I'm Just Replacing the Groom

After a long, shaky breath, I picked up my phone and called my mother.

“Hello, Mom. I'm not going to marry Julian. Do you remember Caleb Knight, the man you mentioned? I'm ready to talk to him.”

I expected my mother to call my decision rash, but to my surprise, she laughed, a sound of pure relief.

“Oh, Willow, thank God! You’ve finally seen the light. I’m calling Caleb this instant.”

Caleb Knight wasn't a complete stranger.

We’d met as children during a family vacation in Aspen Creek, becoming fast friends for a summer. We lost touch after his family moved to Europe.

I breathed a small sigh of relief. At least he wasn't a total unknown. Our families moved in the same circles; we knew each other’s backgrounds. For a marriage on such short notice, Caleb seemed like the perfect candidate.

Soon, a message from Caleb lit up my screen.

[Your mom reached out. Let me know when you're free. I can fly to New York to meet you.]

I’d saved Caleb's number years ago when my mom first gave it to me in college, but I’d never had a reason to use it.

I hesitated for a moment before typing my reply.

[Give me two weeks. I need to sort some things out here, then I'll be in touch.]

If I was going to end things with Julian, I needed a clean break.

When Julian had stormed out of the tailor shop, he'd left our wedding rings sitting on the counter.

Julian was never forgetful. It was just another sign of how desperate he was to get to her.

He was in Big Sur with Sienna, who was provocatively plastering their “retreat” all over social media. One photo was a close-up of Julian’s back, showcasing a new tattoo. A message from Sienna, for me.

My eyes zeroed in on the ink. It was a sprawling design that cleverly covered the spot where our matching constellation tattoo—one I’d designed myself—used to be.

That tattoo had meant the world to me. I'd pulled all-nighters designing it for our first anniversary. Julian knew how much I cherished it, yet he’d let Sienna cover it up without a word to me.

My hands trembled with a white-hot anger. I fired off a text to Julian.

[How could you cover it without asking me? Even if you want to please your stepsister, you don't get to erase a memory we shared!]

I waited an eternity for his reply.

[I was going to tell you. The old one was out of style, kind of tacky. It’s just a tattoo, Willow. Don’t make a big deal out of it.]

My stomach dropped. How could he?

I was only two years older than Sienna. In Julian’s mind, she was a fragile flower to be protected, while I was just… tacky.

Just as I was about to fire back a furious reply, a notification popped up. Julian had transferred me five thousand dollars.

[This is for your trouble. Go buy a bag you like. And don't start with Sienna. She’s finally in a good place. I don’t want you disrupting her ‘healing process.’]

I accepted the money without hesitation. I didn't want his tattoo, and I didn't want him. A sudden, cold clarity washed over me: the more Julian devalued me, the more I had to value myself.

I refused to waste another second on him. I had more important things to do, like calling the wedding planner to cancel the venue and catering.

Julian had worried a lavish wedding would upset Sienna, so he’d insisted on a small celebration. I’d agreed, planning an intimate ceremony in New York with only our closest friends and family.

When I broke the news, everyone was shocked.

“Why is the wedding off? Haven't you been planning this for ages?”

A bitter smile touched my lips. I’d spent forever planning it, but every decision, every call, had been mine alone. Julian had never given a damn.

I finally admitted to myself that Julian had never truly intended to marry me. This whole time, it had been a one-woman show.

This constant push and pull had exhausted me.

I didn't bother hiding the truth. I said, "The wedding is still on. I’m just replacing the groom."

Everyone laughed, assuming it was a joke. No one believed I’d ever leave Julian.

They all knew how much I loved him. After chasing him for so long, how could I possibly give him up?

Julian had postponed the wedding more than once. Though it gutted me every time, I never let it show, so everyone just assumed I’d tolerate anything from him.

I didn't explain. It had taken me six long years to learn how painful it is to love someone who doesn't care about you.

The love I’d given was a sunk cost. The only thing I could do now was cut my losses.