I Was Almost a Wife

Chief Blackwell was genuinely sorry to see me go. When I told him I just wanted to see more of the world, he didn't try to talk me out of it. Instead, he connected me with an international airline based in Pavrielle.

I hadn't expected that, but I was more than happy to take him up on the offer. I was set to leave for Pavrielle the next week.

…

Logan stumbled through the door just before midnight, reeking of booze.

Pilots weren't supposed to drink, and I didn't need to ask who'd tempted him to cross that line again.

Beneath the stench of liquor lingered the smell of something familiar. It was Freesia Blues—Janice's signature scent.

When Logan saw me sitting in the living room with the lights still on, his eyes flicked with impatience. Still, he dropped onto the couch like always, clearly bracing for whatever questions I had lined up.

But I only glanced at him, then looked back down, checking things off my packing list. That was when he finally noticed the suitcase stretched out on the floor.

His body stiffened, and a note of confusion crept into his voice. "Are they sending you overseas or something? What's with all the luggage?"

I kept my eyes down, brushing him off with a vague reply. "Yeah. I got assigned overseas. I might be gone for a while."

Logan let out a relieved sigh, like a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders.

I couldn't help the bitter smile that crept onto my face. Just a week ago, I'd taken time off from the airline to prepare for our wedding.

No airline on the planet would schedule a flight attendant to work on their wedding day. But Logan had believed it without a second thought.

That alone told me everything I needed to know about how much he actually cared.

Maybe it was my quiet compliance that unsettled Logan, but for once, there was a flicker of guilt in his voice. "You weren't too stressed about the wedding today, were you?"

After so many failed wedding days, he probably thought I had the whole thing down to a science by now.

I gave a noncommittal answer.

Logan kept talking, caught up in his own thoughts. "How long is this flight assignment? We'll get married the minute you're back, okay? I'm not going anywhere this time. I swear."

I stopped cold, my hand hovering over the half-packed suitcase. Given everything he'd done, the fact that he had the nerve to say that was ridiculous.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Every single time we planned a wedding, you fed me the same promise. And every single time, you ditched me for your precious trainee."

He rubbed his temples in frustration. He was about to speak when his phone rang.

Janice sounded shaken, her usually sweet voice filled with panic. "Logan, I think someone's following me. I saw a shadow. It looked like a man. I'm scared!"

Logan shot off the couch like a spring. "Jan, stay calm. Don't hang up. Send me your location. I'm on my way."

Just as he was about to bolt out the door, I grabbed his arm without thinking. "You've been drinking. You can't drive tonight!"

But Logan yanked his arm away and yelled, "This isn't your business! If anything happens to Jan, I'm holding you responsible!"

Even after all these years of dealing with his temper, I still felt a tremor shoot through me at his words.

Realizing he'd overreacted, Logan gave me a conflicted look. He drew in a deep breath and said, "I promise I'll be there on time for our wedding. I just hope you can be a little more understanding. Maybe then people will quit gossiping."

The door slammed shut behind him with a sharp, echoing bang.

My heart withered, dry and brittle like dead grass.

Our wedding would never happen again.