Scarlett waited with the rest of the wedding party at the platform the resort had set up. There was a red carpet that spread down through rows of guests. Everyone was there except Walker.

It’d been hard that morning to do pictures and poses and smile. It hadn’t just been hard. It’d been smothering.

After the blowout last night, Liz had announced she was leaving her father. Distastefully, she’d pinched her lips as she’d walked out and said, “It turns out it’s not that glamorous to be married to a movie producer.”

Surprisingly, her father had come to her later. He asked for her forgiveness and told her he wanted to be part of her life. They had a long talk until late into the night.

Kurt had come to her door too, but she’d told them they were done.

Now, she thought about how Walker hadn’t come. He hadn’t even tried to text. Nope. During pictures, he hadn’t even looked at her. Of course, she hadn’t tried to talk to him either. There were fifty walls back up between them, and she didn’t know where to start.

Reeling from the news the night before felt hard enough. She would have another surgery next week. The worst part of the day had been the look on his face when she’d shouted to everyone that it was all fake.

Truthfully, she hadn’t known if he would show this morning or not. He was the type of guy who didn’t put on shows. His natural state wasn’t acting for the crowd.

That’s what she liked about him the most. That it was hard for him to pretend. She lived in a world of pretenders, and sometimes, it felt like she didn’t know if she was pretending or not.

Scarlett felt his presence nearby before she saw him. Nervously, she shot him a glance. He was looking straight ahead. He had his “soldier” face on. She wanted to tease him about it, but she couldn’t.

The music changed to the wedding march, and everyone in the party straightened and began heading down the red carpet. Tami and Victor linked arms, as did Kurt and Marissa. Scarlett slipped her arm through Walker’s, and he let her.

As they walked down the aisle, she saw tons of Hollywood people. Of course, all of her father’s precious people would be here. But she saw Charlene’s family too. She put on the perfect smile and nodded at people. She could do this, get through this. She was an actress.

But when she thought of never seeing Walker after today, a dagger of pain stabbed at her heart. How was it that he knew more about her in roughly five days than Kurt had ever known? Than she’d even known? It was like he’d always been able to see the real her.

They were nearing the end, and she didn’t know if this was the last time she’d be next to him. The last time she’d smell his Irish scent, the last time …

She turned to him. “Walker.”

The soldier face stayed in place.

“I need to talk to you after.”

Glancing at her, he gave her a little shake of the head. “I’ll finish this and then we’re done.”

Those two words sank into the pit of her stomach, and she felt like she would faint.

Walker put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “Are you okay?”

Sucking in air, she told herself she wouldn’t cause a scene or make problems today. This was her brother’s day. Charlene’s day. She nodded, and he let go of her, giving her a look that betrayed how much he cared.

Once they reached the priest, the men and women filed off to separate sides. Scarlett sucked in another breath, feeling hope. He definitely still cared.

After the beautiful ceremony and Brent dipped Charlene and the crowd clapped, Scarlett met Walker’s eyes. He stood there clapping, his eyes on her. So many thoughts lurked behind those eyes.

The crowd dispersed as the happy couple moved back down the red carpet toward the large tent set up for dinner and dancing. In the hubbub, Scarlett was startled when her father spoke up next to her, holding out his arm. “Come on, dear. Let’s go sit.”

Tentatively, she took his arm. It was weird that her father was acting so nice.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small roll. “I took this from the food tent. Can you eat a bit? I bet it would make you feel better.”

Taking the roll and feeling like she was in an upside-down version of life, she turned and saw Walker moving away from the people, heading to where Grant was waiting for him.

Wait, was he leaving? No. No. No. This couldn’t be it. This couldn’t be over. “I’ll be right back.”

Rushing off, she moved toward Walker and Grant, who were moving down the beach quickly. She had to kick off her heels and run to catch up to them. “Hey!”

Grant saw her coming. His eyes locked with hers. Perceptively, he shook his head. After being his co-star for nine months, she knew what he was saying. Not now, don’t do this. But she had to do it. There was no time left.

“Walker!” she called out, already feeling emotion bubbling into her chest.

He stopped, but he didn’t turn back.

“Walker!” she said loudly, catching up to him. They were far enough away from the guests that no one heard them.

Slowly, almost like it was painful, his blue eyes met hers.

She felt like she’d felt the first time she’d met him—angry! “So that’s it! You just walk away, and that’s all?” She was shouting, but she couldn’t stop herself. Tears were already running down her cheeks.

Weariness crept over his face. “That was the deal.” His voice was quiet. “It was all fake, so why should it matter, right?”

Sucking in a breath, she wanted … what did she want? She blinked, and more tears fell. She knew she’d hurt him last night. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

For a millisecond, she saw the real him. Then he let out a snort and raked a hand down his face. “No,” he said. “You were right. I am the fake fiancé. It was four days. The end.”

She crossed the distance between them and held his forearm. “No, no, no. It wasn’t an act. I wasn’t fake. This was the most real thing I’ve ever experienced.” Her voice was a whisper.

Time stood still as they gazed into each other’s eyes, and she thought he might cave. He might go back to being the real him. But he shook his head and retreated a step. “Is the cancer back?”

This wasn’t what she expected him to ask. “I … that’s what the results show.”

“Are you having surgery?” There was desperation in his voice.

She blinked. “Yes.”

He stared into her eyes, then he turned away.

“You didn’t dance with me,” she said, tears streaming down her face. Traitorous, stupid tears. This couldn’t be it. “You didn’t dance with me.”

Squeezing his eyes shut, he shook his head and started to walk away. “’Cause I don’t want the house.”

“What?” she asked, running next to him.

He stopped. “I don’t want the stupid lake house.”

“Then what do you want?” she blurted.

Anguish filled his face and she saw tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry … I can’t.”

Scarlett wouldn’t let him go that easily. “No. No, you can. You can. We can do this. I want you in my life. I need you in my life.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Walker, stay. Stay with me. Be with me.”

Just as Walker started to pull away, Grant spoke up. “Dude, stop.”

Scarlett trembled. She hated this, hated that everything had changed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I said that. Please, just stay.”

Cringing, he squeezed his eyes shut. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t watch another woman I love die.”

She stared at him, horrified.

“What the hell, dude?” Grant scowled at him.

“I’m leaving!” Walker shouted, stalking past him. “Don’t follow me!”

She couldn’t believe this. This scene was from a movie, and it wasn’t supposed to happen to her character. She laughed, the sound weird and strange and angry. Gripping the roll in her hand, she chased him. “Walker! Walker, are you serving me breakfast?”

He stopped and swung back to face her, anger in his eyes.

Feeling wild, she threw the roll at him. “No … I’m serving you breakfast!”

The roll didn’t reach him. It fell lamely into the beach.

The look that swept over his face wasn’t one she recognized, but she didn’t wait to talk to him. Instead, she rushed back to the wedding, and her heart broke as she decided she never wanted to see Walker Kent again.