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Leaned against the wall, Gabriel glances up from his phone. “Ready to get a dress?”
I nod. “I am.”
I shouldn’t be thinking about this as a real wedding, but there’s a small part of me that is kind of hoping for the happily ever after with Gabriel by my side.
He touches the small of my back, leading me out of the building and to the black sedan waiting by the curb.
Gabriel tells Stafan where to go as soon as we slide into the back seat. LaBrec’s—theplace for a dress. Normally, it’s by appointment only, but from what I’m learning, Gabriel Prince doesn’t need appointments.
“Who knew when we were young, and I flew my drone into your hair, we’d end up marrying,” Gabriel says as Stefan pulls away.
“Not me,” I say. Funny how fate works.
“Sorry there isn’t enough time to get a dress custom made for you,” Gabriel says.
I wave a hand, dismissing his words. “It’s fine. Better to get this over with sooner than later.” I don’t want to waste a year planning this wedding just to prolong the inevitable.
A strange look crosses Gabriel’s features, that I can’t quite read, before he pulls out his phone.
“I just need to take care of a few things,” he says.
I check my phone just for something to do. There’s a text from Ronin, and I stiffen. Without opening it, I put my phone away, not wanting to deal with him.
We pull up to Labrec’s and Stefan parks the car.
Have you ever had something burning a hole in your pocket? This phone right now is for real, straight up burning a hole in my purse, taking up all my headspace. I need to read the message.
A statuesque woman in a green caftan approaches us the second we step inside the shop where mannequins pose around the space wearing bridal gowns in varying shades of white. It’s all very creepy couture. One immediately catches my eye. A sleeveless, form fitting lace dress that flares mid thigh into an elegant fairytale of tulle.
The woman introduces herself as Loretta and instructs us to follow her into a private area in the back.
“I’m going to dip into the restroom,” I say as soon as we’re settled into a little area of the store meant only for us.
“I’ll just be grabbing some different styles in your size,” Loretta says.
“Thank you. I’ll just be a minute.” Gabriel takes a seat in a leather chair and I leave, backtracking toward the restroom sign we passed on our way here.
Once I’m safely inside the bathroom with the door locked, I read the message. “I’ve found a way out for you,” is all it says.
My hands fly over my phone, texting him back. “I don’t need a way out.”
A way out where? I can’t leave. I can’t uproot Tennyson.
What I need is for this wedding to happen as soon as possible.
Ronin texts back, “You need to get out of there.”
I type back a simple, “No.”
I stare at myself in the mirror. For the most part, I look the same but everything has changed inside. I feel like a different person. Last month, my life was normal, boring even. Now, it’s a whirlwind of madness. It’s a turbulent mess, and I definitely won’t be the same person by the time this is over next year.
Only a few more days and I’ll be a married woman.
I’ll be a Prince.
Ronin’s words scare me, and I debate if I should tell Gabriel what he’s said.
I gloss my lips, and head back into the store. As I walk through the shop, I decide I won’t be telling Gabriel. I’m not completely ready to trust a Prince.
