Resisting my Roommate (Sycamore Falls #3)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

ABBEY

The afternoon sunlight pours through the tall, arched windows of the bridal suite, casting soft, golden beams that dance across the floor. The room smells faintly of gardenias, a sweet scent that’s supposed to be calming but does little to settle the knot twisting in my stomach.

The knot that’s been there since running into the stranger at the bar the other night. His words still linger in the recesses of my mind, making me examine my reasons for getting married through a microscope.

Am I only marrying Carson to check off a box?

One minute, I tell myself it’s more than that and to forget about the bitter ramblings of a man who’s obviously been burned before.

The next, I can’t help but wonder if there’s some truth to his assertions.

I take a deep breath, shaking off the mere thought. It’s just pre-wedding jitters. Everyone gets them, right?

I’m not marrying Carson out of some delusional fairytale fantasy. He’s always been incredibly supportive of me. Hell, when I was laid off last year, he was my rock, urging me not to stress about finding a new job while also planning our wedding. Granted, he makes a really good living as a financial planner and can afford to support both of us, but the fact he routinely puts my wellbeing first shows how thoughtful he is.

Still, there’s a weight on my chest that won’t go away. What if the stranger was right? Am I only getting married because I think it will fix what’s broken?

“Knock knock. Are you decent?”

I snap out of my thoughts and shift my attention to the closed door.

“Come in,” I call out.

My closest friend, Maia, slips into the room, her yellow bridesmaid dress swishing with her steps as she approaches me.

“Are you ready for your big day?” she asks, her eyes shining with excitement as she adjusts a button on the back of my wedding gown.

The crystals adorned to the fabric shimmer in the light as it cascades in layers of satin and tulle, hugging the curves of my body before flaring out in a dramatic train behind me.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I let out a shaky breath, smoothing a hand down my stomach.

“You have nothing to worry about. Carson’s a good man.”

Maia would know, having worked with him at the investment firm for the past five years. In fact, it’s how we became close friends. When Carson and I started dating, we’d often go on double dates with Maia and her husband. Now Maia and I plan our own outings without the guys.

“He is. Isn’t he?” I remark, my nerves causing my words to come out in a rush.

“One of the best.” She holds my gaze with a reassuring smile. “Are you ready? The photographer is waiting to do the first look photos.”

I draw in another deep breath, pushing away the anxiety that threatens to suffocate me, blaming it on the wedding dress instead.

Giving Maia a small nod, I reply, “Let’s go.”

With a gentle tug, she leads me down the hallway and into the spacious main room of the rustic building perched on the edge of Lake Tahoe. The walls are made of reclaimed wood, giving off a cozy cabin feel while still maintaining an air of sophistication — one of the main reasons I chose this spot for today. The breathtaking view of the crystal-clear lake and majestic snow-covered mountains in the distance only adds to the romance of this place.

“Abbey…,” Jennifer, the photographer, greets us the second we emerge from the hallway. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I glance around the space to find the waitstaff busy setting all the tables in preparation for the upcoming reception.

“Let’s take a few solo shots before we bring in Carson.”

“Of course.”

Maia stays by my side, helping to maneuver my dress while Jennifer snaps away, capturing every moment against the backdrop of the shimmering lake. I’m grateful for the distraction. I don’t have to think. Just have to do what she tells me.

Once she places me on one side of a brick wall separating the lounge area from the main room, she looks at Maia. “Can you go fetch the groom now?”

Maia nods eagerly and scurries down the hallway, her footsteps echoing through the cavernous space. Jennifer continues snapping photos of me while I try to tune out everything else. The ever-present knot in my stomach. The anxiety making me lightheaded. The question about whether this is really what I want.

Of course it is.

Like Maia just reminded me. Carson is a good man.

“Where is she?” Jennifer remarks, pulling me back to the present. “It shouldn’t take her this long to find Carson. Should it?”

Now that the click of her shutter no longer echoes over the space, it’s eerily silent.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

In the distance, a steady thumping grows louder and louder with each passing second. My face heats, my heart dropping to the pit of my stomach.

