Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
“Listen, what if I was possessed or something? I mean, I had an accident and a ghost could’ve gotten inside me and lusted over Eli, which isn’t that farfetched since he attracts all sorts of attention. Now, I’m back to normal, which is why I remember nothing of the last two years.” I laugh, pleased with myself. “That makes total sense, don’t you girls think?”
They don’t join in, obviously not finding this scenario as hilarious as I do.
“Fine.” I release a heavy sigh. “Can I see the wedding pictures?”
“Sure.” Cecily scrolls on her phone for some time before she shows me an album titled ‘Ava’s Wedding.’
The first picture is of me holding a bouquet of pink tulips and dahlias. Ten out of ten for the choice. Naturally, I approve, considering I already chose my wedding flowers when I was, like, twelve.
My dress is a sparkling champagne-pink strapless gown with glorious diamonds in the corset and a huge tulle and lace skirt that gives a Disney princess dress a run for its money. Mine is more glamorous, with pink jewels carefully sewn into the fabric with explicit, masterful detail.
“Elie Saab,” I whisper.
“You had a meltdown for it.” Ari grins. “It was fun.”
“As I should have.” I nod in agreement with my past self. At least this part seems accurate and not entirely something a possessed version of me would do. I’ve wanted Elie to be my wedding dress designer since I was sixteen.
I eat up the details of the picture. My hair is gathered in an elegant twist and my glam veil falls to the floor like a carpet. My hands are covered with dainty lacy gloves with small sparkling jewels. The details. Oh, my heart. Dream dress.
A pink diamond necklace wraps around my neck, coupled with a matching ring.
“Pink diamonds…” I whisper.
“Eli’s wedding gift.” Cecily smiles. “He got you the entire set, which is one of a kind.”
“Where’s my ring?” I motion at my bare hand.
“Probably with Eli.” Ari lifts a shoulder. “Maybe they removed it when you got admitted to the hospital.”
Something isn’t right. Not sure if it has to do with my bare hand or the fact that the ring’s absence feels…strange.
Bad strange.
Dangerous strange?
What kind of thought is that?
I scroll to pictures of me with the girls. Cecy, Ari, Glyn, and Anni looked hot as fuck. Especially Cecy with her shiny golden dress and soft features. But I’m biased.
There’s a picture with me, the girls, Lan and Bran, who are clutching each other’s shoulders, and Remi, who’s laughing at Creigh while the latter remains poker-faced.
Can’t believe I don’t remember my bachelorette party or all the shenanigans I must’ve made them do.
A tremor rushes through me when I reach a picture of Eli and me. My gloved hand is sneaked through his bent arm as we both stare at the camera.
He looks mouthwateringly sharp in a tailored black tuxedo. Perfect bowtie. Broad shoulders. Refined lines. Shaven face. Stubborn, set lips.
Stormy, cold, cold eyes.
My eyes meet mine in the picture. I look weird. Different. Almost like a version of me I don’t recognize.
I realize with daunting clarity that I look cold, too. Detached. Indifferent.
And while I’m used to that from Eli, I’ve never been like that. Not even when I’m faced with his mocking, rude, and obnoxiously hurtful words. I might have pretended to be nonchalant around him, but that was only a camouflage for what I truly felt.
Just because I acted like a badass doesn’t mean I was immune to pain. He could and did hurt me, several times.
The way I stare at the camera is exactly what I wished my expression would be like whenever I face him.
I marry the guy and suddenly I look terrifyingly like him.
What type of sorcery is that?
I scroll to a picture where Eli and I are facing each other. He has one hand on my hip, the other lifting my chin. Our friends are surrounding us with their significant others. Killian hugs Glyn to his front, Jeremy holds Cecily at his side by the waist, Anni is climbing Creigh’s massive body, Lan is Frenching the shit out of Mia, Nikolai hugs Bran from behind, chin resting on his shoulder, and Ari holds her face in both palms and makes heart eyes at a Remi, who’s shoving her away while grinning at the camera.
Amid all that chaos, the only thing I can focus on is the way I’m looking at Eli. Is that…fear in my eyes? Trepidation?
What fuckery happened for me to decide I needed to marry the devil himself to resolve it?
There must’ve been something.
“Cecy…Ari…that night I last remember, what happened after the accident? Was I fatally injured? Did I hit my head?”
A furrow appears in both their foreheads.
“What accident?” Cecily asks slowly.
“The night you left the club with Jeremy. When I texted you that I was going home, I was actually driving to an after-party. I had a weirdo following me, so I called the police and then I think I was hit by a truck or pushed to the side of the road or something.”