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“Maybe I have a shellfish allergy.”
“Right, okay.” She doesn’t look convinced, but my cousin knows me better than anyone in the world. Instead of interrogating me more, she loops her arm through mine and pulls me against her. “I’ll get you out of here.”
“Thank you.” In that moment, I love her so much. Sophia’s a lot of things but she’s loyal and cares about me more than anyone else in the world. I couldn’t imagine losing her. “My dad’s going to be mad though.”
“Nah, I don’t think so. He’s getting drunk with the Rossi brothers. I doubt he’ll even notice.”
“You’re the best. You know that?”
“Don’t got to tell me what I already know.” She hugs my arm tightly then starts to lead me away. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Aside from the migraine, I’ve never been better.”
She nods and drags me through the crowd, deflecting the well-wishers, until we’re out of there. I don’t see Gian again, and I don’t want to.
Chapter 8
Allegra
“You are going to look stupidly hot in this one.” Sophia turns a bridal magazine toward me. It’s a mermaid-style dress, tight from bodice down through the hips. Low cut, lots of boob showing, with intricate detailing, tons of sequins, and a sheer lace overlay.
“I think the emphasis would be onstupidwith that.” I toss it back.
Sophia rolls her eyes. “Come on, you have curves, girl. Go for something tight.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Maya says, cutting in. She’s another one of my girl cousins. A few years older, with big eyes and a great sense of style. “Check this out.” She shows me another dress. It’s more like a classic wedding dress, ball gown style, with a poofy skirt and a sweetheart neckline.
“Looks heavy.” I toss it back.
“We’ve shown you like thirty dresses,” Chiara says, another cousin, one of my youngest. She’s still a senior at Blackwoods. “And you hate them all. I’m starting to think you have a thing against weddings.”
“She’s extremely anti-wedding,” Sophia says before I defend myself. “All our lives, she’s been like that. Hates the whole industry.”
“Exactly, I hate the industry, not the idea of a wedding.” I glare at their dubious stares. “What? A girl can’t despise the wedding-industrial-complex?”
“Okay, you need to chill,” Maya says with a laugh.
“Whether you hate the wedding-complex-whatever, you still need a dress.” Sophia nudges the magazine back in my direction. “Seriously, babe. You’re getting married in three weeks. You need a dress.”
I chew on my lip. We’re sitting in the big living room of the Rinaldo family home. The couch is big enough for twenty, with plenty of comfortable pillows and blankets. We have popcorn, bottles of Topo Chico, and a random Hallmark romcom playing on TV.
I can’t concentrate on anything. Maya, Sophia, and Chiara are having a great time, but all I can think about is Gian and that stupid, insane, borderline psychopathic offer.
Marry him. Get divorced. Taste freedom.
Seems so simple, except it would blow everything to smithereens.
“Alright, fine, I’ll find something.” I flip through the magazine, barely paying attention. “Or at least I’ll try.”
“That’s the spirit.” Sophia seems mollified.
“I feel like I shouldn’t even bring this up, but there’s also the topic of flowers.” Maya winces slightly at the panicked look I give her. “Okay, maybe we’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Why are weddings so complicated?” I groan.
“Cheer up, at least you’re getting a nice one.” Chiara sighs as she leans against my shoulder. I’ve always thought of her as a younger sister and I love her to death, but she can be so lost in dreams sometimes. I put my arm around her shoulders. “I mean, it’s two big Famiglias coming together, right? Your dad said cost is no limit. And the venue?—”
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. The freaking venue is the Philadelphia Union League, an obscenely fancy private city club for the rich and snooty. It’s a beautiful building, but seriously, not my style.
