Eight Years of Maybe One Day of I Do—Bride Swapped Deal With It novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At my best friend’s wedding, Caspian’s hot secretary snatched the bouquet.

But it bounced once, landed right in my arms.

Every eye in the room turned to Caspian—we’d been together EIGHT YEARS.

“Marry her!”

“Bouquet’s in her hands, bro—go propose!”

They literally pushed him toward me.

My face was burning. I waited for those words—”Will you marry me?”

Instead?

He ripped the bouquet out of my grip, handed it to HER.

“Juniper caught it first. Be good, babe. Next time.”

The spotlight drifted away with the bouquet.

I looked at the girl beside us—her face lit up, all shy and surprised.

I just smiled weakly.

What Caspian didn’t know?

There was NO next time.

My wedding was next week, and he wasn’t the groom.

…

My best friend Briar’s face went dark.

I grabbed her hand before she could slap someone.

She whipped around, eyes redder than mine.

“That bitch did it on purpose!”

“I told all the bridesmaids—the bouquet bouquet was meant for YOU.”

“Briar.” I cut her off quietly. “The wedding’s not over.”

Everyone had already moved on from me and Caspian.

All eyes followed that bouquet, landing on Juniper’s face.

She clutched the flowers, gazing at Caspian with those doe eyes.

Caspian had already slipped back into the crowd like nothing happened.

The officiant was a pro.

Few jokes later, the vibe was back.

Briar turned away, jaw tight, and kept going with the wedding.

The whole reception, I sat at the head table with Briar’s family.

I endured pitying looks from every direction.

Caspian was at another table, laughing it up with his boys.

Juniper sat right next to him, way too close for a secretary.

She wasn’t even supposed to be a bridesmaid.

The groom’s side suddenly had an extra groomsman, so they threw her in.

Caspian dragged her to everything, calling it “professional training.”

Even my best friend’s wedding? Yep. She was there.

During the toast round, Briar came over with her husband.

She hugged me hard, hissing in my ear:

“That girl’s been throwing herself at Caspian for six months.”

“I had someone look into her—she’s pretty manipulative. Caspian, he…”

“Briar,” I patted her back, stopping her.

“You’re the most beautiful bride today. Don’t.”

She huffed. Didn’t say more.

The wedding wound down. Guests started leaving.

Caspian finally strolled over. “Ready to go?”

The car went quiet.

His hand stopped moving.

“You’re still holding onto some childhood promise?” He laughed it off.

“Plans change. Hotels, dates, vendors—you need six months, maybe a year to set all that up.”

“We’ll plan it right. Make it perfect. What’s the rush?”

He didn’t explain why he couldn’t promise to marry me in front of everyone.

Just skipped straight to how to plan the perfect wedding.

I suddenly remembered a month before Briar’s wedding.

She dragged me to try on the bridesmaid dress she designed herself.

Champagne tulle. Tiny pearls along the waist.

When I put it on, her eyes lit up, then got weepy.

“Thea, you look stunning in this.”

“I made it just for you. And when you get married, I’m making you an even better wedding dress!”

Caspian was there too.

Head down, typing work emails.

But when he heard us, he looked up, smiled. “Yeah, looks nice.”

Then his eyes dropped right back to his screen, fingers flying.

In that moment, I felt happy for my best friend.

And devastated for my eight years of unfulfilled love.

The car pulled into our complex. Stopped.

Caspian apparently thought the car conversation had wrapped everything up nice and neat, leaned over to kiss me.

I lifted my hand and pressed it gently against his shoulder.

He froze.

“I’m tired, Caspian.”