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Chapter One

CARSON

“So I’reat news is that the DKEs chose ust! Isn’t that awesole?”

I look across the dinner table at Kendra Shaw, my fiancée Bubbly, flirty, twenty-teet, lovely, kind She likes puppies and parties…but she has no idea what she wants to do with her life We have zero in co her if I hadn’t been coerced by her dad— to float me a loan so I can keep the confectionary eical father afloat

“DKE?” I ask, shoving salad around withto envision my life with this woman

She tsks at me and rolls her eyes “Delta Kappa Epsilon, silly” I must still look at her blankly, because she shakes her head ather shoulders “They’re a fraternity on campus The best”

Kendra seems proud of her accoreat How did they choose you? Because you helped with the charity walk over spring break?”

“No They pick their favorite Chi Oa each month, since we’re their sister sorority I may have influenced the vote a bit after I had too much tequila at the DKE end-of-year bash and danced topless At least that’s what my friends tell me I did I don’t remember” She winces “Are you mad?”

Actually, I’ed since April, and that probably happened in May I’retful moment toward the end of suuys have seen my bride-to-be’s boobs I wish I could say it mattered I want it to

It doesn’t

I keep trying to connect with this wo to relate to one another, and find so

“Carson, did you hear me?”

“I did” I’m simply not sure what she wants me to say

Deep down, I doubt she’s ready to get s with her wedding planner She’s selected a grand wedding dress I’m told it has a cathedral train that two of her ten bridesmaids will have to carry as she walks down the aisle She’s spent a nice chunk of her father’s money to make this the event of the season But I’ afterward

“And you’re not mad?”

“Well, I don’t think you should repeat that stunt”

“I won’t” She nods sole to be a responsible wife soon”

She reaches across the table and graspspromises with her blue eyes I don’t think she has any chance of keeping

I wish I could be enthusiastic After all, I like Kendra I’ to say to her for the next forty years We’re not married yet and we already run out of conversation in minutes

“Are you really ready for ently “To be my wife?”