told me the full story. What really happened with you two?"

I exhale slowly and start from the beginning. The café where we met. The way he'd do ridiculously sweet things like renaming my favorite drink just to catch my attention. He wasn't some mysterious rich guy chasing a nobody—I had my own life, my own spotlight. But Spencer? He lit up the stage.

At first, I loved the chase. I let him chase me, gave him hope, then pulled it away. Until one day, he stopped chasing—and I realized I wanted more than the game.

That's when I flipped the script. I became the hunter.

And I won.

We were the "it" couple at university. Brooklyn and Spencer. Our names practically belonged together. We had everything—until we didn't.

I still remember that rainy Saturday. He showed up with my favorite flowers, red roses, just because. We spent the afternoon curled up talking about everything and nothing. It was perfect—until I got a call from my parents. They wanted to know if I was coming home for break.

Spencer and I talked about what that meant for us—about our future in South Carolina, where we both had roots.

And then, while I was still on the call, he disappeared.

No goodbye. No explanation. Just a note: I'm sorry. I'll explain later.

But later never came.

I left voicemails. Sent texts. Waited. Hoped.

He never answered.

"I don't even know if I want him to show up," I whisper, tears welling in my eyes. "This wedding is already stressful. I can't add him to the list."

Tori reaches for my hand. "I'm sorry. If I'd known the whole story, I never would've—"

"It's okay," I interrupt, brushing away a tear.

A knock sounds from somewhere in the house.

"I'll get it," Tori says, hopping off the bed and disappearing down the hallway.

Five minutes pass. Then she returns—pale, wide-eyed.

"Tori? What's wrong?" I ask, my heart pounding.

She blinks.

"Well... Spencer King was just at the door."

I should've knocked on wood.