"Ri, we need to talk."

Riley's heart drops at those words. He sits up on the couch and looks over at her. "What's up?"

"I don't know if we should get married."

"What?"

"We we're only datin' for a year 'fore we got engaged, y'know? Isn't that kinda rushin' things?"

"Your parents dated for a couple months 'fore they got engaged."

"Yeah then they divorced when I was in fourth grade." She deadpans. "I don't wanna end up like that. I don't want to end up havin' kids and then getting a divorce like a year later."

"Why are you bein' so selfish?"

Kate scoffs. "I'm being selfish?"

Is she actually being selfish?

"Yeah." He clenches his jaw. He wants to just unleash every thought in his head; is this cold feet or is it something else? "We're gettin' married next weekend, Katie. It's kinda late to back out now." He stands and walks away, leaving her alone in the living room with tears in her throat.

She looks down at her hands, twisting her ring around her finger. She clears her throat as she heads to the bedroom for her phone.

She wants to call Morgan.

She wants him to come sweep her off her feet. She wants him to come to her rescue. She wants him to make a goddamn scene about it. He loves her and she loves him but she can't be selfish and break Riley's heart.

+++

"Morgan, where're you goin'?" Michael asks when he sees him rushing down his stairs with a book bag on his back.

"Jacksonville."

"You were invited to the weddin?"

"She can't do this to herself, man. You know it and I know it. She's only marrying him so she don't hurt his feelin's." Morgan sighs, sliding a Troubadour hat on his head before grabbing his keys. "I gotta go."

Michael lets him go. Nothing he can say will change his mind.

He watches him drive off, a dust cloud following his Ford.

+++

Katie looks at her reflection and sighs. Taylor is curling her hair while she's putting make up on.

They're both quiet, the music playing from the speaker is the only thing filling the room.

Kate's heart is thumping in her chest. She can feel it in her nose and forehead. This isn't right but it's what's right for Riley.

And she doesn't want to be selfish.

Is she being selfish?

Is she being selfish by putting herself first?

Maybe she should do that more often and not let people walk all over her. She used to be like that; outspoken. But when she moved to Atlanta, things started to change.

She's positive that if she stayed with Morgan instead of leaving, they'd be married by now.

They'd have that big ol' house in the woods like she's always wanted with a long driveway and maybe some farmland.

Maybe a baby or two.

She could've went into farming- agriculture shit instead of music business. She would've had some job security with farming instead of a degree that she wasted four years of her life and who knows how much money on that she doesn't even use anymore.

Maybe she can bank off Riley's income now that he's a rising country music artist.

She isn't about to become a fucking housewife or a stay at home mom. She doesn't really know what she wants but she sure as shit doesn't want that.

That's being selfish.

Maybe that's only with older men.

Riley is seven years older than her.

"You're thinkin' pretty hard." Taylor says softly. "Everything okay?"

"Just a lot on my mind." She whispers back.

"You look beautiful." She tells her, tucking a strand of curled hair behind her ear. "Let's do this thing."

Kate stands and sighs again. She can't believe she's doing this. She can't believe she's getting married and married to Riley.

She's always wanted to get married but she thought it'd be to Morgan.

Katie makes her way down the steps of Riley's parent's farm house and to the front door. She takes a deep breath then opens the door, heading down the petal lined aisle.

Riley's father stands at the end of the aisle with a Bible in his hands, ready to marry his son and Kate.

As he talks, reads some Bible verses and says some prayers, Kate zones out, watching a truck pull in the dirt driveway, a dust cloud following.

Her heart leaps in her throat when that truck door opens then shuts, the driver hidden by the house.

"...Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Everyone cranes their neck at the voice that echos from behind the chairs.

Riley's face turns to a level past livid. Kate doesn't take her eyes off the man rushing toward them.

"Wait!" Morgan stops in front of them, his chest heaving. "Kate." He pants, taking her hand. "I can't let you do this."

"Morgan-"

"Get the fuck outta here." Riley snaps, making Kate jump. "Now."

"No- No, not 'til I tell- get your hands offa me!" Morgan shoves Riley back. "Katie-"

"Leave." One of Riley's friends, Kate didn't care enough to remember his name, says in a deep voice.

"Katie, please." Morgan pleads, his eyes sincere. She looks between her fiancé and ex boyfriend then nods.

Morgan takes her hand and walks her back to the house to talk in private.

"Wow." He whispers, looking her over. "You-you're beautiful."

She blushes and looks away, hiding her face. Morgan hooks a finger under her chin and nudges her to look up at him. "I need you to know this." He says. "I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you since we was kids. I can't- I can't let you marry someone you obviously don't love no more."

"Is it obvious?"

"Painfully."

"He- he said I's bein' selfish for wantin' to call off the weddin'." She mumbles, running her fingers over her arms anxiously.

"Are you serious?" His face drops and he looks pissed. "Seriously!?"

"Morgan," She sighs. "I- I can't-" Tears form in her eyes. "Morgan-"

"Come here." He wraps her in a tight hug.

"I can't marry him."

"I know."

"Everything okay?" Taylor asks, cracking the door open.

Kate locks eyes with Morgan then nods. "Yeah. Everything's okay." She smiles slightly up at him then turns to the door.

Kate tosses her veil and bouquet on the door side table then returns out to Riley. "I can't do this." She whispers so he's the only one who hears it. "I'm sorry."

He clenches his jaw and glares at the grass under his boots.

Katie awkwardly turns back around and starts to the house again to get her things. Taylor's there by her side as is Morgan.

Katie sits on the bed with her head in her hands and starts crying. Taylor sits next to her, holding her close as she rubs her back.

Morgan quietly starts packing up her things while the girls cry together. She needed to do this and all three know it.

"You did the right thing." Taylor whispers, running a calming hand over her hair. "I know it's shitty now but it'll get better."

"I broke his heart."

"If you stayed with him, you would've broke your own heart." Katie wraps her arms around her best friend and sobs against her shoulder.

After a while, the three are on their way back to Nashville.

+++

Kate tosses her towel over the edge of the bathroom door after she gets dressed. She scored an interview at Big Machine records and she's even more nervous for this than she was for Big Loud.

Mostly because her ex is signed there.

But, she probably has job security since she won't be sleeping with any co workers there.

She smiles slightly at her reflection then flips the light switch off.

"You look real nice, Kay." Taylor smiles from her kitchen table. "You got this, babe."

"Thanks." Kate picks up her keys then she's heading to her SUV parked on the street.

It's a quick drive to Big Machine. She parks in a spot adjacent from an all too familiar squarebody, her heart beating in her throat.

She keeps her head down as she heads to the front desk, smiling warmly at the girl behind the counter.

"Can I help you?"

"I got an interview at ten with Mr. Young."

She clicks something on her computer then nods. "Yeah, go 'head and take a seat."

Kate does as she's told and bounces her knee. She's nervous- more nervous that she was for her Big Loud interview but mostly because of Riley.

What is she runs into him?

She has no idea how long she's been sitting there because the next time she looks up, a man is standing in front of her.

"Kaitlyn Hurst?"

"That's me."