Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Your dress,” he says, carefully laying it out on the bed.
I had three fitting sessions with the dressmaker. Saverio chose the design, but he hasn’t seen me in it.
“I’ll give you girls some space.” He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll get ready in the guest suite.”
When he turns for the door, I say, “Sav.”
He stops and looks at me.
I want to ask him to reconsider, to give us both a chance at happiness, because his heart will always belong to the woman who broke it, but at the dark cloud that washes over his features as he no doubts guesses the direction of my thoughts, I only say, “Thank you.”
He’s been incredibly sweet and considerate.
His mouth pulls up in one corner. “You’re welcome.”
The doorbell rings.
“That’ll be Livy,” he says, giving me a reassuring smile before walking from the room.
I blow out a painful, shaky breath.
Too bad his consideration is the kind you show someone to make up for hurting them. In this case, he’s soothing me now for the hurt he’s going to inflict later when he pushes a wedding ring over my finger.
Livy walks through the door, saving me from my somber thoughts. She wears leggings with a leopard print and a black, puffy-sleeved pirate shirt that ties with a string in the front.
“Sav put my bag in a spare room. I’ll get ready here so that I can drive with you to the church.” She rushes over, all but bouncing up and down with excitement. “How’s the bride?”
When she takes in my face, she stops. “Anya, what’s wrong?”
I smile. “Nothing.”
She pulls up a chair and sits down next to me. “I don’t know you since yesterday, my girl.”
I stare at her kind face, wishing I could borrow some of her inexhaustible optimism or better yet, tell her what’s truly bothering me. I haven’t told a soul why Saverio is marrying me. Sometimes, I’m not clear about his motivations myself. To be a father. To always have a convenient alibi at his fingertips. To protect me from Luigi because he needs me alive. To have a warm body to fuck without messy feelings getting in the way. To know he finally owns me in every way possible. To know his power over me is complete.
“What’s wrong, child?” Livy asks again, pulling me from my train of thought.
I consider my answer for a moment, and then, cracking under the unbearable pressure of the lie I’ve been carrying for all these months, I admit, “I’m scared.”
She takes my hand. “Of what?”
“That we’re making a mistake.”
“Oh, Anya.” She brushes a strand of hair from my forehead. “It’s only wedding jitters.”
“What if it’s not?”
She thinks for a beat before her eyes light up as if an answer suddenly came to her. “Ask yourself this. Can you picture your life without Sav in it?”
The question catches me off guard because I can’t. It’s as if he’s embedded under my skin and engraved on my heart. After everything we’ve shared these last few months, I can’t imagine not waking up beside him or not seeing his face when I open my eyes.
“Well?” Livy says.
“No,” I admit.
She lets go of my hand to wave her arms in a flamboyant gesture through the air. “There’s your answer.”
A knock falls on the door. Tersia opens it before I can reply, carrying a huge bouquet of white lilies and roses in a crystal vase.
“Oh my God,” she shrieks. “There’s the bride.” She kicks the door shut. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
I cup my belly. “Being eight months pregnant.”
She puts the flowers on the dresser. “Who cares? You’re going to look gorgeous. Besides, you hooked the big fish, darling. All the single women will be jealous.” She plucks the card from the arrangement and brings it to me. “A florist delivered this just as I arrived. Sav asked me to bring it up.” She makes a puppy face. “He didn’t want to disturb you when you’re getting ready.”
I take the white card with the silver edge, mumbling what I hope sounds like an enthusiastic, “Thank you.”
Saverio’s familiar handwriting runs in deep grooves over the paper.
I’ll make it good.
It’s a solemn oath, a simple promise he makes to take the bitter sting out of the vows we’ll make later.
“That’s so sweet of him,” Tersia gushes as she leans over my shoulder to read the note.
“Is it from Sav?” Livy asks with a swoony expression.
“The one and only,” Tersia says.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, not wanting to talk about my husband-to-be any longer. “Why don’t you grab something to eat while I go put on some clothes?”
“I brought powder with a soft glitter to brush over your shoulders,” Livy says, jumping to her feet. “I’ll go get it from my bag.”
“Oh, look.” Tersia waltzes to the table. “Champagne.” She lifts the bottle from the ice bucket. “Bubbles without the alcohol. My, but that man is considerate. What about the ex-wife? Is she going to be there?” She rolls her eyes. “God, I hope so. I’d love to practice my mean skills.”