Page 143 of All This Time

“Do you think she’s getting cold feet?” Dilynne asks. “Because if that bitch walks out on Elliot, I’ll make it my personal mission to ensure she never sees daylight again.”

My brows instantly draw together. “That was a bit…”

“Murdery?” Dilynne finishes for me. “Well, that’s how she makes me feel. And even though this is Elliot we’re talking about, no one deserves to be left at the altar.”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Dilynne steps up to the window on the far wall, peering outside into a small alcove behind the building we are in on the back of the property. “Motherfucker.”

“What?”

Waving me over, she points in the direction she’s looking. “If she’s fine, then why is she outside kissing some random guy?”

My mouth falls open as I watch the scene unfold in front of me, like a car crash you can’t turn away from. “Oh my God. Whoisthat?”

Dilynne lifts her phone and snaps a picture of the two of them—Tori pressed up against the building, lip-locked with some mystery guy. “I don’t fucking care, but now we have evidence. We have to tell Elliot.”

“We can’t—” I start, but my best friend cuts me off.

“We can’t let him marry her if she’s cheating on him!” Dilynne practically shouts. But when we turn back to the window, Tori and the man are gone. “Where the fuck did she go?”

We run outside to look, but there’s no sign of them. You’d think it wouldn’t be hard to spot a woman in a white dress and veil, but she’s vanished.

Trying to keep my anxiety in check, my eyes scour the winery, watching employees drift from room to room as Dilynne and I walk through the property. The courtyard is ready for the ceremony. White chairs are set up in rows facing an arch covered in pink roses, a white silk runner is staked into the grass to serve as the aisle, and guests have already begun to arrive.

I just wish I knew if the bride plans to reappear.

“What are you two doing out here?” Henley comes up next to me, adjusting his coat.

Dilynne and I share a look before I lower my voice. “Well, we have a little problem.”

“What kind of problem?” he asks. I motion for him to follow us back to the bridal suite. Once the door is shut, I release a breath.

Dilynne’s jaw is clenched as she says, “Tori fucking left with some guy.”

Henley’s eyes widen. “What? Are you sure?”

“I mean—” I start, prepared to give Tori the benefit of the doubt, but Dilynne stops me from looking like an optimistic idiot.

“Yes. We saw her outside kissing some guy, and then the two of them took off,” Dilynne confidently overrides my attempt at playing devil’s advocate.

“Did you try texting her?” Henley asks me.

“Yes. The last message I sent to her wasn’t even read.”

“Motherfucker.” He rubs the back of his neck. “We have to tell Elliot.”

At that moment, my phone dings with a text.

Fletcher:Elliot is so happy, I think he might cry.

“Oh God.”

“What?” Dilynne glances down at my phone. “Shit.”

Henley reads the text as well. “Let Fletcher know while we try to figure out something.”

“Figure out what?” Dilynne asks her brother. “The bride is fucking gone. There’s nothing to figure out. There’s no wedding without a groomanda bride.”