Jake and I had spent our entire childhood making bets. Who could run faster, who could climb higher, who had the guts to take the biggest risk. We pushed each other constantly, turning every moment into a competition. But years later, when I won our final bet, there was no celebration—only heartbreak I never saw coming. Jake and I had been best friends since before we could walk. Our moms loved to tell the story of how we met—two toddlers at daycare, both grabbing the same toy truck, refusing to

When Eric insisted on paying for our first date, I thought I had met a true gentleman. The roses, the thoughtful gift, the charming conversation—he was checking all the right boxes. But the next day, when I received his text, my stomach dropped. My best friend, Mia, had meant well when she decided to set me up. But her matchmaking skills? Completely untested. “He’s super nice, Kelly! Total gentleman. You’ll love him,” she gushed over the phone while I rummaged through my closet. “You’ve never set me up before,” I

Before we stood at the altar, my bride had told me to say no. She asked me to trust her completely. And I did. But what happened next was something no one could have predicted. Not even me. People say you should expect surprises on your wedding day. Mine came in five little words that nearly stopped my heart. “Say no at the altar.” Before I tell you how that played out, let’s go back to where it all started. “Don’t you feel like the luckiest guy in the world?”