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Twisting around, I did not expect to see Bruno with a beautiful woman at his side. Kelsie was with them as well, a grin on her lips.
I gasped, immediately rushing over to hug my brother’s girlfriend. I then grinned at Bruno, eyeing the woman I’d only seen in a blur of my escape.
“Lily, I presume?” I asked, already gathering her hands in my own. “Bruno has told me all about you!”
The woman laughed, her cheeks tinted in a layer of pink. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Bruno really snagged a cute one, that’s for sure. Funny to know we’d had a conversation about our love lives not too long ago.
“Where are Antonio and Marco?” I asked, noting the lack of the two other men.
Bruno sighed, his brows coming together. “Marco went AWOL and Antonio rushed straight to talking with the other families. You know how he is, all business, no pleasure.”
I wanted to ask more about Marco, but Kelsie stepped forward and grabbed my hands.
“Lily and I figured we could help get you ready. With a lack of women in this place, I assumed you didn’t have anyone to help.”
Heat crawled up my neck as I laughed. “Actually, that would be pretty nice. I don’t think Elias cares enough, but I’d like to look pretty for him.”
Bruno groaned, scrunching his nose. “Never thought I’d hear those words. I suppose that is my cue to leave.”
Hoping everyone would be able to act right without fighting, I led the women deeper into the room. Elias let me get ready in our room and I hadn’t left in the last two hours. I was not really the type of person to fancy herself up. These women were exactly what I needed.
After sitting me down in the bathroom, they floored me with questions. From them, I didn’t expect anything less. Luckily for me, I came prepared with answers.
No, Elias hadn’t hurt me or even sent a serious threat in my direction. No, we hadn’t slept with each other. Yes, I definitely wanted to. Yes, I definitely wanted to marry him.
The sisters believed me far easier than my own brother. At least I didn’t have to try to convince them that what I spoke was the truth.
While they curled and pinned my hair, I waited eagerly to see Elias. While I already knew he’d love what he saw, I couldn’t wait to see the shift in his eyes. The same way heat filled his gaze in that dressing room.
After we were done celebrating and having a great time, I couldn’t wait for him to whisk me inside and take off the wedding dress I’d picked out. The same one we struggled to zip up the first time. There was no way I could’ve picked out a different one. Not after getting the reaction I had.
“You are flawless, Ramona,” Kelsie murmured as she pinned my bangs back, “Elias sure is one lucky guy.”
Honestly, I felt like the lucky one. If Elias hadn’t remained faithful to a conversation I hadn’t even thought about, I’d still be single and stuck in that house with Antonio. Elias was more than a ticket for escaping my prison. Hewantedme. Despite having nothing to offer him in return, he had his sight set on me.
“I couldn’t possibly ask for a better man to marry,” I admitted softly, staring at my reflection. Only in my dreams, could I have imagined myself looking so pretty in a wedding dress.
“Oh, you can’t get emotional now!” Lily pressed, rushing to ball up some toilet paper. “If you’re going to cry, it has to be while you’re confessing your love to Elias!”
I laughed, dabbing my eyes with her offering.
“I’ve just dreamed of this day, it’s a bit much.” Letting out a laugh, Kelsie soothed her palm against my back.
“There are already so many people here, I can only imagine how much fun later will be,” Kelsie enthused as she followed my gaze into the mirror. “We should go see how the timing is going. Don’t want you to get stuck in here all day.”
I nodded, thanking them both. Watching them leave the bathroom, I folded my hands against my dress. Surprisingly enough, I felt nervous and excited.
Once I got tired of staring at my reflection, I moved to sit on the bed. Waiting for any sign of life outside of the room, a knock eventually came.
Antonio was my next visitor.
“Damn, Ramona,” he mumbled, shaking his head at my appearance. “If listening to Elias talk my ear off about you wasn’t enough to make today real, that dress sure does the trick.”
“I love it, personally,” I told him, smiling down at my clothing. “Beats wearing my usual dark outfits.”
He shut the door behind him and walked over. Claiming a seat next to me, he let out a long sigh.
