I pull away and smile. “I appreciate the vote of confidence. But I’m clueless and cringing at the idea of giving orders to that crew.” Winking at her, I say, “But I’ll never let them know it.”
A smile spreads across her face. “You’ve got balls of steel, Adri. Always have. I’m jelly, won’t lie.”
I chuckle. Luna was always more free-spirited, more emotional, more sensitive. I adore her but she’d crumble in the face of adversity. I thrive there.
I give her arm a squeeze. “Just make sure you know I will always have your back. You and Mom won’t have to worry about anything. I will take care of everything, and I’ll always make sure you’re safe.”
My words sound a lot more matter of fact than I feel, but I don’t need to convince myself of them. I just need to make everyone else drink the Kool-Aid.
“You really are amazing,” she says. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Lulu.” I nod at the garment bag. “Shall we begin the transformation?”
She claps her hands together and turns to unzip the bag. “Yes! Let’s make you look like a bride.”
The dress is simple and conservative. Cream silk. Straight silhouette. Nothing like the fancy wedding dress I used to imagine when I was young and stupid and believed in fairytales.
I step into it and slip my arms into the straps. Luna zips upthe back, and turns me around so I’m facing the full-length mirror.
“You know,” she says, meeting my eyes in the mirror, “in a different universe, this could be romantic. Arranged marriage. Brooding stranger. Forced proximity.”
“You read too many romance novels.”
Her eyes pop open wide and she laughs. “You read the same ones. They’re in your nightstand!”
“That’s different.” A pink flush heats my cheeks. She must have been snooping in my bedroom one day because I’ve never admitted reading those novels to anyone.
“How?”
“Those are fiction. This is my actual life falling apart.”
“Or coming together.” She adjusts a strap, then smooths the fabric over my hips. “Depends on how you look at it.”
I lift an eyebrow “I’m going to throw this coffee at you if you don’t stop with that crazy talk.”
“No, you won’t. You need the caffeine.” She turns me back around and studies me with critical eyes, a finger tapping against her lips. “You need the diamond studs. The ones Dad gave you.”
“They’re in the side pocket of my bag.”
She fishes through the bag and hands them to me. I put them in, and she nods.
“Okay, perfect.” She steps back. “You look gorgeous, you know. Absolutely stunning. And I love the change of pace from your stuffy business wear. I’m actually a little surprised you didn’t try to find a sweet little wedding suit to wear instead. Like Carrie fromSex and the City, remember?”
I roll my eyes. “My wardrobe is not that boring.”
“Quite the contrary, sis. At least this shows a little hint of boob. I mean, let the guy know what he’s getting.”
“Not like he’s ever going to see them,” I say as I swipe a pale pink gloss over my lips.
“Like, ever? Seriously? The guy is hot as hell. You don’t think you’d ever?—”
“It’s a business transaction. Period,” I say, a warning in my voice.
Luna’s expression sobers. “I know this isn’t what you wanted. I know you’re doing this for all of us. And I hate that you have to, that you can’t enjoy being married and any of the perks that come with marrying an Irish god.”
“Luna—”
“No, let me say this.” She grabs my hands. “You’ve always been the strong one. The one who fixes things. The one who sacrifices so the rest of us don’t have to. And I’ve let you. We all have.” Her voice cracks. “But I need you to know, you’re not alone. Whatever happens after today, I’m here. Always.”
