The Kiss That Broke Them

We had been dating for ten years before my boyfriend, Shawn Jepson, agreed to marry me. 

When the wedding photographer asked us to pose a few kissing shots, Shawn claimed he had germophobia and walked out on me. 

I awkwardly apologized to the team. 

Taxis were a rare commodity during blizzards, so I trudged through the snow to get home. 

To my dismay, I stumbled upon Shawn tongue-deep into his crush’s throat in what was supposed to be our marital home. 

“Just say the word, Casey, and I’ll leave Jessica.” 

Later, word went around that Shawn searched the world for his ex-fiancee, begging her to return.

I stood outside my bridal suite, watching through the floor-to-ceiling window as Shawn Jepson and Casey Thomas locked tongues.

Shawn held Casey tightly in his arms, his lips pressing and eager, unlike the callous man he usually was.

I was soaked to the bone, my clothes, shoes, and hair completely drenched from the snow.

My blood ran cold, and I felt sick to my stomach.

As the pair rolled onto the bed for my wedding night, I whipped out my phone and caught them on tape. A wave of disgust washed over me, and I retched.

In the many years I had been with Shawn, he had never kissed me during our most intimate moments.

He said he had germophobia, and I bought into it.

The truth was that his lips were reserved for the love of his life.

Picking up on the noise, the pair in the bedroom looked over.

They were the ones having a rendezvous. Yet, I took cover without a second thought.

I shuddered from the cold and prayed that Casey would leave soon. I waited an hour, but she didn’t seem to be going anywhere.

I sneezed and dragged my frozen stiff body home.

It was warm and toasty in our marital home. Shawn, who would not be caught dead with any house chores, was busy in the kitchen.

He looked very much at home behind the stove.

The range hood worked hard to filter out the grease and steam, but the heavy spice lingered heavily in the air.

I had a weak stomach, so spicy food was never an option for me.

“Aren’t you a hungry hippo? Dinner isn’t ready yet—”

Shawn turned to the noise with a smile.

His smile faded when he saw me. “Oh, it’s you. You’re soaking wet. Why don’t you get yourself cleaned up instead of making a mess everywhere?”

“I’m sorry.”

I clutched my drenched jacket and apologized right away.

Shawn furrowed his brows, annoyed. Before he could say anything more, Casey emerged from the room.

Her swollen lips and flushed cheeks were a testament to their little canoodle earlier.

I turned my attention to her.

Casey pulled her blouse down as if she had something to hide and explained in a fluster, “Jessica, d-don’t get the wrong idea.”

“What’s there to explain? It’s a blizzard out there, and the roads are bad for travel, so Casey is staying the night,” Shawn said flatly, his tone cold and final.

Casey was the girlfriend of Shawn’s brother, who had passed away before the lovebirds could tie the knot.

She had always been a sister-in-law to Shawn.

With the food ready, Shawn called Casey to the dinner table.

Shawn smiled as Casey relished the food, completely oblivious that I was picking at my salad.

After dinner, Casey went to bed.

The place was supposed to be my marital home with Shawn. Still, he settled Casey down in our master bedroom while I was put in the guest bedroom.

“Casey won’t be comfortable in the guest bedroom, since it’s still a mess. You can make do with it for now.”

Another woman enjoyed the privilege of sleeping in the bedroom of our marital home before I even had a chance to lay my head to rest there.

Despite the urge to snap back, I couldn’t say a word.

Shawn stayed in the master bedroom until midnight before retreating to the guest bedroom.

I lay in bed, feeling miserable from being out in the cold and having an empty stomach. Still, I was haunted by images of Shawn and Casey snogging.

The moment Shawn walked into the bedroom, I was tempted to grill him.

Why was he marrying me if he didn’t have feelings for me?

Why was he kissing another woman when our wedding was around the corner?

Why did he feel entitled to be inappropriate with another woman while I was present?

Despite the questions weighing down on me, I said wryly, “If you change your mind about getting married, you can be honest with me, Shawn.”

I could handle it if he wanted to call off the wedding.

However, I would never forgive him for abandoning me at the altar.