Falling for my ex’s uncle novel

Chapter 1: Falling For My Ex's Uncle

On the day I was supposed to get my marriage license, I found myself at City Hall bright and early, waiting from 8 AM until it closed. As I walked out, feeling curious stares from the crowd, I received a message from Austin Herrera, saying something had come up at work. Returning to our empty house, I opened my phone and saw an Instagram post from Austin's childhood sweetheart: "Thanks for the birthday, Austin." The photo displayed a beautiful scene on an island, with a guy in the corner with a well-defined physique. Scrolling through the comments, it was all compliments and a bit of playful envy about having such a great friend.

After giving the post a like, I decided to reach out to my friend. "Hey, can you set up that blind date you mentioned last time?" I had been in love with Austin for years, evolving from a young girl into a woman nearly thirty. My family had been all about wedding talk, but Austin always seemed to postpone it. Just when I thought I might be done waiting, he surprised me by proposing in public not long ago. Today was supposed to be our big day to get our license.

Two days ago, my mom called, saying, "Sweetie, I consulted someone, and they say the day after tomorrow is a perfect day for you to get your license." I couldn't help but laugh, and of course, Austin overheard me. He pulled me into a warm embrace and assured me he was all in for anything I needed. However, right before our license appointment yesterday, he suddenly started packing his bags for a business trip. Before he left, he gently ruffled my hair and said, "Don't worry, it's just for a day. I'll definitely be back in time."

Looking into his calm eyes, I held back the words I wanted to say and just smiled as I dropped him off at the airport, feeling content. Even last night when we talked, he swore he was already at the airport. I couldn't help but daydream about our future together. Today, I woke up early, put on some light makeup, and headed to City Hall with my driver's license in hand. I envisioned the amazing life we'd have together as time ticked by, but the fresh rose in my hand slowly wilted.

I called Austin multiple times, but none of my calls went through, and I couldn't shake the worry that something might have happened to him. I reached out to a coworker who was supposed to be traveling with him, trying to get some information. Turns out, they hadn't been on any trip at all. I even reached out to Ms. Parks, who informed me that Mr. Herrera had taken a week off just to prepare for the wedding. "I'd be thrilled to attend your wedding," the guy said. "See you then," I replied, chuckling weakly before hanging up. I found myself wondering if this whole thing was some sort of surprise that Austin was planning for me.

When I finally got home, the place was empty. As I flipped the lights on, I realized there wasn't going to be any surprise waiting for me after all. Feeling a bit let down, I collapsed on the couch and tried to clear my mind about what Austin was actually up to. Just then, I got a message from Austin. "The company had a temporary issue. We'll have to get the license some other time." I replied with a simple, "Sure." Out of curiosity, I opened Instagram and found a post from Austin's childhood sweetheart. "Thanks for the birthday gift, Austin," accompanied by a photo of an island. There was a girl in a cute swimsuit lounging under a coconut tree, and in the reflection of her sunglasses was a solidly built guy snapping a pic of her. Yes, that was definitely Austin off on a supposedly temporary commitment.

Scrolling through the comments, I saw others lamenting how they wished they had a brother like him. **Finish the chapter.**