“Excuse me,” I say to Jennifer, gathering the skirt of my dress in my hands as I walk in the direction of the sound. The rhythmic thud echoes off the walls, making my steps falter slightly.

As I grow near, it gets louder and more frenzied, a mixture of heavy breathing, hushed giggles, and labored grunts. But amongst it all, one sound stands out — a low breathy moan that is all too familiar.

A moan I’ve heard many times before.

I inch closer to the groomsmen suite as a soft voice calls out Carson’s name, leaving no question in my mind precisely who’s on the other side.

And what they’re doing.

I place my hand on the knob, expecting it to be locked. After all, it would be foolish of them to leave the door unlocked while sneaking around behind my back just minutes before our wedding.

But just like I was wrong about Carson’s faithfulness, I’m wrong about this, too.

The knob gives way, and I push the door open, revealing a scene that leaves me speechless. Carson’s tuxedo is disheveled as he thrusts into Maia like a man possessed.

For a moment, I don’t feel anything, as if my mind has disconnected from my body. I’m not sure why I’m surprised by this turn of events. My mother didn’t want me, abandoning me on my father’s doorstep when I was just fifteen. He wasn’t much better, since he already had a family of his own and didn’t know what to do with me.

Most of my life, I’ve felt like I’m not good enough.

Like I don’t belong.

I guess I don’t belong here, either.

At the realization, something inside me snaps. It’s like a dam breaking. All the nervousness, doubt, and fear comes rushing out in a torrent of uncontrollable laughter.

Carson and Maia whip their heads toward me, their eyes wide with a mixture of shock and embarrassment.

“Abbey. Shit.” Carson’s face instantly turns a sickly shade of white as he scrambles to cover himself before advancing toward me. “This isn’t what it looks like?—”

I hold up a hand to stop him from coming any closer. “Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like.” I shake my head. “What a fucking cliché.”

Spinning from them, I hurry toward the bridal suite, locking myself inside so I can gather my things without interruption.

“Abbey, please!” Carson begs, the desperation and urgency in his voice echoing off the walls. “Let’s talk about this. No need to jump to conclusions. There’s a perfectly good explanation for what you thought you saw.” He bangs on the door, frantically jiggling the locked knob.

“He’s right. It’s not what you think,” Maia chimes in, her own voice laced with anxiety, most likely over the prospect of her husband finding out.

Or worse, their boss.

I hope he finds out and fires them both, considering Carson is technically her superior.

“I’m sure there is a good explanation.” I sling my bag over my shoulder and open the door, pinning them with a glare. “I’m guessing it’s the same reason you’ve been working late these past few months, too. It explains all the times the two of you disappeared during a party, claiming you needed to discuss something work-related. In a way, I guess it wasn’t that far off.” I smirk at the woman I thought to be a close friend and confidant. “Pretending he’s any good in bed can be a lot of work.”

My words leave both of them momentarily speechless, and I spin, hurrying down the hallway and into the main dining room. The waitstaff watch with curiosity as I pass them, but I don’t care.

All I do care about is getting as far away from this place as possible.

With my keys clutched in my hand, I dash to my SUV and climb behind the wheel, stuffing the layers of my skirt in around me.

“Where are you going?” Carson calls after me.

“Away from here,” I shout back. “And you.”

“Think about the guests,” he begs in a last-ditch effort as I’m about to shut the door. “There are important people here. Higher ups at my firm who are expecting us to get married. What am I supposed to tell them?”

I level him with a cold, hard stare. “You should’ve thought of that before you decided to fuck your co-worker. Your married co-worker. Does Joshua know?”

“He…” His uneasy gaze flicks between me and a few curious guests lingering nearby. Then he leans closer, his voice turning low and threatening. “You can’t do this, Abbey. You need me. Don’t forget. I’ve been paying all the bills.”

“I’ll survive,” I declare firmly.

Not giving him the chance to say anything else, I slam the door shut and throw the car into drive, tossing the ring out the window as I speed away.