Page 3 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

“Pumpkin carvings? You’re joking me, Ivy!” Tallulah said.

“It’s Ivy Jade. Ugh,” I repeated. “My middle name isn’t optional; it’s on my birth certificate.”

“What I’m saying is… I know you aren’t really–”

“Really… what?” I cut her off.

“It’s okay that you’re not into Halloween, creepy things, or horror. You know? But Gustav and I wanted to say thank you. It means a lot that you’re going to be with us all week.”

Her words were really heartfelt. It made me miss our close friendship, kind of. We were still friends, silly, just not the bestest of friends. We still waved and smiled at one another during family functions. That’s just what you did. You’d see your family, maybe gossip about Tia Sylvia’s repeated story about how she almost married Luis Miguel back in the early eighties. She always swore by it! Except she was the bigger woman and told him she wasn’t going to just follow some musician around Mexico. She was an independent woman with dreams of her own.

I wondered if she still felt that way, because most of us didn’t buy her bullshit story—curse word, sorry—she was full of it.

I turned in her direction, giving Tallulah all my attention. “I’ll always be there for you, duh! When have I not been?” That was true. We were close enough that she asked me to be her maid of honor. It always said a lot about a woman by whom she chose for such an honor–and for Tallulah, it said she had better taste in friends than she did in wedding venues.

She rolled her eyes at me, but playfully. That was okay with me, as long as it wasn’t a sarcastic one.

As a Latina, I hold grudges.

“Okay, really. We need to go,” Gustav said, sounding distressed. Tallulah cut our conversation short and went to be by his side.

Not surprised. Honestly, one of the other main reasons we weren’t as close was that she chased Gustav around like a lost puppy. Always had since we met in high school. Sometimes I wondered if she wanted to be my friend, only to get to know my brother. She would act like a complete dope in front of him when he’d enter my room unannounced.

But like I said, I was the bigger person in my story.

“Vámonos, ándale,” Papi said, still on a business call as he headed down the stairs. He handed Gustav a briefcase before walking out the door to the car. I think he confused him with one of the butlers.

“Ivy Jade,” Mami called out, allowing everyone else to leave and be out of earshot.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Don’t forget, we have Antonio coming over this weekend for the wedding.”

Oh god. Antonio.

After all these years, we were finally set to meet. I literally wanted to jump into our olympic pool and drown. Sorry. That was dark. Let’s move along…

“Mami, really? Of all times?” I asked.

Nelly gave a soft snort, hitting one sassy paw onto the floor. Mami arched her brow at Nelly before taking a deep breath.

“Don’t start with your attitude,” she huffed. “You knew this day was coming, and you need to make a good first impression. Now go upstairs and pack your nice dresses; you’re expected to make this work for Papi. And Arianna is on her way to take care of Nelly while we’re gone.”

I perked up and smiled, careful not to upset her. “Yes, Mami. Of course,” I said. Quickly, I turned around, heading back up the four flights of stairs with Nelly.

Ugh. I already knew Antonio was coming this week, but being reminded of it was not what I needed, especially during my brother's weird Halloween wedding. And for my pretty dresses? The pink would totally clash with their Gothic theme.

This was not how I expected to start the trip, preparing to meet a man that Mami and Papi had arranged for me to marry.

Back in my room, I slipped my book out from underneath my pillow. Forced marriage may not have been the most romantic idea in the world, but if I couldn't live my own romantic story, then at least I could still read about it.

I pulled out the dust jacket for ‘Little Women,’ slipping it over the cover of something far more salacious than what Mami would ever allow. The book of all books, the lit in literature, my absolute obsession: ‘Unmasking My Bright Knight.’ It was a New York Times best-selling, mouth-dropping piece of fiction. I was on book seven of the eight-part series, rereading its entirety while hiding its steamy insides under the guise of Louisa May Alcott. It was enough to make Mami’s rosary beads burst into flames, but like with all things in life, it was the outer appearance that mattered most.

I digress.

We were finally headed to the dreaded, scary chateau in Pennsylvania, where unknowable horrors awaited. Soon I’d meet Antonio and start a life that would most likely be different than the stories I enjoyed.

Whatever. My parents knew best, and that’s what I had to trust. To live happily ever after, I needed to be with a rich man like Mami and Papi wanted me to.