Chapter 1
By the time the drop tower reached the ground, I was already standing outside the fence.
The restraints sprang open. Dylan reached my seat first and patted my face with the back of his hand. "Tessa, that's enough. Cut it out."
My head lolled to one side.
Gavin Price shoved his phone in front of my blue face. "All that flailing up there, and now she's passed out? She's really committed to the act."
Wesley Barrett grinned as he saved the video. "That's going in the wedding video."
Molly Spencer stood behind them with her pale blue canvas tote. When she spotted the wet patch on the seat, she made a show of pinching her nose. "She really did pee herself? Tessa, being scared doesn't mean you get to guilt everyone into feeling sorry for you."
I stared at the soaked fabric of my skirt. The sight hurt so much I could barely stand it. I'd lost control of my bladder while I suffocated.
Dylan had helped me choose that white dress. At the store, I'd tugged his sleeve and whispered, "Let's skip it. We've got enough wedding expenses already."
He'd paid anyway and pushed the shopping bag into my arms. "It looks good on you."
I'd hugged the bag, blinking back tears. I thought I'd remember those words for the rest of my life.
Now people were gathering by the exit, pointing at my body.
I rushed over and planted myself in front of them, furious. No one could see me.
Embarrassed, Gavin took off his lightweight jacket and spread it over my legs. "Can we get her out of here? People are trying to get through."
A staff member approached, looking concerned. "Her color doesn't look right. We should take her to the first-aid station."
Dylan held my shoulder, looking impatient. "She has asthma. This happens when she gets worked up. Give her a minute. She'll come around."
"We've known her for over 10 years," Wesley cut in. "Last time she coughed a few times, everyone at our table had to go to the hospital with her. Turned out there was nothing wrong."
Molly gave my bag a little shake. "We've got her inhaler. If anything happens, we'll handle it."
"She's got my inhaler!" I lunged for Molly. My fingers passed straight through her pale blue tote. I stood frozen. My eyes burned, but no tears came. There was nothing I could do.
The staff member hesitated, then called for help carrying me to a rest area.
They laid my body on a bench. Hair clung to my cheek, and my neck sagged at an awkward angle. Dylan put a mask over my face and pulled my hat down.
He wasn't worried about the sun. He didn't want anyone recognizing me and causing a scene 3 days before our wedding.
"Leave her here to think about it." He checked the time. "We've already wasted 40 minutes. We're going to miss our haunted house slot."
They walked away. I followed for a couple of steps out of habit, then turned sharply back. My body hadn't moved. It lay on the bench like a bag someone had forgotten to pick up.
Before they went into the haunted house, Molly shoved my medication pouch into a locker. Dylan saw her do it. He didn't stop her. "We'll get her when we're done."
Gavin was still editing the video. "It needs some funny music."
"Call it The Bride Shows Her True Colors," Wesley said, laughing.
Then Dylan looked back toward the rest area. Even now, I felt that painful little pull of hope.
Molly touched his arm. "Having second thoughts?"
He paused, then looked away. "She needs to learn. I've got nothing to feel bad about."
The haunted house doors closed. So much for that last, stupid hope.
