Page 33 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

“Not an option. Antonio is ready now. Papi is ready as well.” Mami stood up excitedly.

“Maybe Papi should marry Antonio then…” Hollie murmured low enough that I didn’t think anyone but me heard.

“Gustav is getting married, and now it’s your turn. No more waiting. Remember?” Mami said with a curt smile, saying the last part subtly. She always had to be pleasant and never a downer around others.

These expectations she’d been driving into me since I was nineteen were getting really old. But what was I supposed to do? If I didn’t marry Antonio, Mami and Papi would cut me off like they did Gustav, and my trust fund would be swallowed up into some other profit-yielding project. Because that’s what I was. A project. An investment for their wealth. It really felt like I was part of the 15th century medieval era or something. I’d rather read about it, not live it like Mary Queen of Scots. If I left, what value would I bring to the world? I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t convinced I could survive without all the comforts and luxuries I grew up with.

But then again, High Jynx did the same, right?

Roman Knight.

Could there really be happiness outside of money and pretty things? The answer may have been yes, but I was too scared to find out.

“We’re all done with wedding favors! Who’s ready for our next daytime activity?” Tallulah shouted, swiping the attention away from Mami and me and back to her. I looked at Tallulah, and she gave me a quick wink. I couldn’t be any more thankful for her saving me with a subject change.

CHAPTER 13

Ivy Jade

Last night I got zero sleep and was totally stressed. Now we were on our way to do some ax-throwing activity? How absolutely barbaric! All of us were squished into two buses. Tallulah sat with me, but she visited with everyone throughout the bus, hopping from seat to seat, gabbing about spooky wedding stuff.

I sat in the front of the bus, because… I always liked to be in control of where we were going, and seeing everything through the window kept me calm. What didn’t keep me calm, though, was the burning sensation in the back of my head. I checked over my shoulder a couple of times and noticed Ro would turn his head away when I looked in his direction. Had he been looking at me or something? I really wanted it to stop. My scalp couldn’t take any more burning.

Once the bus stopped, everyone decided they were five years old again and ran to the front to get off first, leaving Ro and me alone together.

Ugh. He stood behind me, waiting for me.

“After you,” he said in a guttural tone.

“You go. I’ll follow,” I sighed.

“I insist,” he argued.

“No.”

Flustered, we both stepped into the aisle and ended up smushed together. I bumped into his chest. I could feel the muscle beneath his shirt, and I hated that I noticed it.

“I’m trying to stand, but you’re in my way,” I said, taking a deep breath.

“Grouchy much,” he mumbled. “I’m trying to be nice to the maid of honor.”

“Yeah, nobody asked you to,” I fired back with animosity. “Just because you’re the best man doesn’t mean I have to treat you like some royal prince. Get over yourself.” Romeo towered over me. He had to kind of hunch on the bus. It was ridiculous how insanely tall he was. “Well, don’t just stand there. Move!”

He gave me a hard stare; his jaw ticked slightly. “Have you always been this miserable?”

Was that a serious question?

“Only when you’re around,” I said sharply.

Any hint of a smile on his lips slipped away into a tightened mouth. His fingers tapped quickly along the leather seat, like he was ready to grip it. "It's cute. But it's getting old,” he scoffed, walking out of the bus, smacking the top of the door frame loudly.

I shook my head. He was impossible!

With each step I took, the grime under my heel stuck. At one point, I had to use my hands to pull my leg up. I’d exchange words with Tallulah later, because this was not my idea of fun—or maybe it was; I didn’t know. It was just hard to enjoy myself when so many issues were piling up. Between the missing wedding rings, Antonio’s arrival, and sneaking off to the Scare Park each night, my bright sunshine attitude was starting to feel murky. Then there was Ro.

Ugh!

Stupid Ro.