“I can’t wait to marry you, Cori.” Dax’s words sound sincere, but I know better than to trust them. He wants something from me, just like everyone else in my family.
After the engagement party, I researched the Mitchells, and I think this marriage is so that they can sell their motel chain to Dax.
“Mom,” I begin, but Dad talks over me.
“Devin,” Dad thunders, and my brother practically jumps off the couch. “Take your mother to her room while I talk to your sister. Get off your lazy ass and do something around here for once in your God damn life.”
Instead of arguing back, Devin does as my dad says without a fight, which is unlike him. He rolls my mother down the hall and into her bedroom.
“I will not have you here upsetting your mother, Cori. She doesn’t need the stress, and you’re being selfish right now. Dax will be a good man, and you’re getting the opportunity to stop working for Armstrong and to start the business you’ve always wanted.”
“I don’t want to be a transaction,” I snap. “I don’t want—”
“It’s not about you!”
“It is!” I yell back. “And I don’t care how loud you yell, this is about me because no one else is giving up anything. Like always.” Ruby starts to cry, but I don’t have it in me to care. Dax bounces her in his arms, but she’s not soothed. Her soft cries soon turn into screams.
“Handle this, Leander,” Dax whispers. He walks out of the kitchen with a screaming Ruby in his arms.
“You’re upsetting Ruby.”
“Well, I’m so damn sorry for that, Dad, but you won’t listen to a thing I say. You’re okay with selling me to this man. Say it, Daddy. Say it.” I inch closer to him. His anger from earlier is gone, and he’ll no longer meet my eyes.
“Your life will only change for the better. School, Cori. You’ll get to go like you’ve always wanted. You’ll have money. He cares about you.”
“I could have gone to school eight years ago! You took that from me, and you sent Devin like it was nothing. He’s never had to sacrifice a thing.”
“This has nothing to do with Devin.” He drops his head and stares at the floor.
“You’re missing my point.” The room goes silent. “You know what? Fine. I give up. But know this, Dad. This is the last thing I will do for this family. Ever.”
Now
I finger the dress. Queen Corine. That’s what Selene named it, and when I designed it, I envisioned a different version of me. One who wanted to get married. I closed my eyes and pictured my perfect day. That included my dress and the cake.
The front of the dress is deceiving. It gives the illusion of conservatism, but the back contradicts that. It’s completely backless, and it dips to the apex of my buttocks. It has a long skirt that floats behind me. Instead of a traditional long veil, I pictured a birdcage veil.
That’s exactly what I made. And I thought I sold it. I guess I did sell it. To Daxton Hunt, who sent it to me yesterday, fresh from the dry cleaner and with a handwritten note.
To my fiancée:
From the moment I saw you in the dress, I knew. Who am I kidding? I knew before, but seeing you like this made it real. No one else can ever wear this. It won’t do anyone but you justice. There has never been, and there will never be a more beautiful bride. I’m so lucky you chose me to stalk.
He signs it ‘Your Groom’, and I almost want to throw up. I’m not wearing it. In fact, I’m already dressed. He’s going to get a bride in a linty white sweatsuit, complete with a large coffee stain on the matching pants.
“Sweetheart, your friends are here,” Haddie says from the other side of the door. She knocks softly. “Your mother is downstairs getting ready.”
After dinner last night, Haddie drove Josie and me back to her house. The three of us talked, but Haddie made us all go to bed early.
My friends rush in, with Josie behind them. I don’t mind her, but I don’t want her here with my friends. She’s blindly loyal to her crazy brother.
“Josie, would you mind getting us something to drink?” I ask. “Some peppermint tea would help my nerves.”
“Of course,” she happily says. “Whatever you need.” She gives my shoulders a gentle rub. “Mom says I’m here to serve.”
“I’ll help you with the tea, Josie, but after that, we have to get Cori ready. The team will be here in twenty minutes, so we have to rush.”
Once they leave, I lock the door behind them.
