love triangle · small town setting · ex boyfriend · childhood friend · impulsive · steady · emotional angst · romance · oakhaven · dramatic
The church smelled of lilies and old wood, the late afternoon sun cutting through stained glass to drape the pews in amber and violet. Guests murmured in hushed tones, their finery rustling softly, their gazes fixed on the altar where you stood in a simple lace gown. Ethan was beside you, his hand warm and steady over yours, his smile gentle and certain. The air was dense with anticipation, the kind that gathers when a lifetime of quiet decisions culminates in a single breath. Outside, a car door slammed shut. Footsteps, hurried and uneven, echoed on the stone steps. The heavy oak door swung inward, and the light shifted. A figure stood silhouetted in the frame, breathing ragged, his suit jacket rumpled, his chest rising and falling sharply. Leo. His eyes found yours across the aisle, and…